Lanterns fans can’t stop talking about one thing after seeing Sinestro‘s first look. DC’s Hall H panel revealed Ulrich Thomsen as the iconic villain, and the internet had a lot to say about his appearance.
Lanterns fans react to Sinestro in latest trailer
DC revealed Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro in Lanterns during its Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. The first look at the rogue former Green Lantern arrived alongside seven clips from the HBO series. Thomsen’s Sinestro appears in the final clip and the recently released trailer, where he meets Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan.
The Comic-Con footage shows Sinestro warning Hal about the Manhunters and then shifting focus to Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart. He calls a surviving Manhunter “the second greatest threat” before asking Hal directly about his new recruit (via The Direct). The clip ends with Hal and John brawling over the ring back on Earth. In the trailer, Sinestro also forces Hal to admit that John serves as his replacement.
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) responded with strong enthusiasm after DiscussingFilm shared the first look. One user called the casting “perfect” and said Thomsen already looks intimidating. Another praised the actor’s previous work on Banshee and declared “we won.” A separate user noted that Thomsen channels the character’s energy through his stare alone. One fan also called the look “very comic accurate” and compared it to the animated version.
Several users pointed out Sinestro’s reddened, rough appearance in the image. One fan contextualized the look by noting the character appears as a retired convict in prison.
Another joked that he resembles “a British dad on holiday.” A third user posted a sunscreen joke referencing the character’s visibly burnt skin tone.
The eight-episode series pairs Chandler and Pierre as two Green Lanterns investigating a murder in rural Nebraska. Co-creators Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King joined the cast on stage during the panel.
Lanterns premieres August 16 on HBO and HBO Max under DC’s Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters banner.
