Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The DC superhero series Lanterns just found its Hal Jordan

Kyle Chandler stares on the left with a picture of the Green Lantern on the right.
Staff Sgt. Bennie Davis/DC / Wiki Commons/DC Comics

Kyle Chandler is poised to become the next actor to join the DC Universe.

Per Deadline, Chandler is in negotiations to star to play Hal Jordan in Lanterns, an upcoming series based on the DC comic. The series will follow Hal Jordan and John Stewart, two intergalactic cops from the Green Lantern Corps. called to Earth to investigate a murder. Jordan becomes a mentor to the younger Stewart, one of DC’s first Black superheroes.

Recommended Videos

Josh Brolin was first approached to play Hal, but ultimately passed. The casting search for Stewart is still underway.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Chandler is best known for the Emmy-winning role of Coach Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights. Chandler’s other notable works include ArgoBloodline, and Manchester by the Sea.

In June, Lanterns officially received a straight-to-series order for eight episodes. The series stems from the creative trio of Chris Mundy (Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and comic book writer Tom King. Mundy is Lanterns’ showrunner and will co-write and co-executive produce the series with Lindelof and King. HBO will produce the series in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy winner Kyle Chandler is in negotiations to star in ‘Lanterns,’ HBO’s high-profile series based on the Green Lantern DC comics, sources tell Deadline.

All the details we know here: https://t.co/Y8kQyn7aUO pic.twitter.com/rqD1d7z5HS

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) September 23, 2024

Lanterns was first announced in January 2023 by co-CEOs of DC Studios James Gunn and Peter Safran. The series will fall in Chapter 1 of the DCU, officially known as “Gods and Monsters.” The duo compared the series to True Detective and said it would feel like an “HBO-quality event.”

Lanterns plays a really big role leading us into the main story that we’re telling across our film and television,” Safran said via Variety. “So this is a very important show for us.”

Over a decade ago, Ryan Reynolds notoriously played Hal in Green Lantern, a film that failed critically and commercially.

Lanterns has no release date. Filming is expected to begin in 2025.

Dan Girolamo
Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…
3 underrated Netflix movies you should watch this weekend (March 7–9)
Tim Blake Nelson plays a guitar while riding a horse in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

The sheer volume of content on Netflix can feel endless and overwhelming—every fan knows there are hidden gems out there, but it's easy to get lost in the mix. While it's always fun to catch up on the latest blockbusters, there are numerous underrated movies on the streamer that are just waiting to be discovered. Despite delivering big on story and originality, these deserving films flew under the radar.
Whether you're in the mood for a quirky indie drama, a darkly comedic Western, or a mind-bending thriller, this list has something to make your weekend binge a memorable one. Sometimes, the best movie experiences happen when cinephiles dive into something genuinely unexpected. So get ready for a one-of-a-kind evening spent alone or with loved ones — you'll be glad you took a chance on these underrated picks!
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Noah Baumbach, known for directing the more popular Frances Ha and Marriage Story, tells the story of a dysfunctional family in the criminally underrated The Squid and the Whale. Set in 1980s Brooklyn, the indie comedy-drama revolves around the Berkmans, whose lives change for the worse when parents Bernard (Jeff Daniels) and Joan (Laura Linney) announce their divorce. This negatively affects their sons: 16-year-old Walt (Jesse Eisenberg) and his younger brother, Frank (Owen Kline). The rift between the family worsens when Bernard's pretentious intellectualism and Joan's newfound independence cause even more friction.
Bolstered by a semi-autobiographical lens that draws from Baumbach's own childhood and the efforts of producer Wes Anderson, the 2005 film is unflinching in its tragicomic approach to its story. It's an honest portrayal of the messiness of divorce, fully embracing awkward and unfiltered moments experienced by its unlikable characters. The Squid and the Whale's often quirky and subtle humor may alienate most viewers, but any fan of similar intimate and character-driven portraits of imperfect families should add this one to their watchlist.

Read more
3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (March 7-9)
Four brothers sit or stand alongside a fence.

Max is about to get a little creepy, thanks to the addition of Heretic, which arrives on March 7. When two Mormon missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) stop at the house of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), they become trapped in a labyrinth that will test their fate. The thrilling horror from Scott Beck and Bryan Woods is a terrific showcase for Grant, who has the time of his life playing a narcissistic villain.
If you've seen Heretic or want to watch something else, there are plenty of other routes to explore on Max. One of those paths involves underrated movies. Lucky for you, we have some recommendations, which include an ensemble rom-com, a tragic sports biopic, and an eye-opening drama from a recent Oscar winner.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

Unfortunately for romance advocates, ensemble rom-coms are a thing of the past. These stories were a good excuse to get a group of famous and attractive actors into one movie. These easy-to-digest movies are the perfect form of escapism. Today's pick is He's Just Not That Into You. The cast includes Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, Ginnifer Goodwin, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Connelly, Kevin Connolly, Justin Long, Scarlett Johansson, and Bradley Cooper.
Set in Baltimore, He's Just Not That Into You follows nine people who navigate love, dating, and everything in between. The standout characters include Gigi (Goodwin), who misreads romantic situations; Janine (Connelly), who thinks her husband (Cooper) might be lying to her; and Mary (Barrymore), a woman whose dates go nowhere. Is every storyline perfect? No, but there is enough romance and charm to keep you watching.
Stream He's Just Not That Into You on Max.
The Iron Claw (2023)

Read more
3 great free movies to stream this weekend (March 7-9)
Simon Rex stands in a donut in Red Rocket.

Welcome back, Bong Joon Ho. It's been six years since Parasite, the spectacular thriller that became the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. This weekend, Bong returns with his latest film, Mickey 17. The sci-fi comedy follows a disposable employee (Robert Pattinson) who returns as a clone after repeatedly dying on a colonization mission.
Mickey 17 is already generating positive reviews, which isn't surprising because of the talent behind the camera. In honor of Bong's return, one of the free movies to stream this weekend comes from his early filmography. The other two selections are dedicated to an Oscar-winning filmmaker and an acting legend who recently passed away.
We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Memories of a Murder (2003)

With all due respect to Barking Dogs Never Bite, Bong's second feature, Memories of a Murder, is the one that put him on the map. Based on a real-life South Korean serial killer, Memories of a Murder follows Park Doo-man (Song Kang-ho) and Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-kyung), two detectives assigned to investigate a string of rapes and murders.
The two detectives possess different styles — Park is the aggressive investigator, while Seo relies more on scientific analysis. Essentially, the movie presents an old-school versus new-school approach to policing. The ruthlessness and brutality weigh heavily on both investigators, as it tests their ethics and values. Instead of an open-and-shut whodunit, Bong explores morality and human fallibility, resulting in one of the best murder mysteries of all time. 
Stream Memories of a Murder for free on Tubi.
Red Rocket (2021)
RED ROCKET Trailer (2021) Simon Rex, Drama Movie

Read more