After he prematurely broke the news at NYCC, Nicolas Cage is officially set to star alongside Antonio Banderas in True Detective season 5.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Cage will play Henry Logan, with Banderas as Rai Garcia. Plot details are being kept under wraps for now, though we know that it's set in Jamaica Bay, New York, and that True Detective: Night Country showrunner Issa Lopez will return as showrunner... and that the new season will share some connective tissue with season 4.

“There's going to be some important connections between everything that happens in Ennis, Alaska, and the characters in Ennis, Alaska, and what happens in the new [season]," Lopez previously told the New York Post. The filmmaker entered an overall deal with HBO after the success of Night Country, which starred Jodi Foster, Kali Reis, Finn Bennett, and John Hawkes.

Cage broke the news to a packed audience at New York Comic Con, dishing on the cancellation of Prime Video series Spider-Noir. Despite the cancellation, he told the crowd, another season of television was on the horizon.

"I think I might do a season of True Detective," Cage announced to massive cheers and applause. "That’s okay that I’m the first to announce that, right?"

True Detective season 5, which will no doubt get its own cool name, is set to start filming in 2027. This means we could expect a late 2028 or early 2029 release date. For more, check out our list of the best shows on HBO Max.

The animated Mister Miracle show has found its lead actors, and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran has teased it's something special.

In an interview with IGN, Peter Safran confirmed that Scott Free, AKA Mister Miracle himself, would be voiced by Josh Hutcherson, with Mackenzie Davis as Big Barda.

"Somewhere in early stages," Safran told the publication of DC's animated projects announced at Annecy. "Absolute Batman, [Scott Snyder's] just working on the scripts right now. Mister Miracle, I think that Tom King really learned a lot in his season of co-creating and executive producing Lanterns and he adapted his book Mister Miracle fully on his own, wrote all eight episodes and I think it's just dynamite. Josh Hutcherson as Scott Free and Mackenzie Davis as Big Barda.

"And I just think it's a book that I've always loved and I remember Tom telling us early on that, every convention he goes to, at least a couple people come up to him and say this book saved my life and I love that we got to tell that story over eight episodes," Safran continued. "And it's just a beautiful story about, 'How do we survive in today's world knowing that we're never going to truly know the answers to the big questions in life?' It's a beautiful book and the adaptation is fantastic so we're excited about that."

Mister Miracle ran from 2017 to 2019 and follows Scott Free's regular life on Earth with Big Barda after escaping Apokolips, exploring his struggles with PTSD.

Next up for DC is Clayface, which arrives this October 23. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else that's on the way.

DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran has addressed the future of Lanterns.

Season 1 of the DCU detective show recently wrapped up on HBO, and while it works well as a standalone season of TV, it also leaves the door open for future instalments.

"This was one great season of television based on a property that had been somewhat irradiated since 2011, right?" Safran told Collider, when asked his takeaway from season 1's reception. "The thing that's most gratifying about this show and this season on HBO is that it's brought Green Lantern back into the conversation, into the public culture in a really positive fashion."

He added: "If we're able to come up with what we believe to be a worthy successor to a beloved and great first season, that's what's going to dictate whether there's a second season."

Safran also confirmed news about season 2 should arrive "before the end of the year." So, it's not long to wait to find out if we'll see the return of the Green Lantern Corps on the small screen.

But we do know that we'll be seeing Aaron Pierre's John Stewart very soon. He's set to return in next year's Man of Tomorrow, which will see Superman and Lex Luthor forced to team up against Brainiac.

Lanterns is streaming on HBO Max now in the US and NOW in the UK, while Man of Tomorrow will release on July 9, 2027. Next up for the DCU is Clayface, which arrives on October 23.

While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

After reports way back in August that he was set to be the new star to flash his badge in the HBO anthology series, Nicolas Cage himself has confirmed that he's set to walk the beat as the newest lawman in True Detective season 5.

At NYCC, the legendary star revealed he's heading back to the small screen after his recent stint as Spider-Noir, which was canceled after its first season on Prime Video. "You can only do so many movies back to back to back, and necessity is the mother of invention," Cage explained (via Entertainment Weekly). "You can connect those dots, too. What do I mean by necessity? Feed the family; don’t do too many movies back to back to back. So I think I’m probably gonna do another season of television," Cage added. "I think I might do a season of True Detective."

Naturally, the announcement sent fans into an uproar, leading Cage to clarify, "That’s okay that I’m the first to announce that, right?"

Cage's venture into the much-loved series follows Jodie Foster and Kali Reis (last seen getting ripped to pieces in the Resident Evil movie) teaming up for True Detective: Night Country in 2024. In 2025, showrunner Issa Lopez was revealed to return to the show in the fifth season and hinted that whatever came next would have some threads connecting to what came before.

“There's going to be some important connections between everything that happens in Ennis, Alaska, and the characters in Ennis, Alaska, and what happens in the new [season]," Lopez told the New York Post.

The new season is set in Jamaica Bay, New York, and is scheduled to arrive in 2027 (via Deadline). That's everything we know so far, but when it comes to True Detective, the more mystery, the better. We look forward to seeing who else pairs up with Cage as the project develops. Speaking of HBO, check out our guide to the 30 best shows on HBO Max.

Way before Lanterns hit screens, there was another Green Lantern show in the works at HBO Max titled Emerald Knights. Now, the creator of the scrapped series has shared concept art, including a new look at the show's Guy Gardner.

Co-creator of the 2012 DC show Arrow, Marc Guggenheim, shared multiple concept pieces on his Substack. The first shows a team of Green Lanterns, including Guy Gardner, Kilowog, Sinestro, and more, fighting against an alien species in space. Guggenheim added that this was the concept for the first episode's opening sequence. The second image shows the design for a new female Lantern, whose appearance is based on actor and singer Janelle Monáe.

The third image gives us a closer look at Guy Gardner in his Green Lantern suit, who was set to be played by American Horror Story star Finn Wittrock. "We were going to alter it slightly to reflect his Justice League International look," added Guggenheim.

The show was set to follow a number of Green Lanterns across different timelines in 1941 and 1984. The '40s timeline would have followed Alan Scott, aka the Golden Age Green Lantern, operating as an FBI agent whilst keeping his sexuality a secret. Jeremy Irvine was cast as Scott. The '80s was focused on Guy and half-alien, half-human Lantern Bree Jarta. While Wittrock was cast as Guy, the team never found Bree's actor.

Emerald Knight was picked up for 10 episodes by HBO in 2020 before being trimmed to 8, and tapped Seth Grahame-Smith as showrunner, with Guggenheim on board as the writer. However, Grahame-Smith left the project in late 2022, and the show saw a rehaul. Then, James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired as DC Studios' co-CEOs, and in 2024, HBO moved forward with the new Green Lantern series, Lanterns.

Though Emerald Knights would have been much more space-set and cosmic than the newly released True Detective-style show, the two do share similarities. Not only was Emerald Knights supposed to take place over two timelines, like Lanterns, and include Sinestro, but Guggenheim reveals that Manhunters were also the "primary villains." It looks like Lanterns will follow the scrapped show's footsteps in the future too, as showrunner Chris Mundy has teased Kilowog's involvement in a potential Lanterns season 2.

Lanterns season 1 is streaming in full on HBO Max. For more, check out our Lanterns review and our Lanterns ending explained, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

Lanterns co-creator and co-writer Tom King has revealed why the team chose to seemingly unpunish Hal Jordan's murderer, explaining that the reality is so much worse than going to jail.

Warning, the following contains major spoilers for Lanterns season 1 episode 8, so make sure you're all caught up before reading on.

In the Lanterns finale, we finally learn who shot and killed Hal Jordan. It turns out to be his girlfriend, Sheriff Kerry Kane. Yep, the same person who found Hal's body frozen on the bleachers and alerted John Stewart back in episode 1. But when John finds out the truth, instead of punishing Kerry or taking her to intergalactic jail, he lets her be.

"We had a big debate. It was like, 'Does Kerry Kane get punished?'" said King on The Ringer-Verse's House of R podcast. "Nothing could punish her more than the fact that she did that thing and she has to live with it. There's no, like, jail isn't worse than that."

John leaves Kerry to live with the fact that she has killed the person she loved. After finding out that Kerry's son Noah is a Manhunter, Hal asks Kerry to meet him at the football field, where he reveals what he knows. He asks Kerry to run away with him. But instead, she panics and shoots him in the head, seemingly out of fear that Hal would kill her son – which is what he would have done if he were following Corp guidelines.

John also lets Noah get away scot-free. As explained earlier in the season, Manhunters are incredibly dangerous extraterrestrials and have wiped out whole species. But even though he saw the destruction one Manhunter caused on a different planet, John chooses not to kill Noah, despite Noah asking him to do it. Instead, John wants Noah to make his own choices aside from what he is programmed to do. In a way, John sees a lot of himself in Noah. You can read more about that in our Lanterns ending explained.

It is not clear if we will ever see Hal again, in the flesh or as a hologram. However, the writers' room for Lanterns season 2 is already open despite HBO not yet renewing the DCU series for a second season. Next up for James Gunn's DCU Chapter One is Clayface followed by Man of Tomorrow, which welcomes back Aaron Pierre's Stewart.

Lanterns season 1 is streaming in full on HBO Max. For more, check out our Lanterns review, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

Following that fiery Lanterns season finale, HBO has yet to renew the record-breaking DCU show for a second season, but that isn't stopping showrunner and writer Chirs Mundy from teasing where Lanterns season 2 could take us.

"We won't be back in Rushville unless something crazy happens in Rushville every 10 years. But it's going to be an Earth-based story that we continue most likely," said Mundy on The Ringer-Verse's The Midnight Boys (around the 1 hour 45 minute mark).

However, with Hal Jordan now seemingly gone for good, fans are wondering who else could join Aaron Pierre's John Stewart on his next adventure. When asked which other Green Lanterns could appear, Mundy said, "Vanessa [Baden Kelly]'s been talking a big Kilowog game for a long time. We've tossed out a lot of different things." Baden Kelly serves as a producer and writer on the show and penned the fan-favorite Lanterns episode 3, 'Outkast'.

First introduced in DC Comics in 1986, Kilowog is the Green Lantern overseeing Sector 674, from the planet Bolovax Vik. The bulky, pink-skinned alien is part of the Lantern Corps, mostly in charge of recruiting and training new members, and is good friends with Stewart in the comics. Mundy didn't confirm Kilowog's involvement in season 2, but it wouldn't be the first time that the show has introduced Lanterns from other planets, as we have already met Sinestro.

But no matter how many Lanterns we meet, Mundy says the story will remain "Earth-based." The writer added, "We've shown that you can leave the planet, so that's good, right? But because of that, we want to make whoever's here as sort of grounded and real as possible. Our idea was just to ground everything and then layer on the other layers. It's like, 'Okay, are you with us? Great. We're going to layer a little bit more in.'"

Though HBO has yet to officially announce Lanterns season 2, Mundy and his team of writers have already started working on new stories. Next up for James Gunn's DCU Chapter One is the DCU's first horror movie Clayface followed by Man of Tomorrow, which will see John Stewart team up with Superman and co.

Lanterns season 1 is streaming in full on HBO Max. For more, check out our Lanterns ending explained, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

Lanterns co-creators were aware that changing the Green Lantern oath is "heresy" so they approached John Stewart's version "like a remix."

In the Lanterns season 1 ending, John – now an 'independent contractor' instead of a member of the Lantern Corps – puts his own twist on the iconic words: "In brightest day, in darkest night, I embrace my fear, I’ll do what’s right. I choose this ring, I choose this fight – in service to this lantern’s light."

But why the change? With apparently "all" of the writers' room contributing to the tweaks, there was a real awareness of not playing with established lore too much.

"This is one of those moments where you're holding your hand close to the flame of canon," co-creator Damon Lindelof said on Lanterns: The Official Podcast. "It is heresy to fuck with the oath… [But] once we put John on the journey that he's on, the only way he can authentically take the ring is to do it on his own terms. Part of that is saying that there are parts of the original oath that feel good to him, but there are other parts he has to claim for himself."

"We approached it like a remix," showrunner Chris Mundy added. "We're not changing it, we're just remixing the original. It has the same feel."

We will next hear John Stewart recite the oath in Man of Tomorrow, the Superman sequel set for release as part of DCU Chapter One next July.

On making the step into the blockbuster space with his Lanterns character, John Stewart actor Aaron Pierre told GamesRadar+, "For me, what was an enormous gift was having those eight hours of HBO [television] to live with before going onto Man of Tomorrow."

Pierre added, "I was on the phone to Chris Mundy. He was like, 'Congratulations, man. You filmed for 106 days out of 112.' Just on that note, to have 106 days with a character before going on in the DC cinematic universe is a gift. That is not a given. I am very grateful I had that.

"That's just the way it worked out. I don't know how intentional it was or wasn't, but I'm forever grateful for that. It allowed me to step onto the Man of Tomorrow set with a deep understanding of who my man John is."

For more on how Lanterns signed off, read our breakdown of the Lanterns season 1 ending. Then discover what's been said about Lanterns season 2.

Lanterns has come to an end with an emotional season finale where we finally learned who killed Hal Jordan. But despite many hoping that Kyle Chandler's Green Lantern would escape his fate, in post-finale interviews, the DCU show's co-creators have made it clear that Hal being alive and well come the final credits was never on the table.

When asked by Collider if Hal could return from the dead in a potential Lanterns season 2, co-creator and writer Damon Lindelof was reticent to speculate, but did confirm, in no uncertain terms, that they never considered ending the season with Hal alive after revealing he was murdered way back in episode 1.

"Even though we knew that it was going to be emotionally devastating and/or disappointing and maybe even frustrating, [we knew] that the worst possible schmuck-baity thing that we could do is show you a pilot where Hal Jordan was definitively dead, and then try to walk it back and say, 'Oh, he was a clone' or 'He's only mostly dead' in the Princess Bride vernacular."

That's pretty definitive, and is something showrunner Chris Mundy echoed in a separate interview with Brandon Davis, saying: "It's absolutely the end of the season and the end of [John and Hal’s] relationship. I think our intent was always just that, to close that off emotionally. That's the best way to say it. I know there's people that love the idea of Hal going forward but… I would never say never to anything, but it's also like that closed the book on our story for this season."

So, no, despite everyone on god's green Earth hoping that Kyle Chandler's Hal would somehow turn out to be alive and well by the end of the season, it seems that was never on the cards. However, both Mundy and Lindelof left the door ever so slightly ajar on the idea that Hal could return in future seasons, with Lindelof concluding, "Where there's a will, there's a way." It's an ember of hope, at least...

Alongside the reveal of Hal's murderer, the Lanterns season 1 finale confirmed a heavily rumored theory: that Kerry's son, Noah, was a secret Manhunter all along. It also saw John come into possession of a fear-infused lantern crafted by Sinestro. For a full breakdown, be sure to check out our Lanterns ending explained.

Lanterns is streaming now on HBO Max, and on NOW in the UK. For more, head over to our guides on both DCU Chapter One and upcoming DC movies.

Lanterns has come to a dramatic end on HBO Max, finally resolving the mystery around Hal Jordan's death. In an exciting finale, we finally got some closure on what happened in Rushville as well as a bit of a tease for what's to come next in Man of Tomorrow. However, while the final episode drew this story to a close, many will be wondering if this is the end of the road for the DCU show.

Well, it seems like there is some hope on the horizon. We get into all the details revealed about that from James Gunn and the show's creators below. We've also got the speculative lowdown on when a new season could come and what it could cover.

Here's your spoiler warning, though: we'll be getting into plot details from the final episode below. So make sure you're up to speed before reading on.

Will there be a Lanterns season 2?

Well, first of all, it's worth pointing out that Lanterns season 2 has not been officially announced yet. But despite closing the loop on Hal Jordan's murder, there are still plenty of loose threads left dangling in episode 8, leaving plenty of room for more. And we already know that John Stewart will return in Man of Tomorrow.

There's also been a lot of talk about a potential second season. Speaking at the start of the show's release, co-showrunner Chris Mundy said they had ideas for more. "The question is whether [season two] is a story people are interested in," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "If that's the case, then we’ll get to do another one. We'll tell it in a slightly different way, so that it feels fresh, with characters you know and care about."

At the time, in late August, he said of their plans: "We're about six weeks into laying out a season, and then we'll talk to folks about it really soon." Now, we don't know exactly how that pitch went, as there has been no confirmation yet about a second season. However, it certainly seems there are some plans in motion.

As well as this, James Gunn recently gave us a little tease that has fired up hopes. Replying to a viewer on Threads, he confirmed that episode 8 is the "season finale" rather than the "series finale". It's a small difference, but one that definitely leaves the door open for more.

Lanterns has been a critical hit for HBO, and has pulled in some 19 million viewers per episode on average, making it one of the network's most successful shows ever. So it would be surprising at this stage if season 2 didn't go ahead. However, there is a precedent for Lanterns being a one-off: The Penguin was a similarly successful DC show on HBO, and despite early hope it would return for season 2, that no longer seems like it will be the case. At the very least, we know John Stewart will return in Man of Tomorrow.

What could happen in Lanterns season 2?

Well, this is the big question. The story in Rushville was tied up in the first season of Lanterns, as were the circumstances around Hal Jordan's death. This all means that a second season of the show would look very different, and likely be missing one of its two main stars.

When John Stewart powers up Hal's old ring with his 'unsanctioned' lantern, he overwrites the Halogram, effectively killing the last remaining remnant of Hal.

However, there are some options open to the creators. One potential avenue is to approach Lanterns like an anthology show. After all, there are a whole lot more Green Lanterns who could be featured in another season to draw from.

Another option could be to focus more on John Stewart's character. This direction will likely depend on what happens in Man of Tomorrow, which is the next place that he'll be popping up. We'll have to wait and see on that one.

There's also the possibility of Sinestro bringing Hal back from the dead, potentially as Parallax – a possibility that the show leaves the door open for. And Noah's future is a huge unanswered question. As Hal himself says, there could be a Manhunter sitting in the White House one day if John doesn't do something about it. This would need to be addressed in subsequent seasons or other DCU projects.

Whatever they decide to do, given the strength of season 1, we've got total faith in the helmers of this slice of the DC universe.

When will Lanterns season 2 come out? Speculation over a potential release date

Given that it has not yet even been announced, it's pretty hard to have a go at working out when Lanterns season 2 could happen. It does sound like the creators are a good way into mapping out their plans for more episodes, but it will all depend on whether it gets greenlit.

Work began in early 2024 on the first season before filming took place in early 2025. The show arrived a year and a half after that in August 2026. If we get any filming updates, this will give us more of an idea when a second season could slot in.

Lanterns is available to stream on HBO Max now. For more, check out our guide to upcoming DC movies and shows on the way, including Clayface, which hits theaters next.

If you're looking for what to stream this weekend, then you're in luck. We've got everything you need for a break in front of the TV right here.

With everything from superhero TV show Lanterns to a Netflix adaptation of a classic novel available this weekend, there's bound to be something for everyone on our list below. You'll also find some horror movies here, too, so you can start getting ready for spooky season in style.

So, for our picks of the best choices to stream this weekend, head to the below. If you're looking for even more recommendations, we've even linked our guides to the best movies and shows on each streaming service, too. Happy watching!

Lanterns finale

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: HBO Max/NOW

The final episode of DCU Chapter One's Lanterns is almost upon us. The show has emerged as an unexpected highlight of the year, and it's essential viewing ahead of next year's Man of Tomorrow, since Aaron Pierre will reprise his role as John Stewart in that film.

While we finally know the identity of the Manhunter, there is one big mystery Lanterns has left to resolve: who killed Hal Jordan? The finale will surely have answers for us.

For more, you can check out our spoiler-free Lanterns review.

From Lanterns to Game of Thrones, check out our pick of the best HBO Max shows.

East of Eden

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Netflix

Florence Pugh stars in this fresh adaptation of John Steinbeck's seminal novel East of Eden. Pugh plays Cathy Ames, the complex woman at the heart of a tale that spans generations.

The novel was notably adapted into the 1955 film of the same name starring James Dean and directed by Elia Kazan, and it's Elia Kazan's granddaughter, Zoe Kazan, behind the new TV show.

East of Eden is set in Salinas, California, and it tells the story of the Trask family and the Hamilton family across decades. Cathy Ames is probably one of literature's most complicated and fascinating female characters, and this new adaptation puts the focus on her.

Fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best Netflix shows.

Barbarian

Available: US
Where to watch: Hulu

If you enjoyed Resident Evil, then you can't go wrong with checking out director Zach Cregger's first movie Barbarian.

The film stars Georgina Campbell as Tess, a woman who's Airbnb stay turns into a nightmare when she arrives to find it double booked... and later discovers a horrifying secret in the basement.

Justin Long, Bill Skarsgård, and Matthew Patrick Davis co-star. There's no better way to kick off the spooky season.

We've got a guide to the best Disney Plus movies for more to watch next.

Kill Jackie

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: AMC+/Amazon Prime

Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in this crime thriller as Jackie Price, a woman who realizes a team of hitmen are after her.

But, instead of running away, Jackie chooses to fight back. Daniel Ings, Raff Law, and Darci Shaw co-star.

The show is adapted from the novel The Price You Pay by Nick Harkaway (under his pseudonym Aidan Truhen) and streams on AMC+ in the US and Prime Video in the UK.

Check out our picks of the best shows on Prime Video.

Backrooms

Available: US
Where to watch: HBO Max

Liminal horror movie Backrooms is streaming on HBO Max in the US now, and it's arriving in the UK later in October.

The film is based on an old creepypasta and is directed by Kane Parsons, with Renate Reinsve and Chiwetel Ejiofor starring.

The film explores the creepy, titular space between dimensions, and, if you're looking for a more unconventional scare this Halloween season, this is the place to go.

See our guide to the best movies on HBO Max for even more.

If you're after any more streaming recommendations, here are our guides to the best Apple TV Plus shows available now.

Lanterns is set to bring its season to a close this Sunday, but DC boss James Gunn seemingly isn't ruling out a second season.

"I've seen Lanterns 500 times and even I'm excited for next week's finale," the DC Studios co-CEO wrote on Threads.

When a fan asked for clarification on whether it was a series finale or season finale, Gunn followed up: "Season finale, correct."

The first season of Lanterns has followed Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre's John Stewart as they investigated a mystery of cosmic proportions in the sleepy town of Rushville, Nebraska.

But at its (crystalized) heart is another mystery: who killed Hal Jordan? As of episode 7, we're still none the wiser – but it's good to know that bumping off one half of the Lantern duo hasn't harmed our chances of a second season. It's worth remembering, too, that Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) is still waiting in the wings, bowl cut and all.

Lanterns co-creator/showrunner Chris Mundy has also addressed the chances of a second season. While there's no official green light for the project, pre-production work is well underway for a follow up.

Mundy told The Hollywood Reporter, "The question is whether [season two] is a story people are interested in. "If that's the case, then we'll get to do another one. We'll tell it in a slightly different way, so that it feels fresh, with characters you know and care about."

Mundy added, "We're about six weeks into laying out a season, and then we'll talk to folks about it really soon."

Lanterns is airing weekly on HBO and HBO Max. For news about the finale, check out the Lanterns release schedule.

If you need to know more about the DCU-at-large, we have guides on both DCU Chapter One and upcoming DC movies.

The Lanterns finale trailer is here – and it appears to be paving the way for John Stewart to be the DCU's Green Lantern.

The trailer, which you can see below, sets up next Sunday's episode in decidedly cryptic fashion, but focuses first and foremost on John Stewart coming face to face with disgraced former Lantern Sinestro on an alien planet.

"The Lantern Corps thinks that fear makes you weak," Sinestro begins. "They couldn't be more wrong."

Those with even a passing knowledge of Lantern lore will know that Sinestro became a Yellow Lantern after wielding a Power Ring that tapped into the power of fear. Worse still, that energy – an entity known as Parallax – would later take over Hal Jordan's body, causing untold destruction and death across the galaxy.

Are we looking at the first steps towards DCU Chapter One's Big Bad right here? Sinestro's next line certainly suggests so: "Fear can be the most powerful force in the universe."

Then there's the small matter of uncovering who killed Hal Jordan. Mercifully, the Lanterns finale trailer has gone light on the spoilers, only sprinkling in a few shots from the upcoming episode. But it does seem like the mystery will be solved come Sunday night – but what it means for the Green Lanterns after that is anyone's guess.

Whatever comes next, Lanterns season 2 appears to be happening.

"The question is whether [season 2] is a story people are interested in," showrunner Chris Mundy told The Hollywood Reporter, adding that he's several weeks into mapping out the next season.

"If that's the case, then we’ll get to do another one. We'll tell it in a slightly different way, so that it feels fresh, with characters you know and care about."

Aaron Pierre's John Stewart will also appear in Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. On shifting from television to film for the first time in the role, Pierre told GamesRadar+, "For me, what was an enormous gift was having those eight hours of HBO [television] to live with before going onto Man of Tomorrow."

"I was on the phone to [showrunner] Chris Mundy the other day. He was like, 'Congratulations, man. You filmed for 106 days out of 112.' Just on that note, to have 106 days with a character before going on in the DC cinematic universe is a gift. That is not a given. I am very grateful I had that. That's just the way it worked out. I don't know how intentional it was or wasn't, but I'm forever grateful for that. It allowed me to step onto the Man of Tomorrow set with a deep understanding of who my man John is."

Lanterns is currently airing weekly on HBO Max.

For more, check out the upcoming DC movies currently in the works, as well as all the latest on Clayface.

Comic backstories are usually in a state of flux, with pieces of history picked up and deployed at a writer's whim to suit whatever story they're trying to tell.

But there are (usually) hard and fast rules: Superman landed in Kansas, Bruce Wayne watched his parents die in Crime Alley, and Hal Jordan watched his father die in a test flight.

While Lanterns keeps the latter intact, it offers up a key tweak that not only reframes the character – but the entirety of Kyle Chandler's excellent performance so far.

Spoilers for Lanterns episode 7 follow.

In the penultimate episode of Lanterns' first season, we – and Aaron Pierre's John Stewart – discover the 'Jordan Boys' Legacy'.

Far from being a DC MacGuffin or interstellar trinket, it is, in fact, evidence of generational trauma passed down from one Jordan male to another. Hal's father actually wanted to die on that test flight, while Hal has been struggling with his own mental health issues ever since.

In one moment, the Halogram – Hal's AI backup – neatly summarizes it: "I'm not fearless because I'm brave; I'm fearless because I'm broken."

When discussing the change with The Wrap, showrunner Chris Mundy and co-creator Damon Lindelof were acutely aware of not wanting to mess with established comic history too much.

"When you're playing around with the canon, you have to treat it like you're handling plutonium," Lindelof said. "But at the same time, there's kind of no fun and creativity and originality in that, so you simultaneously sort of have to start to kind of iterate."

Of the reasoning behind the change, Munday stated, "It's more to build into the character. It's more history. It's more darkness. It's more pathology of the character."

Of course, that puts the mystery of who killed Hal Jordan into even sharper focus. The finale will hopefully provide some answers, even if the spectre of the Jordan Boys' Legacy looms large.

Lanterns is airing on HBO and HBO Max in the US and NOW TV and HBO Max in the UK.

For more, check out the Lanterns release schedule and our guide to DCU Chapter One and upcoming DC movies.

It's a movie-heavy week on our streaming recommendation list this weekend as several big new films hit the platforms. We've not only finally got the chance to see Toy Story 5 on the small screen but there are also two brand-new movies hitting Netflix and Prime Video that could not be more different.

As well as feature-length offerings, Apple TV has you covered on the comedy front with Brothers. The new mockumentary-style drama stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey as potential half-siblings in a fun sitcom take on the wild true story. Then over on HBO Max, Sharon Horgan's long-awaited return to TV hits HBO Max with Youth.

So while it might be a big week over at the theaters (hello, Avengers: Endgame Encore), there's also plenty to kick back at stream at home as well. So let's get stuck into our big streaming recommendations below.

Toy Story 5

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Disney Plus

Toy Story's triumphant return has finally arrived on streaming after being released in theaters earlier this year. This time around, it's Jessie who takes center stage as the leader of the toys in the wake of Bonnie's new obsession with Lilypad, a tablet consuming all of her time.

It's a timely topic as technology continues to become a bigger part of childhood, but Toy Story 5 also contains everything you would expect from a Pixar movie: humor, heart, and a cracking soundtrack. Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack return to the voice cast in a film that honors the originals while taking the franchise somewhere new.

You can also check out our interview with director Andrew Stanton about why Jessie is the heart of the story.

For more of what to watch, here's our guide to the best movies on Disney Plus.

Brothers

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Apple TV

The real story that inspired Apple TV's new comedy series is pretty wild. A few years ago, Matthew McConaughey's mother revealed that he had a relationship with Woody Harrelson's dad around the time when Matthew was conceived. While he hasn't taken a paternity test, this could mean that the two Hollywood stars and True Detective co-stars could be half brothers.

This new show takes this a step further as the pair decide to live together with their families at McConaughey's Texas ranch after Harrelson's daughter's wedding falls apart. Reviews have praised the chemistry between the two leads, calling it a charming watch. The first two episodes are out now with new ones released weekly.

Here's our round-up of the best shows on Apple TV as well.

The Love Hypothesis

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Prime Video

Prime Video are continuing their run of rom-coms with The Love Hypothesis, a fake dating romance set at Stanford University. It follows Ph.D. candidate Olive Smith as she pretends to be dating professor Adam Carlsen in order to convince her best friend she no longer has feelings for their mutual friend. Carlsen agrees in order to improve his grumpy reputation at the college and help him secure funding for his grant by proving he's putting down roots in California.

The movie is a lot of fun with Tom Bateman and Lili Reinhart's chemistry as the lead couple selling the story. There's also a strange origin story too, which may pique your interest. The novel it's based on by Ali Hazelwood actually started life as an alternate university fanfiction about Kylo Ren and Rey from Star Wars. The connections don't stop there either as the leading man is actually played by Daisy Ridley's real-life husband in a fun link to the saga.

We've got a guide to the best movies on Prime Video for what to watch next.

Youth

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: HBO Max

Sharon Horgan is back again with another new hilarious TV show. The brilliant mind behind Pulling, Catastrophe, and Bad Sisters has turned her hand to exploring dating in your 50s. Her character is divorcée navigating a new world of romance while also juggling a publishing career and a teenage son. Rupert Friend, Sharlene Whyte, and Aran Murphy all star alongside her as well as cameos from Harriet Walter, Freddie Fox, and Damian Lewis.

The first season has already landed a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score as well as critics have been calling it hilarious and vulnerable in equal measure. Two episodes are out now with new ones dropping every week on HBO Max.

From Lanterns to Game of Thrones, check out our pick of the best HBO Max shows.

Unabomber

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Netflix

Former child star Jacob Tremblay takes on his darkest role yet in the Netflix movie Unabomber. Directed by Janus Metz Pedersen, who has previously helmed episodes of Andor, the new film centers on the true story of Ted Kaczynski, a domestic terrorist who was active for 20 years through a nationwide mail bombing campaign in the United States.

The film flits between two timelines: Kaczynski's time at Harvard and his manhunt many years later. Alongside The Little Mermaid star Tremblay, Unabomber also stars Russell Crowe, Shailene Woodley, and Annabelle Wallis.

There's plenty other films to stream too if you check out our ranking of the best Netflix movies.

If you're after any more streaming recommendations, here are our guides to the best Netflix shows and the best Disney Plus shows available right now.

Four years after it was announced, Game of Thrones star Kit Harington says he can see his shelved Jon Snow sequel series moving forward despite previously being reluctant.

"I still think there’s a world in which something could work. I wouldn’t have gone into it in the first place if I didn’t," said Harington on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. "Now I’ve gone and done all these other things, and now I feel more comfortable with that character and that world again and where it sits in my life."

The spin-off went into development in 2022, and according to Harington, was being worked on for two years. The show was set to follow Snow living in exile behind the wall after the events of the main series, broken and living alone without his direwolf Ghost or his sword Longclaw. But in 2024, Harington confirmed that the project had been scrapped because it wasn't "exciting enough," and HBO found it too downbeat.

The star says at first he was all in, but over time, he grew more reluctant to go back to the fantasy world. "I was very insistent at the start, as was HBO and George R.R. Martin. Like, 'If we don’t find the right thing, let’s not do it. It’s much better if we don’t.' After a little while of thinking about it, it kind of was me. [I said], 'This isn’t quite the right [story].'"

Not all is lost, though, as earlier this year, Drops of God's Quoc Dang Tran joined the project. The story has seemingly been refreshed, with the tale now set in Essos, with Snow's sister, Arya Stark, now reportedly involved.

However, Harington is now set to join another huge fantasy franchise as the star has been cast as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the second season of HBO's Harry Potter series. Harington previously voiced the character for Audible's Full Cast Audio editions of the Potter books. Harington added that the Harry Potter books helped him through a difficult time in his life tackling sobriety, adding, "Lockhart is addicted to himself… It’s just a tiny step to my left [for me]."

For more, check out our list of the best HBO shows, and keep up with upcoming Game of Thrones movies and TV shows on the way.

James Gunn is standing by the decision to kill off Hal Jordan at the beginning of Lanterns. The character, played by Kyle Chandler in the HBO show, was found dead during a 2026 flash-forward at the end of episode one, appearing in 2016 flashbacks from that point onwards.

One fan took to social media to complain about this decision, calling it the "worst thing" the DCU has done so far. "Maybe you should try and at least respect the characters that made the comics popular. Killing Hal off right away after we have waited 15 years to see him on screen again was the worst thing you could have done," they wrote on Threads to the DC Studios head.

Gunn replied to the criticism, doubling down on the approach they took in the Lanterns show. "Hal's the star of TV series & he's in all the episodes so far," he wrote on Threads. "It's more live action screen time than all the live action screen time he's had combined throughout history. Kyle is amazing in the role. We more than respect him. We love him, despite his imperfections."

He went on to explain that their approach is not as simple as the fan was implying. "Us knowing the time of his death, if that's exactly what that is, is absolutely not the same thing as killing him off right away," he continued. "Hal is a big reason why the show is so popular with fans & non-fans alike; sorry if you don't like it."

It's a fair point. Hal has actually had more screen time than Superman so far, meaning that he's a huge part of the DCU. While it will likely mean he won't appear beyond Lanterns, unlike his co-star Aaron Pierre, who is reprising John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow, he is undeniably a big part of the universe on screen so far.

There is also still a question hanging over Hal's death, as Gunn hints at here when he says "if that's exactly what it is". Ever since the first episode, fans have been wondering whether Hal is actually dead or whether his body is actually a Manhunter in disguise. However, episode 6 did seemingly narrow down the potential suspects, leaving me to wonder if he is actually gone after all.

For more, check out our Lanterns review and our Lanterns release schedule guide. We've also got a breakdown of all the other new DCU movies and shows you need to know about.

Superman standout Skyler Gisondo will soon return as Jimmy Olsen in a new show, billed as a true crime documentary set in the DC universe.

That already sounds like something brand new, but Jimmy Olsen actor Gisondo has further teased how unique the show – from Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault – is shaping up to be.

"This show, especially, is so fun because I've never seen anything like it – the idea of a mockumentary set in a superhero world. Tony [Yacenda] and Dan [Perrault] are such masters," Gisondo told Collider. "I was such an enormous fan of American Vandal, and so to be working with these guys whose work I love, I think this show is going to be a very unique angle on all of this stuff, and very unexpected in some way, and we’re having a blast.

"Similarly to the way [Primetime director] Lance [Oppenheim] works, because it's this true-crime mockumentary thing," he continued. "It's a lot of verité stuff. It always feels very alive. We're filming courthouse sequences where it's just the CCTV cams, so it feels like a play. We're just running through. So it's been really fun. We're only a little ways into it, so hopefully it turns out alright."

The first season will focus on Gorilla Grodd, and he's already stolen hearts thanks to set photos that hit the internet of the ape at college.

The People v. Gorilla Grodd doesn't yet have a release date. Next up for DC is Clayface, while Lanterns is releasing weekly now.

You can keep up to date with everything else on the way with our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows.

A new mid-season trailer for Lanterns has arrived online, hyping up the final three episodes of the critically acclaimed series that we’re pretty positive isn’t going to end on a bright note. For one, the closer we get to the end, the closer we are to Hal Jordan's demise, which is a real pity given how exceptional a job Kyle Chandler has done with the character.

Following the events of episode 5 – “Lights Out” – the show jumps forward ten years, when John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) returns to Rushville after leaving it in ruins and to his former mentor, who is clearly still sore about being replaced. Sometime after this incredibly tense reunion, Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion) will finally make an appearance, and we might hopefully learn just how Earth’s newest Green Lantern and former “Athletic Director” ended up with the ring after John turned it down.

It’s also worth noting that even though Hal might be dead, someone who has an incredibly similar build looks to be accompanying John on his journey across what looks like a dead wasteland. Could the Hal-ogram be back in action, and once again give us a rarely seen chipper Hal from his younger years? Honestly, at this point, whatever gives us more of Chandler playing the greatest Green Lantern to ever live, the better.

From there, we get glimpses of John seemingly going off-world and crossing paths with the teacher who taught his teacher, Thaal Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), plus one shot that will no doubt get GLC fans in a tizzy. For the briefest of moments, we see what looks like an abandoned machine with a very yellow tint. Could this all have been leading to Sinestro getting to work on a yellow ring, or indeed his own corps, just like in the comics? Or could something even worse be on the horizon, and John, who has spent years being fearless, be about to use fear as a weapon? Like Sinestro says, “fear can be the most powerful force in the universe.”

The next episode of Lanterns arrives on HBO Max and NOW TV on Sunday, but be sure to stay updated on every other upcoming DC movie and show, courtesy of our nifty guide.

After spending a hefty part of his career dealing with magic and dragons in Game of Thrones, venturing into the wizarding world of HBO's Harry Potter series sounds like a breeze for Kit Harington, and it sounds like he thinks so too. During an appearance on Today, the star spoke about signing on to play Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, after replacing Nicholas Hoult, who left the project due to scheduling issues.

"When I knew this was happening as a series, I thought it was the best idea," Harington explained. "I love the films, but with this, they can really explore the books at their fullest, and for a book nerd like me, that was a really great idea."

Harington certainly has a point about the show having more time and space to dive into the books they're adapting. A lot was omitted from the 2002 take on Chamber of Secrets, including some of Lockhart's scenes (then played by Kenneth Branagh). There's a lot more to see that highlights just how self-indulgent and grandiose the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher gets, getting involved where he's not wanted, including in other classes.

There's also his ridiculous Valentine's Day breakfast where he turns the Great Hall a horrific shade of pink and has dwarves dressed in wings carrying around harps. These plot points won't be new for the star, though, given that he actually voiced the character in the Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions audiobooks last year.

Now isn't the time to get ahead of ourselves, though, given that we've not even boarded the Hogwarts Express just yet for the first season. It's then that we get properly acquainted with the new Boy Who Lived and his pals, who are this time played by Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger. Nick Frost as Hagrid, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall will also be there to teach them lessons and save their lives when they can.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone arrives on HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day. Also keep an eye out for new TV shows arriving later this year.

After plenty of speculation, HBO boss Casey Bloys may have just confirmed that The Last of Us will end after season 3.

"I think [showrunner] Craig [Mazin] has planned it as the final season," Bloys told Deadline, when asked to confirm whether or not it would be the final season.

Last year, composer Jake Staley told the The Last of Us: Savage Starlight podcastthat "there’ll be at least two more seasons, no question" after HBO announced season 3. Keep in mind that season 1 told the story of The Last of Us video game over nine hour-long episodes, with season 2 telling just one half of The Last of Us Part 2. The first half of Part 2 tells Ellie's side of the story, with the second half focusing on Abby – which is what season 3 will do. A fourth season would make a lot of sense, as the final part of the game takes place sometime later and showcases Ellie's life with Dina before she and Abby have their big final fight.

As someone who has played their way through both games, I definitely believe that Abby's story deserves its own dedicated season (since that's the way they chose to break it up. They could've done an every-other-episode perspective switch instead, but alas). That being said, it's possible that the last part of the game will be crammed into a big epic series finale... but we'll just have to wait and see.

The Last of Us season 3 is expected to premiere on HBO in 2027. For more, check out our guide to the best shows on HBO Max, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.

There's one chapter left to be told with House of the Dragon season 4, but the question for fans is how long before they begin getting it ready. There have been lengthy gaps between seasons so far, but now one of its core cast members has hinted at when we can expect the cameras to start rolling.

During an interview with ScreenRant, Olivia Cooke was asked whether she's started work on the final season, and if not, how long until she’s back in the Seven Kingdoms and getting up to her elbows in treachery and familial bickering on an epic scale.

"I haven't. I haven't. We start filming next spring, but I don't really know," Cooke explained. "I'm sure it'll take me ages. You know, I'm English. My emotions are far, far deep down. [...] you know a year later that I'll finally feel the grief from that show ending.”

If history has shown us anything, the chances are that she’ll be grieving along with the rest of us when you consider how long between each season’s release. Since its 2022 debut, a new season of House of the Dragon has been released every two years, which hasn’t helped the show overall. A recent report confirmed that year-long breaks between seasons have led to viewership drops, which begs the question of whether House of the Dragon’s final chapter will end on a high, or barely keep the fires burning.

It's worth considering that following last season's events, Alicent could find herself emotionally charged after the death of her daughter. Might she hold Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) responsible, or could there be other issues to address, specifically the union formed between Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell)?

For now, we can only sit and speculate and hope that the gods are a little kinder in getting us to the show’s finish line and that it doesn’t end on such a divisive note as Game of Thrones did.

House of the Dragon season 4 releases in 2028. For more from the world of Westeros, here's every upcoming Game of Thrones movie and TV show in the pipeline.

Lanterns episode 5 finally confirmed the identity of the Manhunter hiding out in Rushville. But given there are still three episodes to go, fans aren't convinced that the Manhunter threat is over.

Warning: full spoilers for Lanterns episode 5 follow!

After all but confirming it last week, Lanterns episode 5 makes it clear as a crystal heart that Zoe Macon is the mysterious Manhunter who's been pulling the strings from behind the scenes in Rushville. By the end of the episode, however, the Manhunter is dead, after John Stewart shoots the shapeshifter in the head and removes its heart.

Mission accomplished, right? Not exactly. Episode 5 features several clues that could point to the existence of a second Manhunter, created by Zoe during her time on Earth. And fans think the second Manhunter in question is none other than Zoe's grandson, Noah.

Noah is, of course, Sheriff Kerry's son and has been a conspicuous presence since the first episode, where we learn he's still around and playing college football during the 2026 flash-forward. In episode 5, it's shown that the Manhunter saved Kerry from Gotham gangsters who pursued her to Rushville. Kerry later confesses to Hal Jordan that she's known the identity of the Manhunter all along, revealing that Zoe gave her a "miracle." Now, this could simply mean that Zoe saved Kerry's life by helping fake her death and keeping the gangsters off her back, but children born following difficulties to conceive are often referred to as "miracles," which has led some to believe that Zoe gave Kerry and Billy their son, Noah.

This is further backed up by the Manhunter's advanced alien technology, with which she's able to cure cancer, generate an entirely new layer of skin for John Stewart after he's burned alive, and seemingly eradicate all illness from Rushville (it certainly explains why the hospital is empty). The idea that Zoe could create a new lifeform, potentially even another Manhunter, is well within the realm of possibility.

Taken to its logical extreme, this could mean that Noah is responsible for Hal Jordan's death in 2026. If Hal were to learn that Noah is a Manhunter, that would give him reason to return to Rushville. Given his fondness for Sheriff Kerry, there's no doubt he'd hesitate when it comes to Noah, even if he is a Manhunter, which could be what ultimately costs him his life.

Of course, this is all wild theorizing for now, but it's speculation we can get behind as Lanterns heads into uncharted territory following an explosive fifth episode that felt more like a season finale than a mid-season chapter. With only three episodes left to go, there's not long till the truth is revealed.

Lanterns releases on HBO Max in the US and UK, and on Sky/NOW in the UK. Read our Lanterns release schedule guide so you don't miss a moment, as well as our Lanterns review for why you should be watching the show.

DCU show Lanterns returned to HBO this week with its fourth episode, bringing us back to Rushville, where the mystery of the Manhunter was brought to light. However, in the midst of the chaos, you may have missed Aaron Pierre's accent slip-up.

During a tense interrogation scene, Pierre's John Stewart asks, "Who are you?" slamming his hand on the table, then, in the most prominent South London accent, he shouts, "Speak up!" The clip has since gone viral on Twitter. Pierre had so far been able to keep Stewart's Detroit accent steady, but fans seem to be celebrating the added hint of English nonetheless.

Although the slip-up may be a little embarrassing for Pierre, HBO Max UK is seeing the funny side of the situation. The streamer posted a 'fan edit' of Pierre on Instagram containing the scene in question followed by Stewart's most iconic moments. The caption reads, "You can take Aaron Pierre out of Croydon, but you can't take the Croydon out of Aaron Pierre." Check out the post below.

It should come as no surprise that fans are loving the edit. "The Green Mandem'" commented one fan, and another added, "Brightest day, darkest night innit." Many are praising how HBO has handled the slip-up, with one pointing out, "You have to admit it's next level marketing for a streaming company to make memes of a flaw in the actor's performance rather than hoping people ignore said flaw."

The slip-up doesn't change the fact that Pierre has done an amazing job in bringing Green Lantern trainee Stewart to life alongside Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan. The DCU Chapter One show debuted to a near-perfect 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has become one of HBO's most successful shows ever behind House of the Dragon and The Last of Us. In our Lanterns review, we awarded the show 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Lanterns continues to release weekly. See our Lanterns release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our breakdown of how to watch DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd, a mockumentary based on the DC comic of the same name, has begun filming and set leaks are abound. Some DC fans, however, aren't convinced that the gorilla we've seen in the photos is the titular gorilla on trial.

There have been many leaked set photos, from a gorilla in some '80s-style garb to that same gorilla in a graduation gown to even dancing in a tuxedo. Reactions to the first look at the film have been mixed, to say the least, but one fan posited a theory that the costumed gorilla may be the DC character King Solomon instead.

The fan pointed out that King Solomon frequently wore clothes, something that Grodd does not do in the comics, and that James Gunn has already mentioned the specific comic starring King Solomon on social media, going so far as to call it a direct influence on Superman and DC overall. The on-set gorilla also appears to be wearing the exact same outfit King Solomon wore in the comics.

"I think they're two random Gorillas who know Grodd, and were called to participate in the documentary, talking about him," another fan posited.

"I think either Grodd hired Solomon to fill in for him in public or Solomon is a symbol of gorillas coming into society," said another.

In my opinion, it's highly likely that modern day audiences don't want to see a naked gorilla on screen and that putting Grodd in regular clothes humanizes him just a bit... but only time will tell.

The People v Gorilla Grodd does not yet have a release date. For more of what's on the way, check out our guide to upcoming DC movies and shows.

With an endless stream of content hitting platforms on a daily basis, it can be hard to know what to watch. Scroll no longer, as we've got you covered with our carefully curated list of the best shows and movies hitting streaming this weekend.

From a superhero blockbuster to the return of a beloved Australian comedy, there's plenty of variety on offer, with options on a range of streaming services. So, whatever you're subscribed to, there should be something to watch.

Below you'll find recommendations from HBO Max, Peacock, Apple TV, Paramount Plus and, of course, Netflix. And, while we don't have any specific Disney Plus or Prime Video recommendations this week (once you've caught up with the latest episode of Reacher, which features a very funny Tom Cruise reference, anyway), we do have guides to the best Prime Video movies and the best Disney Plus shows. For our very latest streaming recommendations, head below.

Supergirl

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: HBO Max

Supergirl didn't exactly soar at the box office; in fact, it made less than notorious flops Joker 2 and Morbius. But don't let that put you off, as Supergirl has much to recommend, not least a spirited performance from Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El.

The second movie in James Gunn's DCU Chapter One, Supergirl takes place ahead of Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, and it's essential viewing ahead of next summer's DC offering. Plus, who can pass up more time with good boy Krypto?

Keep the watch party going with our list of the best HBO Max movies.

The Paper season 2

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Peacock (US), Sky One/NOW (UK)

The second season of this surprisingly charming spin-off of The Office (US) is out to binge in full, with all 10 episodes now streaming. Set in the newsroom of a local newspaper in terminal decline, it mirrors much of what made The Office great: goofy characters, sharp gags and a classic will-they-won't-they romance.

We'd be lying if we said this comes close to The Office, despite the involvement of US Office creator Greg Daniels, but it's an enjoyable enough facsimile, and Domhnall Gleeson is a terrific comedic centerpiece as editor Ned Sampson. Plus, Office supporting character Oscar Martinez appears in the show, so you never know who might make the trip over from Scranton one day.

Fill out your watchlist with our look ahead at the new TV shows to come in 2026.

Last Seen

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Apple TV

This riveting thriller is Apple TV's first Australian original. Set in a fictional port town, it stars Patrick Brammall (of Colin From Accounts fame, see below) as former chief of police Ian Ridely, who turned to operating emergency phone lines after the disappearance of his 3-year-old daughter 11 years prior. After her body is seemingly unearthed following a mudslide, Ian answers an emergency call from a young woman he believes to be his now-teenage daughter, setting him off on a quest to find the daughter he thought lost.

Based on a page-turner novel and directed by The Crown's Christian Schwochow, it's one of those shows where you'll lament the weekly wait between episodes. But the good news is, the first two dropped at the same time, with new episodes set to air weekly on Wednesdays.

Once you've devoured the first two episodes, check out our list of the best Apple TV shows.

Call My Agent! The Movie

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Netflix

It's been five years since comedy series Call My Agent! came to an end with the fourth and final season, and now the former ASK talent agency team are back for a sequel movie. Set in real time, half a decade after the closure of ASK, Andréa is now directing a movie. But when disaster strikes and the lead actor drops out, the former team reunites to save the project.

It's funny enough on its own merit, but one of the treats of Call My Agent! was seeing which famous French actors cameoed across the series (Sigourney Weaver even popped up). We won't spoil them here, but there are some big-name Hollywood cameos to watch out for in the movie.

Looking for something else? Here's our list of the best movies on Netflix.

Colin From Accounts season 3

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Paramount Plus (US), BBC iPlayer (UK)

The third and final season of this delightful Australian comedy show is now out in full, perfect for a weekend binge. Gordon (Patrick Brammall) and Ashley (Harriet Dyer) are the ideal mismatched couple, brought together by their injured dog, Colin From Accounts (the name will make sense when you watch it). But after seemingly breaking up for good following a failed proposal at the end of season 2, can their undeniable connection bring them back together?

Alongside the winning leads and a sky-high gag rate, Colin From Accounts is such a treat because Gordon and Ashley are a perfectly messy pairing. Brammell and Dyer are married in real life and, despite their characters being all wrong for each other in many ways, you can't help but hope it works out for them.

For more great shows, check out our list of the best shows on Paramount Plus.

Need more? Check out our guide to the best shows on Prime Video.

Upcoming DC mockumentary The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd has started filming, and the set leaks have been coming thick and fast. The biggest reveal so far has been the first look at the DCU's take on villain Gorilla Grodd, who has been spotted doing everything from singing in an acapella group to dancing in a tuxedo.

Several students at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, where the show is being filmed, have been sharing videos from the first day of filming. These feature the notorious gorilla during his college years in the '80s. Right now, he looks pretty realistic as simply an anthropomorphic gorilla, but it's not clear if this will just be a stand-in for a CGI character or not.

DC fans have been reacting to the first look, and it's fair to say that no one knows quite how to feel about it. Some have been pleasantly surprised by the comedic tone that the new show looks like it's going to have, while others have been wondering how closely it will stick to the comics.

"This might end up being the best superhero movie or show ever released, not even joking," wrote one on Twitter, while another added: "This is really looking to be a peak comedy gold show, and I'm here for it." A third commented: "Imagine lacking whimsy and soul so much you think this isn't absolute peak." As a fourth simply put it: "Fuck The Sopranos. Fuck The Wire. Fuck Game of Thrones. We are witnessing the making of the greatest HBO series ever."

Not everyone has been impressed by the depiction of the character so far, especially those who know his comic book history. "This shit is way too meme-heavy, they turned Gorilla Grodd into a total idiot," wrote one, as a second suggested: "Someone here said there are at least 10 gorillas in DC Comics who are perfect for this type of scenario, but Gorilla Grodd isn't one of them."

One thing is for sure though, James Gunn's DCU is taking some bold swings. With this mockumentary comedy on the lineup alongside a body horror version of Clayface and the gritty crime thriller style of Lanterns, the universe is looking pretty eclectic, and arguably all the more exciting for it.

For more of what's on the way, check out our guide to upcoming DC movies and shows.

The DCU is full steam ahead, as just over two weeks after James Gunn officially announced that The People v. Gorilla Grodd had been greenlit, the series has already started filming at a university in the US.

The upcoming Jimmy Olsen show has started filming at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, and thanks to leaked set photos, it looks like the series will fully embrace the university setting. Images posted by a Georgia Tech student on TikTok show banners for Metropolis University, branded in blue and purple. Many presumed the photos were taken on the set of Man of Tomorrow, but that finished filming in August.

On August 21, Gunn took to Twitter to share that the previously announced Jimmy Olsen show, which is a true-crime mockumentary, is officially going ahead at HBO. According to the in-universe bulletin from The Daily Planet, the eight-part mock-doc, directed by Daily Planet reporter and Superman character Olsen, will "take a fresh, 360-degree look at the case, revealing a lesser-seen side" of Grodd, who was imprisoned for the "murder and brain consumption of his father, King Grodd."

So, why is the show filming at a university? Well, the documentary is set to include "interviews with witnesses and experts on both Grodd's and the Metropolis District Attorney's side of the case." Plus, another image shows a newspaper dated Friday, November 3, 1989. This means that Olsen is doing some digging and could pay some university professors a visit to ask about the super monkey's abilities.

First introduced to DC Comics in 1959 as an antagonist to the Flash, Grodd gained his powers when he was exposed to a space rock, making him hyper-intelligent and able to control the human mind. Alongside Olsen star Skyler Gisondo, the cast also includes Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

The People v. Gorilla Grodd does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One and keep up with all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows.

The ongoing question of who the Manhunter is in Lanterns has seemingly been answered in the latest episode. At the end of episode 4, Hal Jordan and John Stewart aired their suspicions that Zoe Macon is the alien they've been looking for.

It's long been suspected that Zoe could be the Manhunter. Ever since her introduction in episode 1, there's been something off about the character and her unusual family. This only became more obvious in episode 4 when she seemingly faked her own death after a string of strange behavior.

However, some fans think that even though she is the imposter alien, that doesn't necessarily mean she's bad. In fact, it's been suggested that she may have even helped Hal Jordan and John Stewart save the whole of Rushville.

"Well, the theory is that indeed Zoe is the manhunter, but the town protects her because she's really not bad; she helps and heals the town," one viewer wrote on Twitter. "The real villain is the Guardian. Zoe takes the form of Hal Jordan and is killed so that Jordan and Stewart can stop the Guardian."

This was taken one step further by another viewer, who suggested this is why we see John shedding a tear over the body back at the end of episode 1. Indeed, there's certainly no love lost between him and Hal, so it felt quite unusual to see his emotion at his former mentor's death.

If it is really the Guardian that is the big bad, that will be a pretty huge twist for the DC series. We're at the halfway point of the show now, so we'll have to follow along to see just how this all plays out.

Read our Lanterns release schedule guide so you don't miss a moment, as well as our Lanterns review for why you should be watching the show.

Lanterns episode 4 is another corker, and seemingly answers one of several major mysteries in the DCU show: Who is the Manhunter? But fans aren't sure if there's still more to the case of a killer, shapeshifting alien lifeform hiding in plain sight.

Warning: full spoilers for Lanterns episode 4 follow.

In Lanterns episode 4 'The Weenie', it is revealed that Zoe Macon is the Manhunter hiding out in Rushville. While Zoe doesn't technically verbalize her true identity, many things point to this, most notably the fact that she cured William Macon's cancer. Zoe Macon actor Poorna Jaganathan has also been discussing her role as the secret Manhunter in several post release interviews, telling EW: "I wasn't told when I got the role that she was the Manhunter. I had to read it to find that out.”

Case closed? Not quite, as Lanterns fans think they answer to such a huge mystery came too soon, and too easy, meaning there must be more to it.

"Why did Zoe blow herself up if she was in charge of the decoy Manhunter?! Why did the show make it so obvious that she's the Manhunter?!" asked one user on Twitter. "Because she probably isn't," offered one fan in response. "We don't find that answer so easily, 4 episodes in. Or the Manhunter is not the main threat."

With half a season still to go, it does feel surprisingly early to be blowing the lid open on a mystery that could run all season. But with another huge question – Who killed Hal Jordan? – still to be answered, and the entire 2026 thread of the story untouched since episode 1, there's still plenty to be explored.

And we do have another question to answer now: who killed the Manhunter? And if it was Zoe who used her own laser satellites to blow herself up (or make it looks like she had), why go to such lengths? The questions keep piling up.

Lanterns episode 4 is streaming now on HBO Max in the US and UK, and on NOW in the UK. For our spoiler-free verdict on episodes 1-7, check out our Lanterns review. And bookmark our Lanterns release schedule, so you never miss an episode.

Lanterns has been a huge success for HBO Max, now becoming the streamer's third most successful show ever made. According to new figures, it's only behind House of the Dragon and The Last of Us in viewing figures.

According to box office and streaming commentator Luiz Fernando, "HBO is celebrating #DCU’s series #Lanterns quickly becoming their #3 most successful first season after #HouseOfTheDragon & #TheLastOfUS, beating even #AKnightOfTheSevenKingdoms."

They continued to break down the numbers, explaining: "While the season premiere has reached 20M viewers since its debut, Episode 3 reached 10M Global viewers in just 3 days (7M from the US alone), more than what the Season Premiere itself achieved on the same period two weeks ago, showing the steady viewership growth with each episode as positive WOM spreads."

Lanterns introduces the Green Lantern Corps, a group of superpowered individuals tasked with keeping law and order in the galaxy. Earth's representative is Hal Jordan, who's joined by a rookie lined up to replace him, John Stewart. Together, they head to the small town of Rushville, Nebraska to investigate a strange crime.

Part of the success of the new show, beyond appealing to comic book fans, comes from the fact that it's really, really good. Our Lanterns review gave it 4.5 stars, with critic Bradley Russell arguing that it proves "the DCU is back on track".

It's also introduced a tantalizing series of mysteries to keep viewers returning week on week. First up is the lingering question of who killed Hal Jordan, following his dramatic death at the end of episode one. Then there's the conundrum about who the Manhunter is, after it was revealed that an alien was hiding in plain sight in the show.

Follow along weekly with our Lanterns release schedule to make sure you don't miss a moment.

The Last of Us creator and previous co-showrunner of the HBO show Neil Druckmann has doubled down on having no involvement in the upcoming third season.

When it was renewed for season 3, it was also announced that Craig Mazin would be remaining as sole showrunner as Druckmann exited. However, now Druckmann has gone one step further and suggested Naughty Dog – the company behind the game – has basically no involvement in the new episodes.

"I wasn't involved in shaping this season's creative direction, and Naughty Dog did not have a creative role in the direction of this season," he told the Washington Post. "So I can't personally speak to how production is progressing. It's important for us to note that as the creator of the games, Naughty Dog is still the steward of this IP and even though this might be the end of this adaptation, we're not done with The Last of Us. There's a couple projects in the works that, when the time is right, I’m very excited to talk about."

Druckmann also confirmed that season 3 will "wrap up" the series, after it was initially unclear how many more seasons it would take to finish telling the events of The Last of Us: Part 2.

Filming on The Last of Us season 3 began back in March and is set to run until November. Based on the events of the game and how the second season ended, we know Kaitlyn Dever's Abby Anderson will be our main focus in the new episodes. It's expected that the show will retell some of the events we've already seen from her perspective before returning to the present day.

Bella Ramsey returns as Ellie, alongside Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller, Isabela Merced as Dina, and Young Mazino as Jesse. Newcomers Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter also join as Yara and Lev, key characters in this next part of the story.

For what to watch while we wait, here's our guide to the best HBO shows currently available to stream.

Hal Jordan has been Earth's Green Lantern since 1986, which means he might have come into contact with a certain metahuman at some point. DC fans have been speculating that the superhero would likely have wanted to check out an alien spaceship crashing in Smallville, Kansas when Kal-El arrived after Krypton's fall.

As is usually the case with the Man of Steel's backstory, he is then raised by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent. And, as one fan theorized, this might be what put Hal off from intervening. They suggested: "The concept of Hal checking out the crashed spaceship in Kansas only to see a tiny baby Clark in Ma & Pa's hands and immediately backing off because he can't 'take care' of this cutie patootie of a threat, so Hal just checks in regularly as Clark grows up."

Now this is a cute headcanon, but we're going to be honest, we're not sure that Hal is the caring, uncle type. Other fans weighed in too with their ideas, with one imagining that "young Clark sees Hal on TV all the time and wants to be a hero like that some day." This one does seem more likely as we've already seen a young John Stewart doing just that too.

There has been no indication yet that Superman and Hal have crossed paths, but given Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner is set to appear and John will feature in the sequel Man of Tomorrow, it does seem likely their lives have intersected. We'll have to wait and see whether this gets addressed in the HBO show or not.

In the meantime, there is plenty to keep us busy while watching Lanterns as we try to uncover who killed Hal Jordan and who the Manhunter is. The show is airing weekly, so check out our Lanterns release schedule for how to watch and our Lanterns review for why you should be.

Perhaps the strangest upcoming project in James Gunn's DCU Chapter One is The People vs. Gorilla Grodd. Starring Superman's Jimmy Olsen, it's being billed as an eight-part true-crime mockumentary and comedy.

Created by American Vandal's Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, it sees Olsen investigate the crimes of a telepathic gorilla and notorious DC villain. He tries to work out whether the character has been wrongly convicted of murdering his father in the unique new show.

It's definitely a fun idea, and it's hard to think of anything else we've seen like it in the superhero space. However, that hasn't stopped people from trying, with ScreenRant calling it She-Hulk meets Invincible in a recent feature.

Gunn reacted to this on Threads, admitting he was a little bit confused by the comparison after a fan shared it with the caption: "After Lanterns and Peacemaker @jamesgunn could green light an 8-episode series of ice cubes melting on a kitchen table and I'd be there every Sunday night with bells on."

The DC Studios head replied: "Although, The People Vs is a DCU true crime docuseries, so I don't see what it has in common with either of those shows. But I appreciate the support and hope it will help push my Melty Ice Cube series through this fall."

However, Gunn probably didn't realise that his reply has also got fans hoping the show will be a multi-season project. By calling it "The People Vs.", some have been wondering if it's being set up as a new anthology show – and they have plenty of suggestions about who it should cover next. "The People vs Giganta," suggested one, while another added: "The People vs Darkseid".

We'll have to wait and see what happens there. In the meantime, the DCU is releasing Lanterns weekly on HBO Max and Clayface will be heading to theaters very soon. For all the other projects on the way, check out our guide to upcoming DC movies and shows.

Ryan Reynolds has made it clear over the years that he doesn't love his Green Lantern movie – but, despite that, he'd still be willing to return for a cameo in Lanterns.

In fact, Reynolds seems so regretful of his own Green Lantern film that, in the Deadpool 2 post-credits scene, the Merc with the Mouth shoots Reynolds in the head after the actor gets the Green Lantern script. And, in the first Deadpool film, Wade Wilson asks for his suit not to be green or animated.

"I would totally do a cameo in that," Reynolds told Entertainment Tonight. "I love it. I learned so much making that movie. And I know what you're thinking, you're thinking, 'Oh, learned what not to do.' In part, yes. But also, any time you're making something that large, there are core lessons that come of it. And I owe my entire career to that movie. I owe everything to that… Everything about it was a gift that keeps on giving. And I really enjoyed the experience of making it."

If Reynolds did return for a cameo, it wouldn't be as Hal Jordan, since Kyle Chandler took up the mantle in Lanterns. Aaron Pierre stars as John Stewart.

As for Reynolds's Marvel future, at the moment, it's unclear. The actor has shared he's working on a fourth Deadpool movie, but he's not currently included on the supersized cast list for Avengers: Doomsday, despite participating in humorous 'bits' during the Marvel panels at both SDCC and D23.

Lanterns continues weekly on HBO, while Doomsday arrives this December 18. For more, check out our Lanterns review for our spoiler-free verdict on the show, or our Lanterns release schedule to keep up to date.

A new trailer for HBO's Harry Potter TV show has landed, and it's seriously reminding us of the movies.

In the footage, which you can watch above, Harry, Ron, and Hermione take the Hogwarts Express to their first year at Hogwarts. Harry faces the Sorting Hat, whispering "not Slytherin, not Slytherin," and we get teases of Quidditch, feasts in the Great Hall, the ogre fight in the bathroom, and the Philosopher's Stone itself.

In short, it all looks very familiar if you've seen the original movies, right down to the set and costume design.

The first season of the show arrives this Christmas, and it will tell the story of the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US).

Season 2 is already filming; however, don't expect to see it any time soon. "For some of the bigger shows like Harry Potter or House of the Dragon, or The Last of Us, huge world-building shows, it would be nice to have those on an annual basis," HBO boss Casey Bloys has said previously. "But from a production point of view, it’s just not possible."

The second season will adapt the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with a further season per book planned to take us through 10 years (even though there are only seven books).

The Harry Potter TV show arrives on December 25. While you wait, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming TV shows for everything else the year has in store.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is widely considered to be one of the best outings of the entire franchise, and a lot of that is down to the vision that Alfonso Cuarón brought to the franchise. The auteur, who is also behind films like Y tu mamá también, Gravity, and Children of Men, brought a unique take on one of the darkest Potter books, and it really paid off.

Fans of the franchise have long wondered why he didn't return to direct any more of the movies. Now, producer David Heyman has elaborated on this, explaining the answer is pretty simple.

"We asked Alfonso if he wanted to do the fourth, and he said, 'Cabrón,'" Heyman said on Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast, referencing a Spanish slang term. "I think he was exhausted. I look at pictures of Alfonso from then – Alfonso is one of my best friends, and he's my son’s godfather, and I love him. But I look at him from then, and I just look [at him]… Because he was exhausted."

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire went on to be directed by Four Weddings and a Funeral helmer Mike Newell. He only signed on for one movie, also, before passing the baton to David Yates, who directed the final four films.

Heyman was speaking as part of the Harry Potter: Official Film Podcast, which is set to turn into the official series podcast when the HBO Max series begins airing this Christmas. The new show will adapt Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in its first season, before tackling a new book with each subsequent season.

You can watch the Harry Potter movies on HBO Max. For more, check out our guides to the best shows on HBO Max to stream now.

Fans have long suspected it, but it's now official that new Lego Harry Potter sets based on the upcoming HBO series are brewing.

Revealed via the Back to Hogwarts livestream that went up in time for September 1 (AKA the day Hogwarts students traditionally return to school in the books and movies), the toy-maker confirmed that it was indeed working on a series of Lego Harry Potter sets inspired by the HBO show. While we don't know what those will be just yet, the teaser did give us our first look at the new minifigures for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Plus, co-host Rhianna Dhillon noted that these sets would be coming "so, so soon." I guess that means we can expect them to hit the digital Lego store shelves in the not-so-distant future.

In terms of the trio, Harry's wearing the new Gryffindor Hogwarts uniform while Hermione and Ron are in their civilian getup. While Ron seems to have a new hairpiece that more accurately represents the actor playing him in the HBO series (as does Hermione, though hers is very similar to previous models), Harry seems to have exactly the same face print and hair as older minifigs.

This raises an interesting point. Even though the show has a different visual design to the movies, it's gonna retread old ground already covered by Lego by necessity. Are we going to get slightly tweaked versions of older sets as a result? Fans on reddit are certainly wary of this, with user BlueAraquanid sarcastically noting that "Oh my god guys are we gonna get another hogwarts castle? Maybe finally get a ford Anglia? If they make enough seasons we could even get a buildable dobby! This might be lego’s most creative and innovative theme yet." (We have of course got multiple Hogwarts Castles, Ford Anglias, and Dobbys already.)

I also wonder what this means for kits based on the movies. Will they take a backseat in favor of the new HBO models, or are both ranges going to be launched simultaneously? I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

There's plenty kicking off for brick-builders this week; fans are loving new Lego Wallace & Gromit, but the same can't be said for Buddy the Elf, and a host of awesome new Lego sets just launched for September.

Although she is not involved in the development of Lego Harry Potter sets, GamesRadar+ acknowledges the role of J.K. Rowling in the creation of the Wizarding World, as well as her publicly-stated views regarding the rights of transgender people. If you'd like to offer your support to the communities affected by Rowling's rhetoric, consider donating to the National Center for Transgender Equality in the US, or Mermaids in the UK.

• Check out other new sets at Lego

Immediately killing a beloved hero of almost seven decades instantly established that nothing is sacred in HBO's Lanterns. Anyone can die, and the DC comics this show is based on are a mere guideline at best. Yet even so, John Stewart's decidedly dark origin story – explored in episode three – comes as a big surprise to anyone familiar with his start in the source material.

Powerhouse comic book duo Denny O’Neil and artist Neal Adams introduced John as the fourth Green Lantern in Green Lantern #87 (1971) where he quickly proved himself to be worthy of wielding such emerald might. The character was originally an architect and civil rights activist who actively distrusted authority. This might seem worlds away from Aaron Pierre's somewhat uptight take on John in Lanterns, but that military background explored here didn't just come out of nowhere.

Although Stewart continued to be portrayed as an architect throughout the decades that followed, it wasn't until the character was rewritten as a former U.S. Marine in the noughties Justice League cartoon that he became more prominent. The comics soon followed suit, retconning John as a Marine sniper, although his architect roots were reintroduced again just recently, aiming for a best of both worlds scenario in line with Lanterns.

This unique combination of creativity and discipline isn't easy to balance in a character, although Pierre does a masterful job of it on the show. That tension is key to understanding his version of John in Lanterns and it unfortunately makes his life all the more tragic as a result.

No fear

In the premiere, we watched as John's father shot an apple off his head as a child, yet it's not until episode three where this show really digs into the 'why' of it all. Why would John Stewart Sr. risk his son's life so casually? And why wouldn't the boy cry or run away?

Early in the episode, we discover that John's father was offered the ring before Hal Jordan, while John was still in the crib. Flashbacks reveal he was tested by the Guardians, but failed upon admitting that he was "afraid." His wife, Bernadette, didn't believe John Sr., not until one of the Guardians showed up at their door and confirmed the truth of his account.

Bernadette called her out, asking, "Do you know how unfair it is to ask a Black man if he’s afraid?" The Guardian conceded that the ring selection process is unusual for humans, so she offered a new opportunity to make up for it.

The ring clearly saw something in John Sr.'s DNA and Bernadette had proved herself to be "formidable" too, so she suggested that perhaps their "offspring could one day be an excellent candidate" in the future.

The catch is that he too would need to be "fearless."

And so begins what can only be described as an endless torrent of abuse. To ensure that John will one day become worthy enough to replace Hal Jordan, his parents push him through disturbing trials throughout his childhood to erase any hint of fear in his mind.

These include regular instances of apples being shot off his head, as we saw earlier in episode one. But young John is also abandoned alone in dangerous neighbourhoods and even made to shoot an apple off his mother's head, risking her life in the process too.

This all takes a toll on his parents, but what's far worse is the toll it takes on young John himself.

When the Guardian suggests to adult John that his "training must have created a lot of loneliness," he denies it. And why would he not? This is all John has ever known. As such, the very real physical danger and emotional turmoil he endured doesn't register as abuse. For him, it's just a sign that his parents wanted what was best for him. And that's why he's so obsessed with doing everything in his power to make their dream for him come true.

Rebuilding better

More than Hal Jordan's death in 2026 or even the deaths that continue to hit Rushville in 2016, it's John's upbringing that represents the real tragedy of Lanterns. Stewart can't even fathom what he was put through because it was normal to him. And what's worse is that his parents knew exactly what they were doing.

"He's going to hate us," they discuss early on, realising that what they're about to do to their baby boy isn't right. But in the end they decide, "So be it." Because their dream is more important than anything John could ever wish for himself.

The cracks are starting to show, even if John himself can't comprehend them just yet. We see it in the flashes of creativity that John never got to pursue as a career over his work in the military. And we see it in the frayed emotional bonds he shares with his family, be it these abusive parents or his siblings who always felt John was favoured over them.

It's all far darker than the early days of John's run in the comics, and as such, some fans may balk at these changes, just like they did at Hal's death. But isn't this what we want from new adaptations of stories so old in the tooth?

As Damon Lindelof told The Hollywood Reporter just recently, "There’s almost a responsibility to take risks. I don’t think anybody wants to see you be completely and totally vigilant to the source material because then it isn’t an adaptation at all."

And that's exactly how characters like John and Hal will continue to impact us another seven decades from now, by evolving and reinventing the mythos they spring from to fit our times, be it in darkest day or blackest night.

Lanterns is streaming weekly on HBO. For our verdict on the season, check out our Lanterns review and never miss an episode with our Lanterns release schedule.

Even superheroes have bosses; at least they do in HBO’s Lanterns. As much as Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) acts like a charming rogue who follows his own rules and doesn’t care about authority, he does answer to a higher power that can technically fire him at any time. That power is the Guardians of the Universe, a race of aliens who are seemingly no friends of Hal Jordan, and are so bad at their job that they have given the universe as many supervillains as they have heroes.

As the name suggests, the Guardians of the Universe have sworn to protect and defend the universe as the oldest police force in existence, creating the Green Lantern Corps to patrol the universe. And yet, more often than not, their efforts result in some spectacular mistakes and acts of cruelty. If Lanterns is your first exposure to the worst bosses in creation, we are here to guide you through the long history of the Guardians of the Universe.

Already seen Lanterns episode 3? Be sure to dive into our breakdown of John Stewart's dark new origin story. We're also playing detective by investigating who killed Hal Jordan and asking who is the Manhunter? For a full verdict on the DCU Chapter One show, check out our Lanterns review.

The Guardians of the Universe in DC comics

The Guardians of the Universe first appeared in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #1 from 1960, created by John Broome and Gil Kane, where they essentially interview Hal Jordan after he gains a power ring and deem him worthy of joining the Corps. Originally, they were portrayed as benevolent sages, little old aliens with weak bodies but incredibly powerful minds.

They are considered the oldest beings in the DC universe, a group of scientists and thinkers who conducted all sorts of experiments (like torturing other beings to create new species). One of these experiments accidentally resulted in the creation of the multiverse and of evil itself, which prompted the Guardians to dedicate themselves to combating chaos and evil.

Over the years, the Guardians have gone from benevolent old aliens to rather stern bosses who occasionally make bad calls and butt heads with their employees, to a rather corrupt organization capable of untold evil. For example, at one point the Guardians arbitrarily decided that magic was intrinsically bad, and stole it from the entire universe, sealing it along with any magic being inside an orb.

They are now mostly portrayed as emotionless and detached beings with a big backlog of sins that they’ve covered up across the eons. The 2004 Green Lantern: Rebirth comic series by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver revealed that the Guardians once encountered the very embodiment of fear and decided to trap it within the Central Power Battery that fuels every single Green Lantern ring, and then kept that knowledge hidden despite knowing that creature would make every Green Lantern power ring useless against the color yellow.

It isn't just ancient cosmic horrors that the Guardians have trapped inside the battery; they also use it to imprison their own employees when they are no longer useful to the Guardians, like when they imprisoned Sinestro inside the battery in Green Lantern Corps #222 from 1988.

But all of that pales in comparison to the Guardians’ first attempt at creating a police force. The Guardians are also responsible for creating the Manhunters, a robotic interstellar police force that eventually became self-aware and resentful of their creators. The Manhunters went on to rebel against the Guardians after concluding that evil was intrinsic to biological life and deciding to eradicate it.

The Guardians of the Universe in Lanterns

As in the comics, the Guardians are responsible for creating the Manhunters in the Lanterns universe. In the show, the bosses of the Green Lanterns are starting to play an increasingly impactful role. So far, we've only seen Laura Linney's Guardian, both in human form and briefly in her true-blue form (albeit from behind). This, it says, is less upsetting for humans, making the Guardians appear relatable and even approachable. But in truth, this is them disguising their true selves, their intentions and lack of empathy and compassion.

We learned that the Guardians tested John Stewart’s father when he was younger, but when he failed to convince the ring of his fearlessness, they moved on to the guy who eventually got the job – Hal Jordan. They acknowledge that they failed to foresee the psychological damage an alien encounter would have on the rejected candidates, messing up the lives of John’s father as well as many others, and offering a comically large diamond as recompense (which lands John's mother in hot water).

Even their attempt at making things right with the Stewarts is quite monstrous, as they welcome John’s mother dedicating her life to turning her infant child into a soldier, raising him to be cold and calculated without a guarantee that he’ll get the job when he grows up.

But how are they as bosses? Well, what little Hal Jordan has talked about them makes it look like the Guardians are emotionless, cold jerks. But in episode 3, we truly learn how bad they are. It seems like the primary reason John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) was even hired to become a Green Lantern was specifically because the Guardians of the Universe want him to execute Hal Jordan and take over his role, as they ask John if he’s prepared to do that.

Sure, the Guardians could do it themselves; they could probably just take his powers away. Instead, they are hiring Jordan’s replacement and testing his loyalty by making him kill his mentor. But that’s not all. We also learn in the episode that Hal Jordan’s own mentor, Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), at some point went rogue, killing a Guardian in the process. We don’t know how many other Green Lanterns turned evil, but it’s not great that the supposedly all-knowing Guardians could not sense that this guy could become a monster.

Lanterns is streaming weekly on HBO Max in the US and on HBO Max and Sky/NOW in the UK. Never miss an episode with our Lanterns release schedule, or continue your comics journey with our list of the best Green Lantern comics.

Kelly Macdonald says she watched The Penguin to prep for Lanterns, and picked up the wrong accent along the way.

"Within the first couple of months of the shoot, as well, I was watching The Penguin at the same time," Macdonald told Entertainment Weekly. "Sometimes I’d been over-watching The Penguin, and I’d be going through my dialogue in my trailer, and I'd realize I was doing the whole Gotham thing. I’d be like, 'Turn it down a little bit,' 'cause I’d been told very specifically, 'She's from Gotham but don’t do the accent thing.' She has to be more ambiguous than that. I’m sure you’ll be able to tell the scenes where I’ve been watching The Penguin."

For some clarity, Lanterns episode 2 revealed that Sheriff Kane is originally from Gotham (which some fans suspected all along after she was heard checking in with a certain Commissioner as well as a 'Barb' on the phone). Kane is also the maiden name of Bruce Wayne's mother... so there's that. The series takes place in rural Rushville, Nebraska, so Kane is supposed to have something of a Nebraskan accent after living in town for so long. In real life, Macdonald is from Glasgow, Scotland. So we can see how all the accents might've gotten into a bit a conundrum.

Lanterns airs weekly on HBO Max and NOW. See our Lanterns release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One and find out where Lanterns takes place on the DCU timeline.

Searching for something to stream this weekend? There's nothing worse than mindlessly scrolling through the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, and Prime Video and seeing your free time melt away as you decide what to watch. There's so much choice, and so few hours in the day.

That's where we come in. At GamesRadar+, we curate a new selection of fresh streaming delights every single week, just for you. Forget your tired old watchlist: these are the latest and greatest movies and shows coming to streaming this weekend, with everything from Robert De Niro-led thrillers to sci-fi and superhero series all accounted for.

So, read on down below for the new shows and movies streaming at the end of August on Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and more. If you're eager for more, we also have guides on the best Apple TV shows and best Apple TV movies to ensure you're making the most of your subscription.

The Whisper Man

Available: US/UK

Where to watch: Netflix

Whisper it quietly, but Adam Scott has put together a string of great performances in unnerving projects as of late: Severance and Hokum are terror-inducing for very different reasons, and The Whisper Man could add to it.

Scott plays a widowed crime writer who enlists the help of retired detective Pete Willis (Robert De Niro) after his son is abducted. What could be an open-and-shut case soon spirals out into a larger connection linked to a serial killer known as The Whisper Man.

With the producing might of the Russos behind it, and a stacked cast that features the likes of Michelle Monaghan, Michael Keaton (!), and Hamish Linklater, this will likely shoot right to the top of your watchlist this weekend. It looks suitably unsettling and, as summer turns to fall, the perfect starting point for those who like to get into the Halloween mood a little earlier than most.

For more, check out the best Netflix movies to watch right now.

Dark Matter season 2

Available: Apple TV

Where to watch: US/UK

Apple TV's library is filled with sleeper hits – and Dark Matter is no exception. The mind-bending sci-fi series, starring Joel Edgerton, sees a physicist named Jason kidnapped and sent to an alternate world, one where he invented multiverse travel.

Multiverse shenanigans, inevitably, followed – including multiple versions of the same character, and some killer twists along the way. The second season picks up where the first left off, as Jason and his family settle into a new reality.

Of course, it doesn't stay settled for long. Now it's gone past the source material, creator Blake Crouch said it offered up the potential for more narrative freedom.

At SDCC, he told us, "Once we jumped over that initial hurdle, it was totally freeing because we weren't locked into things that the book demanded us to do. So we got to follow our fancy a little bit more and write a few episodes that would never have existed in season 1."

We also have an interview with Dark Matter season 2 producer Matt Tolmach on how the Apple show is handling the multiverse differently from Marvel.

Adults season 2

Available: US/UK

Where to watch: Hulu/Disney Plus

Growing up now is a lot different to growing up in the sitcom heyday of the '90s. While Friends and Seinfeld are undoubtedly timeless comedies, they never quite scratch the itch of just how suffocating it can be simply existing as a twentysomething in today's world.

So, thank goodness for Adults returning for a second season. With last season's marriage mayhem, there are plenty of new horizons for our gang to tiptoe towards – and sticky situations for them to wriggle their way out of. Charlie Cox is also reprising his role as Mr. Teacher, in case you needed another reason to tune in.

Need some viewing inspiration? Here are the best Disney Plus movies.

The Last Sunrise

Available: US/UK

Where to watch: Prime Video

Need a good cry this weekend? The Last Sunrise has got you covered.

The romantic drama follows Ry (Maia Reficco), a student with a chronic illness who finds an escape in a Spanish trip. She soon falls for one of the locals, but her health and – according to the synopsis – long-hidden family secrets could put an end to her sun-kissed dreams.

Here are the best Prime Video shows to watch right now.

Lanterns episode 3

Available: US/UK

Where to watch: HBO Max

Lanterns is piling mysteries on top of mysteries. Already, Hal Jordan has bitten the bullet and lost his Power Ring in the 2026 timeline. Back in Rushville circa 2016, a Manhunter is on the loose – but no one can be quite sure who it is, thanks to their shape-shifting abilities.

The trailer for the third episode has already hinted that this is going to be a John Stewart-centric affair, potentially diving into his origins and how he found himself playing a reluctant second fiddle to Hal. But with the likes of Damon Lindelof as part of the creative team, don't expect a straightforward journey.

We also have a round-up of the best HBO Max shows, should you require it.

Need more? Check out our list of the best movies on Paramount Plus.

One of the standouts of the brilliant Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was Daniel Ings' Ser Lyonel Baratheon. Known in George R.R. Martin's novellas as the Laughing Storm, his flamboyant portrayal won over viewers, leading to him to become a fan-favorite of the HBO Max series.

Unfortunately, it seems like he won't be a part of the upcoming second season of the show, as his character does not return again. Speaking to the Radio Times, Ings was asked if he'd be up for coming back.

"Oh, man, I'd love to," he told the publication. "Unfortunately, he's not in any more of the stories that George R.R. Martin has written so far, and our showrunner, Ira Parker, is sticking closely to those. There is a famous duel in the future [according to Game of Thrones lore]. Maybe I'll be 60 by that time! Whatever happens, I'd love to put in Lyonel’s little dangly earring again because he's such a fun character."

At least Lyonel's line lives on as the great-grandfather to Robert, Stannis, and Renly Baratheon in the main Game of Thrones show, even if they don't quite share the same wit…

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 will see the return of Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Prince Aegon 'Egg' Targaryen. Consisting of six episodes once again, the second season will adapt Martin's second Dunk & Egg novella, 'The Sworn Sword.'

Filming has reportedly already wrapped on the show, which is expected to release in 2027. For more on all things Westeros, check out our guide to upcoming Game of Thrones TV shows and movies.

Lanterns fans are pretty much in agreement that there's something not quite right with Kelly MacDonald's Sheriff Kerry Kane, and they think she's definitely hiding something.

Warning, the following contains mild spoilers for Lanterns season 1 episode 2, so turn back now if you haven't caught up. First, read our spoiler-free Lanterns review.

After William Macon shoots Hal Jordan, Sheriff Kane takes him to the hospital, where she watches over him while he wakes up from his anesthesia. Once awake, Kane proceeds to tell the Green Lantern that he was saying Sinestro's name in his sleep. However, fans think the Sheriff was lying. "What if Hal wasn’t actually muttering Sinestro's name while he was unconscious, and the sheriff said that to plant the idea in Hal’s subconscious to go see him once he got word of the Manhunter?" said one fan on Twitter.

If Hal had been put to sleep, he would've had no idea what he had said, which means Kane could have said anything at that point. Also, when Hal checks out of the hospital, he finds that no one else had checked in or out during his stay – which would have been over quite some hours if he had been put under and had surgery. In fact, the whole ward was empty, with hospital equipment still in its packaging. That's weird, but what is even more strange is that Sheriff Kane didn't seem to see an issue with it.

But it's not just the hospital scene. Fans think the show has secretly been hinting at Kane's dubious energy through clever reflection shots, which you can see below. "The way Lanterns keeps showing Kerry through reflections… there’s definitely something they’re trying to tell us about her," said the fan. However, despite Kane being on our list of suspects, the poster doesn't think she is the Manhunter, but that she's "definitely not who she says she is."

In the midst of all of the mystery, episode 2 did confirm that Kane is originally from Gotham, which some fans suspected all along after the Sheriff was heard talking to a Commissioner on the phone. In DC Comics, the Kanes are one of the most influential families in the city, and Bruce Wayne's mother's maiden name is Kane. The plot thickens.

Lanterns airs weekly on HBO Max and NOW. See our Lanterns release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One and find out where Lanterns takes place on the DCU timeline.

Lanterns episode 2 has a deep-cut Alan Moore tribute that you almost certainly missed.

In the episode, John Stewart is tasked with heading back to Hal Jordan's place to retrieve the lantern needed to charge the Power Ring. Upon reaching Hal's vault, he calls up his reluctant mentor for the voice code needed to unlock it. The passphrase? "Mogo doesn't socialize."

As pointed out by the perfectly-named Mr. Know it All on Twitter, that's actually a reference to a story in 1985's Green Lantern #188.

'Mogo Doesn't Socialize' revolves around Bolphunga the Unrelenting attempting to defeat the universe's most powerful warriors. After being told he can never defeat Mogo, he goes in search of the Lantern – only to discover he is, in fact, a sentient planet.

Lanterns co-creator Damon Lindelof has previous history with the infamously cantankerous Moore, writing a sequel to the Watchmen graphic novel for HBO.

That even included the – fairly excruciating – act of Lindelof penning a letter to Moore before the project aired.

Responding in an interview with GQ, Moore said, "It went on through a lot of, what seemed to me to be, neurotic rambling… I got back with a very abrupt and probably hostile reply telling him that I'd thought that Warner Bros. were aware that they, nor any of their employees, shouldn't contact me again for any reason."

Moore added, "I explained that I had disowned the work in question, and partly that was because the film industry and the comics industry seemed to have created things that had nothing to do with my work, but which would be associated with it in the public mind. I said, ‘Look, this is embarrassing to me. I don’t want anything to do with you or your show. Please don’t bother me again."

Lanterns is now airing on HBO and HBO Max. For what that means where you live, head on over to the Lanterns release schedule.

We also have a list of suspects for who killed Hal Jordan, if you fancy some sleuthing.

We're only two episodes into Lanterns, but it is packed with Easter eggs and DC references. However, you may have missed some hilarious pop culture nods in the recent installment.

Warning, the following contains mild spoilers for Lanterns season 1 episode 2, so turn back now if you haven't caught up. First, read our spoiler-free Lanterns review.

Partway through Lanterns episode 2, when Aaron Pierre's John Stewart looks around Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan's huge house for the Lantern, he stumbles upon some pictures on the wall from Hal's time in the limelight. One picture shows Hal meeting the pope, another shows the hero sitting with ex-US President Barack Obama, and another shows Jordan standing with the cast of Harry Potter on the red carpet.

Now his rant in episode 1 makes a lot more sense. When he interrogates the alien, Jordan asks the suspected extraterrestrial some pop culture questions to prove he's not human, including "Where does Harry Potter go to school?" Now, every English-speaking person should know that. When the alien fails to answer, Jordan says, "Harry Potter went to Hogwarts, you ignorant alien fuck!"

Lanterns fans are loving the little tidbits, as one wrote on Reddit, "God, this show is so fucking funny." However, another has pointed out that Hal's wall of celeb meetups is actually rather sad. "It really reinforces how alone he is and how the job is all Hal really has. Not a single picture of anyone he cares about. It’s a really fun way to set up his fear of being replaced and having no purpose."

Hal's loneliness is reinforced by his big empty house. He doesn't even have a couch, just a sole camping chair positioned in front of a huge TV. Hal's time as the Green Lantern meant he never got married or had a family, with his companion being an alien plant he keeps in his backyard. This might explain why he behaves the way he does, and why he is so eager to push John away at any given moment.

Some think his erratic behaviour puts him under suspicion of being the Manhunter, but I think his personality is the result of his job. Plus, there is a reason he would rather post up at a shabby motel in Nebraska and devote his life to the case rather than go home to his wealth.

Lanterns airs weekly on HBO Max and NOW. See our Lanterns release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One, and find out where Lanterns takes place on the DCU timeline.

Superman's Lex Luthor star Nicholas Hoult has dropped out of the second season of HBO's Harry Potter series, but he has already been replaced by Game of Thrones' Jon Snow actor Kit Harington.

Harington is joining Harry Potter season 2 as Gilderoy Lockhart, as per Deadline. The fantasy star is taking over the role from Hoult, who was cast less than two weeks ago. Hoult stepped away from the show due to scheduling issues, with HBO letting him out of his deal as the show would've had to work around two other projects.

Introduced in the second Harry Potter book, Lockhart is a famous author and wizard, hired by Professor Dumbledore to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. However, the boastful and charming public figure is not as he seems, as Potter and co soon find he has dark connections. The character was brought to the screen by Kenneth Branagh in the 2002 movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

However, Harington has technically played the character before. The star voices Lockhart in the Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions audiobooks released last November. The audiobooks contain the voices of over 500 actors, including Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort, Riz Ahmed as Snape, Michelle Gomez as Professor McGonagall, and more.

Earlier this year, Audible shared a snippet of Harington on YouTube, in the recording booth as the narcissistic wizard, as part of a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the book. The clip has since been posted on Twitter, which you can watch below. The star is also a long-time Harry Potter fan. "This is a world I am heavily invested in," said Harington. "To be able to play, in my opinion, one of the best characters in it was a joy."

Season 2 is set to start filming this fall, following Potter's return to Hogwarts after a terrifying monster is unleashed in the school. Season 2 will take place the summer after season 1, which adapts Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and follows Potter's first year at Hogwarts after finding out he is a wizard. The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Nick Frost as Hagrid, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall.

Harry Potter season 1 hits HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day. For more, check out our ranking of the Harry Potter movies, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.

With the introduction of Manhunters and the mysterious circumstances of Hal Jordan's death in Lanterns so far, plenty of wild theories have been circulating about the DC Studios show. The latest fan speculation to emerge surrounds the mysterious Zoe Macon and how she might be linked to Sinestro.

Posting on Twitter, one fan suggested that Zoe could be Soranik Natu, the daughter of Sinestro. The character is the leader of the Sinestro Corps in the comics, as well as being a former member of the Lantern Corps.

The theory of why Zoe could be her in hiding seems to stem from Sinestro's knowledge of John Stewart. At the very end of Lanterns episode 2, Hal Jordan visits his former mentor, who quizzes him on what he knows about John. But as fans pointed out, if he's imprisoned, then how does he even know about John?

One answer could be that his daughter is communicating with him somehow. We know that Zoe and John are well acquainted in the HBO Max show after their liaison in episode 1. Could she be the missing link?

"Today's episode had a lot of yellow imagery and lighting around this scene in particular with John and Zoe," Twitter user sz0 added. "And again, it’s definitely possible she’s the manhunter. Or, she was told by Sinestro to keep a close eye on Hal, and that's how he knows about John." Intriguing…

As the user suggests, Zoe is also one of the prime Manhunter suspects. As we learnt in episode 2, the mysterious and highly dangerous alien has infiltrated Rushville and is hiding in human form. Zoe's husband William Macon, son Billy Macon, and Sheriff Kerry Kane are all also suspects. Only time will tell who the real villain is.

For more on the show, check out our guide to when Lanterns takes place on the DC timeline as well as our breakdown of the Lanterns release schedule.

TV veteran Damon Lindelof – known for Lost, The Leftovers, Watchmen, and now Lanterns – has delivered what we hope is the final say on adaptations changing aspects of their source material.

“We all just have to acknowledge that there’s a level of hubris involved in taking on any of this preexisting IP. But it is called adaptation. Source material is supposed to change and evolve [by definition],” Lindelof said in a discussion with The Hollywood Reporter.

Lindelof added, "As a consumer and as someone who’s making this stuff, there’s almost a responsibility to take risks. I don’t think anybody wants to see you be completely and totally vigilant to the source material because then it isn’t an adaptation at all. Shouldn’t we be beyond this conversation by now?

"Nobody who does what we do goes to bed at night, saying, 'All that I care about is whether or not I pissed off the fans.'" Lindelof continued. "They go to bed at night, going, 'Did I do anything worthwhile creatively? Did I put anything authentically emotional into this story that people can relate to?'"

Those who have religiously followed Lindelof's work over the years will know the writer and creative thrives on change – and even going beyond the boundaries of source material.

The second and third seasons of existential drama The Leftovers went past the story penned in Tom Perrotta's novel of the same name.

Famously, Lindelof also created a 'sequel' to Watchmen as an HBO miniseries, which followed the characters created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons over three decades after the events of the 1980s seminal graphic novel. Lanterns is also a changed, grounded take on DC's Green Lantern comics, although some cosmic elements remain.

It's something I've encountered over the past few years, too, in the video game adaptation space. Nothing wrong with sticking closely to a popular brand or franchise, of course, but I've definitely been an outlier in liking shows such as Paramount's Halo and Amazon's Yakuza more than most – because they at least tried to do something fresh. If I wanted the same old thing again, I'd play the games.

Lanterns is now airing on HBO and HBO Max. Keep up to date with its streaming plans with our Lanterns release schedule.

We're also doing some detective work in Rushville. Join us as we break down the suspects for the Manhunter and who killed Hal Jordan.

Lanterns returned to HBO this weekend with its second episode, sparking an alien debate amongst the DCU fanbase, which in turn prompted an interesting theory about Hal Jordan's alleged death.

Warning, the following contains mild spoilers for Lanterns season 1 episode 2, so turn back now if you haven't caught up. First, read our spoiler-free Lanterns review.

The new DCU show follows Kyle Chandler's Green Lantern Hal Jordan and his trainee John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as intergalactic cops who are drawn to an extraterrestrial murder case in Nebraska. During last week's premiere, we learned the aliens are able to pose as humans, with Jordan rooting one out in an intense interrogation scene.

However, in Lanterns episode 2, it is revealed that when an alien takes human form, they can then be killed as a human and leave behind a human corpse. With that in mind, one Lanterns fan on Twitter thinks that the flash-forward scene in 2026, which shows Hal Jordan's dead body frozen at the football stadium, might be a red herring.

"If the alien doesn't change shape upon dying, then there's the possibility that Hal Jordan actually didn't die and was an alien disguised as him," said the fan. Others seem to agree, as another replied, "This is what I’ve been saying! Also, if you notice in episode one when Hal sets down the ring onto the car dash, there’s this dark band of residue/ impression from his decades of wearing the ring that isn’t present on the dead 'Hal'." Now that is another interesting theory.

It came as quite a shock to see one of the show's leads dead at the end of episode 1 (you can read our list of suspects here), and many DC fans were not too happy about it. However, soon after the series premiere, showrunner David Lindelof told Collider that he's "willing to absorb the boos from the audience in the first inning," urging fans to wait and "see how you feel at the end of Episode 8." Hmm, it sounds as though not all is as it seems.

In the chaos of it all, episode 2 also introduces DC Comics' Sinestro and confirms that Sheriff Kerry Kane is actually from Gotham, which some fans suspected all along.

Lanterns airs weekly on HBO Max and NOW. See our Lanterns release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One, and find out where Lanterns takes place on the DCU timeline.