HBO’s Lanterns just dropped a trailer that puts its two Green Lanterns on a collision course nobody saw coming. The Episode 4 preview reveals a shocking directive involving Hal Jordan and John Stewart that could change everything.
Lanterns Episode 4 trailer gives John Stewart his Green Lantern ring
The Lanterns Episode 4 trailer teases John Stewart finally receiving his Green Lantern ring. HBO Max released the preview on August 31, showing Sinestro manipulating Hal Jordan behind the scenes. The trailer reveals growing tension between the two Green Lanterns on Earth.
Sinestro asks Hal about John Stewart in the preview, calling him “a contingency plan, a backup.” Hal disagrees with that assessment, setting up a deeper conflict between them. Sinestro then warns Hal, “You really will need to kill John Stewart,” raising the stakes significantly.
Episode 3 revealed that John’s parents deliberately raised him to earn the ring. His father, John Stewart Sr., first encountered Abin Sur’s ring but admitted he was afraid. Bernadette Stewart later learned from a Guardian that eligibility runs through genetics.
The couple then trained their son from childhood to become fearless enough to qualify. At five years old, John shot an apple off his father’s head during one training exercise. His mother later made him repeat the act with her as the target.
John’s military career also shaped his path toward the ring in significant ways. He served as a Marine sergeant major and earned recognition as a patient sniper. However, Hal Jordan’s interference collapsed a months-long assignment and led to John’s discharge.
Episode 3 ended with a Guardian interviewing John at an abandoned shopping mall. She revealed his real assignment involves replacing Hal, who remains unaware of the plan. Hal then confronted John directly, telling him he only gets the ring “over my dead body.”
The trailer suggests Sinestro now operates as a puppet master influencing Hal’s decisions. Fans in the comments noted John’s obedience contrasts sharply with Hal’s increasingly rogue behavior.
New episodes of Lanterns air Sundays at 9 PM on HBO Max.
