J. Alphonse Nicholson is joining the DC Universe. The booked and busy star who most recently starred in Albany Road has officially joined HBO’s highly anticipated Lanterns series, stepping into a key recurring role alongside Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre.
Nicholson is the latest name added to an already impressive cast that includes Nicole Ari Parker, Kelly Macdonald, Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen, and Jason Ritter. The DC drama, spearheaded by Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country, Ozark), Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and Tom King (Mister Miracle), promises a grounded, noir-inspired take on the Green Lantern lore—think True Detective with superhero stakes.
What We Know About ‘Lanterns’
The series follows two intergalactic lawmen: John Stewart (Pierre), a former Marine stepping into his destiny as a Green Lantern, and Hal Jordan (Chandler), a seasoned veteran of the Corps. The duo finds themselves investigating a chilling murder in America’s heartland, unraveling a dark conspiracy that could change everything.
Nicole Ari Parker takes on the role of Bernadette, John Stewart’s mother, described as a fiercely protective woman who’s spent her life making sure her family isn’t ignored. And now, with Nicholson on board, we’re getting even deeper into John Stewart’s backstory—he’ll be playing the younger version of John Senior.
The Creative Team and Cast
Lanterns marks a major milestone for DC Studios, standing as the first live-action series greenlit under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s leadership. The eight-episode drama is expected to bring a prestige-TV touch to the superhero world, with Black Mirror and Slow Horses director James Hawes helming the first two episodes.
The supporting cast is stacked: Kelly Macdonald, Garrett Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, and Ulrich Thomsen—who’s set to play the legendary Green Lantern villain, Sinestro.
DC’s Expanding Green Lantern Universe
While Lanterns is expected to drop on HBO and Max in 2026, the Green Lantern Corps won’t be sitting on the bench until then. Nathan Fillion will introduce another Lantern, Guy Gardner, in Superman this summer, making him the first official Green Lantern in Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe.
Meanwhile, the animated series My Adventures With Green Lantern will shine a light on Jessica Cruz, a rookie Lantern thrown into an intergalactic war.
With Lanterns poised to be a bold reimagining of the Green Lantern mythos, DC is making it clear: these heroes are finally getting the spotlight they deserve.
J. Alphonse Nicholson’s Expanding Resume
Nicholson has been making serious moves in both TV and film. Best known for his breakout role as Lil’ Murda in Starz’s P-Valley, his credits also include FX’s Clipped, Hulu’s White Men Can’t Jump, Netflix’s Madam C.J. Walker opposite Octavia Spencer, Just Mercy with Michael B. Jordan, and They Cloned Tyrone. On Broadway, he starred in A Soldier’s Play, which won the Tony for Best Revival of a Play.
Repped by CESD, AC Management, and attorney Ryan LeVine, Nicholson is now gearing up for his biggest project yet—joining the DC Universe in what’s shaping up to be one of its most intriguing series to date.