HBO’s Lanterns almost featured a Green Lantern with no superhero suit at all. Kyle Chandler revealed why the costume was a last-minute addition and why Hal Jordan barely wears it in the series.
Kyle Chandler says Lanterns almost had no Green Lantern suit
Kyle Chandler recently revealed that HBO’s Lanterns almost went without any superhero suits. During his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the actor shared behind-the-scenes details about how the Green Lantern costume came together late in production. Chandler plays veteran Green Lantern Corps member Hal Jordan in the new DC series.
“They weren’t sure that there was going to be a suit, as I understand it,” Chandler told guest host Anthony Anderson. “And then towards the end, they decided, ‘Let’s have a suit.'” The production team then created three different designs before showrunner Chris Mundy and director James Hawes selected the final version.
Chandler worked directly with costume designer Cynthia Summers on the suit’s construction. “I was the mannequin while they created and applied this whole thing in front of me,” he said. The actor praised the artisans involved and called the finished product “incredible.” However, the suit takes approximately 45 minutes to put on due to its multi-piece construction.
Why Hal Jordan doesn’t wear his Green Lantern suit anymore
The premiere episode reveals that Hal Jordan largely operates in civilian clothing throughout the story. The pilot keeps its superhero elements restrained, with Hal using his ring sparingly. He focuses more on detective work in the small town of Rushville, Nebraska.
The series follows two timelines spanning from 2016 to 2026. In the present-day storyline, John Stewart returns to Rushville and discovers Hal Jordan’s frozen body. This discovery suggests Hal’s days wearing the suit are firmly behind him. The show leans heavily into its mystery-thriller format rather than traditional superhero spectacle.
Lanterns premiered on August 16, 2026, on HBO and streams simultaneously on HBO Max. The eight-episode season stars Chandler alongside Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, and Nathan Fillion also appear in the series.
