HBO’s long-awaited Green Lantern series is currently in production, and it seems filming is moving forward smoothly without any major hiccups. Lanterns, which stars Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, is the first live-action series set in James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe, which debuts on the big screen this summer with Superman. The True Detective-inspired show follows two Green Lanterns investigating a murder mystery in America’s heartland, which could have major repercussions for the rest of the DCU.
During an interview with Forbes, Jason Ritter, who plays Billy Macon in Lanterns, revealed the current production status for the upcoming HBO series. He confirmed that Lanterns was halfway through filming its first season, with four episodes completed thus far. Additionally, he reveals that it is a “really well-written, really fun show,” the latter of which is in contrast to how the grounded sci-fi drama has been described thus far. Ritter’s statement:

“We’ve shot 4 episodes so far, & we’re about to start shooting episodes 3 & 4. We’re doing it all a little out of order—it’s been so fun & it’s a really well-written, really fun show.”

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Matlock star Ritter joins a star-studded cast in Lanterns that also includes Pierre as John Stewart, Chandler as Hal Jordan, Ulrich Thomsen (The Blacklist) as Sinestro, Kelly Macdonald (Trainspotting) as Kerry, Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope) as William Macon, and Poorna Jagannathan (The Night Of). Behind the scenes, Chris Mundy (Ozark) acts as showrunner while co-writing the scripts alongside Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) and DC Comics writer Tom King. Meanwhile, Slow Horses director James Hawes is helming the first two episodes of Lanterns. The rest of the directing crew is reportedly comprised of Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov.
‘Lanterns’ Is a Genre-Defying “Buddy Cop” Drama

HBO

Despite consistent comparisons to True Detective, expect Lanterns to have more humor than the award-winning drama. James Hawes previously teased that, while Lanterns is a “sophisticated” buddy cop narrative, it can also be compared to No Country for Old Men and Fargo, the latter of which injects a good amount of dry humor. Fortunately, it’s still a sci-fi story about two superheroes who use rings powered by their willpower. Just expect a tone that honors the show’s setting in the American heartland.

“Talking tone, it looks and feels rooted. You meet two guys, but there is wit and comedy to it that you would not expect in True Detective. It is, in many ways, a buddy cop structure with travel in the story time, to and fro, that is really sophisticated. [Showrunner] Chris Mundy has done the most amazing job with the team there, and so I think [the True Detective comparison] is valid. People will still go, ‘What were you talking about?’ to some extent, but I would also bring in No Country for Old Men, Fargo and things that have that Americana heart to them. There’s a wry humor, and so there definitely is more wit and humor than there is in True Detective.”

Source: Forbes

Lanterns (DCU)

Network

HBO

Directors

James Hawes

Writers

Tom King, Chris Munday

Franchise(s)

DC Universe