In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night… Come on, you know the rest!

DC Comics' Green Lantern Corps. spans the infinite boundaries of the cosmos with its legion of 7,204 intergalactic space cops representing all races, genders, and biological entities patrolling thousands of Guardian sectors of the universe.

The fabled interstellar law enforcement society based on the planet Oa, armed with the coolest oath ever recited, is getting its own gritty, grounded "Lanterns" TV series and fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their intrepid emerald ring-wearing heroes capable of manifesting an incredible arsenal of colorful mental constructs.

Specific plot elements remain secretive and we're unsure which side of morality we’ll ultimately find Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his upstart John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) .

Power up and let's parade into all the details of how to watch HBO's "Lanterns!"

When Is The "Lanterns' Release Date?

"Lanterns" streaks into our galactic sector for its 8-episode debut on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET and PT.

Subsequent green-tinted chapters will manifest themselves each Sunday night until its season finale arrives on Oct. 4, 2026.

How To Watch "Lanterns"

"Lanterns" will be available to view exclusively for HBO cable TV subscribers and will also stream simultaneously on HBO Max for its customers.

If you want to check out "Lanterns" or any of the other great shows on HBO and HBO Max while you're abroad, you can also use a VPN to access your subscription from anywhere in the world.

Sorry, but it doesn’t work so well if you just happen to find yourself anywhere outside Space Sector 2814.

What is the plot of "Lanterns?"

This edgy, modern day Green Lantern makeover is infused with hardboiled detective overtones that finds veteran galactic peacekeeper Hal Jordan teaming up with a fresh new protégé, John Stewart, as they investigate a series of strange homicides in America’s midwestern heartland.

There’s a fun mentor/mentee relationship at the forefront that reveals the truth of Hal not really training a new recruit, but grooming a replacement.

Don’t think "Lanterns" is purely Earthbound though, as there’s plenty of alien invasion action with eerie shape-shifting Manhunters marauding in Nebraska and some spooky space action on a remote prison planet where the devilish Sinestro is incarcerated.

Its original lore began back during the Golden Age of Comics in the pages of 1940's "All-American Comics #16" with the first Green Lantern, Alan Scott, before vaulting into his own series in 1941.

Over the decades, some of the greatest comic book stories have been centered around this imposing force. Of special note are Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams’ moving "Green Lantern/Green Arrow" run (1970-1972) and Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp's psychedelic epic, "The Green Lantern: Intergalactic Lawman" (2018-2021).

Are There Any "Lanterns" Teasers and Trailers?

You bet your kiloton of Kilowog there are!

An underwhelming and nearly green-less teaser first dropped back in March to the enormous groans of Green Lantern faithful everywhere. That was followed by an impressive July trailer that had us all gasping at the influx of green, causing us to deliver a collective sigh of relief.

We saw a multitude of cool constructs, weapons and forcefields emanating from that prized emerald-cast jewelry, a few glimpses of the iconic Green Lantern supersuits, some tall morphing extraterrestrials and the red-skinned Sinestro in a cosmic jail.

This week as a special treat, HBO release the first five minutes of the premiere episode that looks fantastic and reveals a much younger Hal Jordan being interviewed in 1996 and John Stewart's abusive family backstory involving a gun and an apple!

Who Are "Lanterns"' cast and creators?

Besides our gallant space patrol stars Chandler and Pierre, "Lanterns"' eclectic cast also includes Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Laura Linney, Jason Ritter, J. Alphonse Nicholson and Jasmine Cephas Jones.

Chris Mundy ("True Detective: Night Country") serves as "Lanterns"' showrunner, executive producer, and co-writer. It's penned in collaboration with Damon Lindelof ("Lost," "Watchmen") and seasoned comic book wordsmith Tom King ("Supergirl"). Directors for the 8 episodes include James Hawes, Stephen Williams, Geeta Vasant Patel, and Alik Sakharov. Based on the flagship DC Comics characters, "Lanterns" alights from HBO, Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios.

Will There Be A "Lanterns" Season 2?

Although no formal announcement has been made by HBO or Warner Bros. Television as of this writing, it seems very likely there will be a "Lanterns" season 2.

The writers room has already been staffed and is currently mapping out a sophomore outing led by screenwriter and comic book aficionado Christopher Cantwell ("Halt and Catch Fire"). Damon Lindelof won’t return as a co-writer for season 2.

The DC Universe expands further into the cosmos this month with the addition of "Lanterns".

Created by Chris Mundy, Tom King and Damon Lindelof, the superhero show sees the veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (played by Kyle Chandler) take rookie John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) under his wing. Wider parts of the Green Lantern Corps lore are incorporated in the story too, as the series unpacks what the famous space cops are all about.

At the same time, let's be real here for a second: for anybody who hasn't kept track of all the DC reboots, Infinite Crises on Corporate Earths and Ryan Reynolds in a green CGI costume, it can become overwhelming to even think about the Green Lantern mythology.

There are many heroes and villains scattered across an overly complex timeline, so let's attempt to break down who's who in terms of the confirmed characters for the show and what their backstory is from the comics.

Here's everything you need to know about the characters in HBO's "Lanterns"

Hal Jordan

First appearance: "Showcase" #22 (1956)

Played by: Kyle Chandler

While not the first Green Lantern introduced by DC (that honour belongs to Alan Scott), Hal Jordan is arguably the most famous of them all. Debuting in the pages of "Showcase" #22, Hal found himself drawn to the spaceship belonging to Abin Sur, the Green Lantern of Sector 2814. The dying alien instructed his power ring to find a worthy successor, and it did in the form of the test pilot known as Hal Jordan.

While known primarily as a hero, Hal had a memorable stint as the villainous Parallax in the '90s. Hey, it was an edgy era, but at least he didn't have infinite pockets for his costume and badly drawn feet to go along with it!

Ryan Reynolds played a live-action version of Hal Jordan in the heavily derided 2011 "Green Lantern" movie, but Kyle Chandler's interpretation in "Lanterns" is a more seasoned and less CGIed version of the character. Interestingly enough, before Chandler was cast in the role, Josh Brolin was linked with the part.

John Stewart

First appearance: "Green Lantern" #87 (1972)

Played by: Aaron Pierre

So here's the part where DC's comic book logic tangles itself into knots. When Hal Jordan was selected as the Green Lantern, he received backup in Guy Gardner. After Guy was injured, Hal received a backup for his backup: John Stewart. Introduced as a civil rights activist and architect, John clashed with Hal at first; however, he went on to become the main Green Lantern in the '80s. After the New 52 reboot, John received another alteration to his backstory; this time, he was a former Marine.

For a generation of fans, John is their Green Lantern, thanks to him being the chosen Emerald Knight for the animated shows "Justice League" and "Justice League Unlimited". He almost appeared in "Zack Snyder's Justice League", where he would have been portrayed by Wayne T. Carr, but the whole debacle around that movie and the Snyder Cut is worthy of its own miniseries.

Aaron Pierre won the role of John Stewart in "Lanterns", triumphing over names like Damson Idris and Stephan James for the gig. One only needed to watch Netflix's "Rebel Ridge" to see his take on a former Marine and realise he was born to play John.

Guy Gardner

First appearance: "Green Lantern" #59 (1968)

Played by: Nathan Fillion

Ah, the Green Lantern with the worst haircut in the universe. The origin story of Guy Gardner is actually interesting, despite his questionable barber choices.

In "Green Lantern" #59, it's revealed that Guy was also a potential contender to be Abin Sur's heir. The only reason the ring went to Hal Jordan was that he was closer in terms of location. Guy became Hal's backup and eventually assumed the mantle of Green Lantern.

As a character, Guy is something of a prickly pear. He is prone to outbursts and not exactly a people person. However, his heart is in the right place, and he'll show up when necessary for others.

Nathan Fillion returns to play Guy Gardner in "Lanterns", having previously played the character in "Superman" and "Peacemaker" season 2. Oh, and he was all in for Guy's haircut. "I was team bowl cut the whole way," he said on the "DC Studios Showcase Official Podcast." "It's canon. It's set."

Sinestro

First appearance: "Green Lantern" #7 (1961)

Played by: Ulrich Thomsen

Much like other characters in the DC Universe, Thaal Sinestro has experienced changes to his backstory with the various reboots and continuity switch-ups altering his motivations and personality. What does remain consistent is that he's an alien from the planet Korugar who became a member of the Green Lantern Corps once upon a time. He was highly revered among his peers, but he abused his powers, became a dictator, and received the boot as a consequence of his actions.

Not one to be deterred, Sinestro founded the Sinestro Corps, which uses the yellow light of fear to power it. Naturally, this puts him at odds with the Green Lantern Corps – but Sinestro really really despises the Guardians of the Universe the most here.

In "Lanterns", Danish actor Ulrich Thomsen plays Sinestro. The first footage of him didn't exactly inspire fans since he failed to have the reddish-purple skin tone associated with the character from the comics. However, the true outrage should have been about the lack of a wispy moustache. This Sinestro's muzzle fuzz shares more in common with Mario than anything else.

Manhunters

First appearance: "1st Issue Special" #5 (1975)

Before the Green Lantern Corps, the Guardians of the Universe created the robots known as the Manhunters. Their sole purpose was to fight evil and restore law and order. If this sounds like a potential nightmare out of Sam Altman's OpenAI playbook, it's because it is.

While the Manhunters worked well at first, their obsession with catching criminals and inability to define what justice is saw them go rogue. And as you know, once the genie is out of the bottle, it's tough to put it back in!

At the time of writing, it's unclear exactly how the Manhunters fit into "Lanterns", except for the fact that they shapeshift and are dangerous. Their inclusion in the show makes sense, though, since they're the predecessors to the Green Lantern Corps.

Guardians of the Universe

First appearance: "Green Lantern" #1 (1960)

Want to know who to blame for DC's multiverse? Well, it's a rogue Maltusian Krona, who couldn't help but peek back in time to see how the universe was created. As a result, Krona's peers decided to band together and form the Guardians of the Universe, an organisation that wants to keep the universe safe from all kinds of threats.

These immortal beings assembled various groups (including the Green Lantern Corps) in an effort to bring about order and peace. Oh, and Sinestro hates them – in case you hadn't figured that out yet.

As the creators of the Green Lantern Corps, it's expected they'll play a role in "Lanterns". To date, only Laura Linney has been confirmed as one of the Guardians.

On August 16, "Lanterns" wills itself into existence on HBO.

Trailers and teasers for HBO’s upcoming "Lanterns" series have been suspiciously devoid of much outer space footage for the intergalactic cops known as the Green Lanterns, but that's all history now with this exhilarating new preview.

Beware the power of this illuminating peek that not only delivers generous doses of Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) mentoring his young apprentice, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), but also tosses in cool shots above an alien planet, a prison world, and what could be barren Mars.

And there's green galore via electrifying emerald constructs (including a beer opener) emanating from the cosmic peacekeepers' trusty power rings. Plus we're treated to a severe warning by the normally-wisecracking Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) as a serious but satisfying bonus.

"Lanterns" is an 8-episode limited series arriving Aug. 16, 2026 courtesy of DC Studios and heralding from executive producers Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King.

From this latest trailer it's apparent that weird shape-shifting Manhunters will be primary antagonists alongside the crimson-skinned criminal Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) and that has piqued our interest. It delivers a well-rounded depiction of the series' story arc and motivational beats that follow an older generation of Lanterns giving way to a younger law enforcement recruit.

"Manhunters are the most dangerous beings to ever exist in the galaxy," Paul Ben-Victor's extraterrestrial truth-seeker, Antaan, explains. "And it can take the form of any species."

This grounded, mystery-driven miniseries showcases one of DC Comics' most honored creations, the Green Lantern Corps, and their oath-reciting, ring-bearing brethren across the cosmos, here investigating odd murders in rural Nebraska.

Landing from DC Studios, Warner Bros. Television, and HBO, "Lanterns" debuts Sunday, Aug. 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and later streaming on HBO Max.

Spring is fading into summer, and everything seems to be a rich shade of green — especially the new emerald-hued trailer for HBO's Green Lantern miniseries, 'Lanterns.'

I can't say we were exactly enthused when the first lifeless, profanity-laced 'Lanterns trailer' arrived earlier this year; It was devoid of the dashing superhero escapades we'd expect from the interplanetary space police force known as the Green Lanterns, but more importantly, there was barely any green in it. Instead, fans were teased with a grounded true-crime show akin to "True Detective."

Loyal Green Lantern acolytes were left scratching their collective heads as to what the heck DC Studios were doing to their legendary cosmic cops. But all that changed last week when we were all treated to a second preview for the upcoming eight-episode show debuting Aug. 16, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max.

This latest trailer showcases Kyle Chandler as veteran Lantern, Hal Jordan, and Aaron Pierre portraying the younger newbie Lantern, John Stewart, and it’s loaded with full costumes, superpowered flight, glowing power rings, and cool bright green constructs.

In addition to talk about being "ring-worthy", the nature of power and its responsibilities, this much-improved trailer reveals that Nathan Fillion's wise-cracking Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, from last year's "Superman" movie, will be joining the overall storyline.

Apparently, the mystery narrative will be split into two timelines, the first set in 2016 and revolving around an extraterrestrial shooting in Nebraska, and the second taking place in 2026 following the end of 2025’s "Superman" feature directed by James Gunn.

"Lanterns" was co-created by showrunner Chris Mundy ("Ozark"), Damon Lindelof ("Lost", "Watchmen," "The Leftovers"), and Eisner Award-winning comic book writer Tom King. James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-chairs of DC Studios, and James Hawes act as the series' executive producers.

Co-starring Laura Linney, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Jason Ritter, and Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, "Lanterns" lands on HBO and HBO Max starting on Aug. 16.

Put the kiddies to bed and brace yourselves! The first teaser for HBO's 'Lanterns' series from DC Studios has arrived, f-bombs and all, and we're still a bit confused.

The trailer shows the gritty, grounded approach to the superhero-based material. On the one hand, it looks exactly like you'd expect an HBO detective show to look, but on the otherhand, why isn't there any green in my Green Lantern?

Starring Kyle Chandler as the cocky Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as the fearless John Stewart — arguably two of the most recognizable Green Lanterns in DC Comics history — this "Lanterns" sneak peek is giving off more "Reacher" vibes than anything else. It's looking like a stock criminal investigation show set in the Midwest, and not a colorful escapade featuring members of the gallant Green Lantern Corps.

To say that we're underwhelmed is an understatement, but we'll hold our final judgment until we've seen more. We've been wrong before, but for now, all we've seen is this drab, argumentative teaser of tedious conflict and car conversations.

Parents hoping for a family-friendly Green Lantern series from James Gunn and Co. to accompany the many DC Animated Movies starring the noble fraternity of universal peacekeepers are going to be extremely disappointed knowing their children will have to be shielded from the swearing and adult themes depicted here.

From this trailer, "Lanterns" looks more like a "Yellowstone" spinoff from Taylor Sheridan than a splashy superhero show revealing incredible energy constructs, alien planets, and outer space combat.

Don't get us wrong, the hyper-stylized ultraviolence delivered in shows like "Peacemaker" is great when it suits the source material, but we were hoping for something a little brighter here. Sure, we get a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it image of a lantern and Jordan's iconic ring, but it's certainly not enough to whet the appetites of the worldwide Green Lantern faithful. The joke about Ch'p the squirrel was pretty funny, though, we'll give it that.

"Lanterns" also features Kelly MacDonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Sherman Augustus, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Jason Ritter, Nathan Fillion, Chris Coy, and Paul Ben-Victor. The pilot episode was penned by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, who are all serving as series co-creators.

'Lanterns' is scheduled for an August release on HBO Max.

In brightest day, in blackest night, no property shall escape DC Studios’ sight. Following Superman and Supergirl hitting theaters, plus Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2 on TV, the James Gunn-led DCU continues with HBO’s Lanterns.

Forget about previous on-screen Green Lanterns. We’re starting from scratch here and getting new takes on both Hal Jordan and John Stewart from the beginning, after Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner already showed up in Superman and Peacemaker. The DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters introduces a universe where ‘metahumans’ and all sorts of aliens and entities are already established, but that doesn’t mean everyone is skipping their early steps, and it seems this will be Stewart’s show first and foremost.

Beyond Lanterns, DC is playing a bit looser with their release roadmap than Marvel. So far, only Clayface and Man of Tomorrow (a direct sequel to last year’s Superman) are confirmed for late 2026 and summer 2027, respectively. There are plenty of other upcoming DC movies on the horizon, though.

When is the Lanterns release date?

Following a second teaser trailer, we now know that Lanterns premieres August 16 on HBO Max.

How to watch Lanterns online

Like other HBO shows, Lanterns will be exclusively available to watch through Warner Bros. Discovery's HBO Max streaming service on TV and other devices. You can find deals and subscription options below:

Like most streaming services, HBO Max isn't available in every country worldwide.

Thankfully, if you happen to be out of the country when Lanterns drops (hey, you're busy defending Sector 2814, we get it), then you can still access your Max subscription with a VPN.

Who are the Green Lanterns?

The original Green Lantern, Alan Scott, was introduced during the Golden Age by Martin Nodell and Bill Finger as a businessman with a magic power ring that created energy constructs, but it was the Silver Age sci-fi reboot iteration of the Lanterns that stuck. The Green Lanterns are an intergalactic peacekeeping force overseen by the extraterrestrial Guardians of the Universe residing on the planet Oa. This updated version of the mythology debuted alongside test pilot Hal Jordan in 1959.

Jordan has traditionally been the most famous Green Lantern from Earth, becoming a founding member of the Justice League on Earth-One and going on to work alongside other human members of the Green Lantern Corps. John Stewart and Guy Gardner are considered to be the most famous ones after Jordan in Sector 2814, the chunk of space where Earth is located.

Lanterns get their abilities from their iconic power rings that allow chosen individuals to channel their willpower into energy constructs. The rings themselves are recharged by 'Green Lantern batteries'. Other powers include the ability to travel through space (with its vacuum being a non-issue) and to create a protective (and stylish) suit. Needless to say, the Green Lantern Corps has faced many trials and tribulations over the decades, regardless of the DC continuity.

What is the plot of Lanterns?

We don't know much about the plot of Lanterns yet, but it's been described in the past as a murder mystery story largely set in Nebraska, with Hal Jordan now introduced as a "seasoned Lantern approaching retirement" who is training John Stewart, a veteran U.S. Marine, to be his replacement.

This "prestige pulp detective show" is said to lead these two characters into "darker mysteries as well as reckonings." By and large, it appears the main goal behind the eight-episode series is to tell a grounded story set within a large and epic sci-fi mythology that's crucial to the larger DC universe inside and outside the pages.

Though we haven't heard anything about the first crossover event of the refreshed DCU continuity, Chapter One: Gods and Monsters is looking rather ambitious, so we're fully expecting Lanterns to tie into what Gunn and co. are doing elsewhere, especially when Guy Gardner will be an important secondary character in the new Superman movie.

Lanterns trailers

Two (lengthy) teaser trailers have been released so far ahead of Lanterns’ August 2026 debut. They’re pretty good at setting the tone and introducing the leads while keeping the actual plot under wraps, and you can watch them below:

Who is starring in Lanterns?

Lanterns is led by Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge) as John Stewart. Kelly Macdonald's (Star Wars: Skeleton Crew) role as Kerry, the sheriff of a small town, is said to be pivotal, too.

The leading trio is joined by the following names:

• Garret Dillahunt (Deadwood) as "modern cowboy" William Macon.
• Poorna Jagannathan (Never Have I Ever) as Zoe, a "cunning" woman.
• Ulrich Thomsen (Grundtvig) as Sinestro, a Green Lantern who went rogue a long time ago and once mentored Hal Jordan.
• Nicole Ari Parker (And Just Like That...) as Bernadette, John Stewart's mother.
• Jasmine Cephas Jones (Origin) as a young Bernadette.
• Jason Ritter (Matlock) as Billy Macon, Kerry's husband and William's son.
• Sherman Augustus (Stranger Things) as John Stewart Sr.
• J. Alphonse Nicholson (They Cloned Tyrone) as a young John Stewart Sr.
• Nathan Fillion (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) as Guy Gardner

Who are the Lanterns directors, writers, & crew?

The show, which is said to be drawing inspiration from 'prestige' drama series like True Detective and Slow Horses, was created by Chris Mundy (Ozark), DC Comics veteran Tom King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow), and Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers). They're credited as executive producers alongside DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran (Creature Commandos, Superman).

Justin Britt-Gibson (The Strain), Breannah Gibson (The Penguin), and Vanessa Baden (Animal Kingdom) are part of the writers' room, too. James Hawes (Slow Horses) will direct the first two episodes; Stephen Williams (Watchmen), Geeta Vasant Patel (Star Wars: Ahsoka), and Alik Sakharov (Dark Matter) are reportedly helming the rest of season 1. We've yet to hear about a potential second volume of episodes.

In the past couple of days, the talk surrounding "Green Lantern" has changed from "Is it any good?" to "How bad is it?"

Most critics' answers have been somewhere on the spectrum of "dreadful" to "crime against humanity." Which switches the dialogue again, to "Is it really that bad?" And the answer is simply no, it really isn't.

***Beware the power of minimal "Green Lantern" plot spoilers!***

There are a lot of bad comic book movies out there: "Ghost Rider," "Elektra," "Catwoman," "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" (excuse me, "LXG"), and perennial punching bag "Batman & Robin." Take comfort in the knowledge that "Green Lantern" is better than all of those movies by a significant amount. [10 Coolest Green Lantern Ring Constructs]

But "better than the worst" isn't just the worst DVD box pullquote ever, it also doesn't tell you a lot about a movie.

"Green Lantern," more than any comic book film in recent memory other than the literal translation of "Sin City," sticks very close to the source material. For a comic book fan, there's a lot to like just from that fact: Abin Sur, Sinestro, Kilowog, Tomar-Re, the Guardians and Oa itself are all faithfully rendered, and there's no denying that seeing images from the page come to life on the big screen is, for a fan, a big part of the appeal of any comic book film. It all looks good, and the mythology is treated with respect. (Not a shock, given the involvement of DC chief creative officer and Green Lantern comic series writer Geoff Johns.) [Infographic: Science Fiction Superhero – Green Lantern]

Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan was deemed an odd choice by many at first — Hal's generally pretty straight-laced, and Reynolds starred in "Van Wilder." Yet he equips himself well here, easing from "troubled test pilot" to "newly minted superhero" with requisite aplomb. When he has to turn on the bravado in the third act — you've probably heard his empowered growl of "Green Lantern's light!" in the TV spots — it's a little less believable, but he's not really in that mode for long. (More on that later.)

The concerns that fans had from the initial trailer all turn out to be complete non-issues: "Too much goofy comedy"? Sure, Hal Jordan tells Carol Ferris, "Let's take these pants off and fly some planes," but that's really the extent of such moments. "Too many CGI aliens leading to "Episode I" flashbacks"? The Oa scenes are kept pretty short (you end up wanting to see a lot more of the Green Lantern Corps), and the creatures blend in fairly seamlessly. "The Green Lantern costume has feet instead of boots"? You'd have to be looking really closely to notice. "Blake Lively is a terrible actress"? She might not win an Oscar or even an MTV Movie Award (you have to be in a "Twilight" film to win one of those) for this, but she's perfectly capable in a limited role. (And since it's seeming obligatory to complain about the 3D in a movie like this, it's also totally fine.) [NASA Says Space Photo Looks Like Green Lantern's Ring]

In fact, the filmmakers — headed by director Martin Campbell — seemed to be so intent in scrubbing the film of any type of cheese, that it's also thoroughly lacking in charm. In "X-Men: First Class," a large part of the fun was seeing the blossoming friendship of Xavier and Magneto. In "Thor," the title character's easygoing charisma helped elevate the material.

There isn't a lot of that in "Green Lantern."

The romance between Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris starts and ends vaguely — you get the sense that they have some sort of fondness for each other, but you're not really given much reason to root for them as a couple. Hal's friendship with Thomas Kalmaku — wisely not referred to in the film by his old comic book nickname of "Pieface" — essentially exists just to propel a couple of plot points forward. There's a scene with Hal Jordan and his siblings, which is an unexpected dimension for a superhero movie, but it doesn't last long and is never touched on again. Not much is personally at stake for the hero of the film.

The most action-packed scene comes in the middle of the film, where Green Lantern makes his superhero debut by saving the day at a gala event. The actual climax of the film then feels a bit unfulfilling, partially due to the fact that the movie's ultimate opponent is Parallax, depicted in the film as basically a yellow tornado with a face. There's an example of something that was changed from the comics —  where Parallax looks more like a bug — which doesn't really end up working. (Whether or not a giant yellow bug would be any better is open for discussion.)

There is still stuff to like in "Green Lantern." Peter Sarsgaard (Hector Hammond) and Mark Strong (Sinestro) both fare well in their roles. In fact, there are plenty of good actors involved — Tim Robbins as Hector's senator father, Angela Bassett as DC Universe mainstay Amanda Waller, Geoffrey Rush as the voice of Tomar-Re — even though those parts are limited to glorified cameos.

There's nothing truly bad about "Green Lantern," but there's nothing really memorable in it either. For a movie that has as much potential for fun as this one — space travel, exotic aliens, and a ring with the power to construct anything the user can think of — it feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.

This story was provided by Newsarama, a sister site of SPACE.com. Visit Newsarama on Facebook and Twitter.

A glowing ring spotted in space seems at first more like superhero fiction than science fact. But that's what NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope found in the murky clouds encircled by the tail of the constellation Scorpius.

The new photo of the bright emerald nebula, released Wednesday (June 15), is reminiscent of the glowing ring wielded by the comic book superhero Green Lantern, who derives his strength from the band forged by the diminutive Guardians of the Planet "Oa," according to a NASA description. The film version of "Green Lantern", starring Ryan Reynolds as iconic hero Hal Jordan, on Friday (June 17). [See NASA's photo of a 'Green Lantern' nebula]

In reality, the cosmic ring is a region of hot gas and glowing dust sculpted by the powerful light of giant "O" stars, which are the most massive type of star known to exist.

The ring, named RCW 120, is actually glowing in infrared colors that our eyes cannot see, but show up brightly when viewed by the Spitzer telescope's infrared detectors. At the center of this ring are a couple of giant stars whose intense ultraviolet light carved out the bubble, though they blend in with the other stars when viewed in infrared.

RCW 120 is about 4,300 light-years from Earth and does have a central, massive star at its core that is 2.5 million years old, according to previous studies.

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