During an HBO Max Upfront event in Brazil recently, the first trailer for Lanterns was unveiled, giving fans in attendance a first look at the highly anticipated Green Lantern series that will officially expand the live-action DC Universe in 2026. Although the exact premiere date is still under wraps, the studio confirmed that the series is scheduled for a late-summer 2026 release window. Even with the wait ahead, the newly revealed footage has already sparked intense discussion among fans. Not only does the trailer spotlight the show’s two leads, Hal Jordan and John Stewart, but it also appears to hint at the arrival of two unexpected Green Lantern Corps members that could shift expectations for what this grounded sci-fi detective series will deliver.
The trailer primarily centers on Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart, who headline the upcoming series. Their dynamic is immediately positioned as central to the narrative, with early footage emphasizing that the two heroes do not immediately mesh. While DC had previously stated that Hal Jordan would serve as Stewart’s mentor in the series, the trailer introduces a twist: Hal is not John’s original assigned trainer. Instead, he is stepping in for someone else—someone the studio has intentionally left unidentified.
This revelation has led to two compelling possibilities for the identity of Stewart’s intended instructor, based on established lore from the Green Lantern Corps. The first is Kilowog, the fan-favorite drill instructor who has long been depicted as the Corps’ top trainer. Known for forging some of the strongest Lanterns in existence, Kilowog would be the most logical choice to have originally overseen Stewart’s development. His bond with new recruits is iconic, making him a natural selection if the series wishes to draw on deep comic mythology.
The second candidate is Katma Tui, who previously trained John Stewart in the animated Justice League series. Although she is a meaningful figure in Stewart’s history, her role across broader DC canon is smaller compared to Kilowog’s, making the hulking instructor the more plausible of the two. Still, either character’s introduction would mark a significant expansion of Lanterns beyond its grounded tone.
The trailer also drops an intriguing reference to another unexpected hero: a squirrel Green Lantern. Prior to the release of James Gunn’s Superman, some fans speculated that behind-the-scenes photos teased the appearance of a squirrel Lantern. That theory was later debunked—the images showed Superman rescuing an ordinary animal during a kaiju incident—but the idea has persisted in fan circles. Now, Lanterns may be signaling the arrival of Ch’p, the famous squirrel member of the Corps, who is later succeeded by fellow rodent Lantern B’dg.
What makes these potential inclusions so surprising is the creative direction DC has described for the series. Lanterns has been positioned as far more grounded than typical cosmic Green Lantern stories, drawing stylistic inspiration from True Detective and adopting a darker, Earth-based mystery structure. The trailer reportedly carries a distinctive Western tone, emphasizing tension, atmosphere, and investigative drama. Given that both Kilowog and Ch’p would require heavy CGI and far more galactic world-building than the show appears to prioritize, their presence—if confirmed—would stand in stark contrast to the grounded creative vision.
Even so, subtle teases may be the perfect compromise. They acknowledge the broader mythos without overwhelming the show’s tone, especially when the cast already includes well-established figures such as Guy Gardner and Sinestro. Whether Kilowog or Ch’p ultimately appear, their hints alone suggest that Lanterns may blend grounded storytelling with just enough cosmic intrigue to satisfy longtime fans of the Corps.
As anticipation builds, the debut trailer has already succeeded in reigniting enthusiasm for the Green Lantern mythos—while raising questions that won’t be answered until 2026.
