The Green Lantern Corps is expanding, and Nicole Ari Parker is the latest star to join the ranks. The And Just Like That actress has been cast in HBO’s upcoming DC series Lanterns, starring alongside Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler.
Described as a True Detective-style mystery with superhero stakes, Lanterns follows two Green Lanterns—Stewart, a former Marine stepping into his power, and Hal Jordan (Chandler), a seasoned veteran of the Corps—as they investigate a dark conspiracy unfolding on Earth.
This marks Parker’s first venture into the DC Universe, and she’ll be playing Bernadette, the mother of John Stewart (Pierre). While Lanterns will bring cosmic stakes and intergalactic action, Parker’s role suggests a more grounded, emotional layer to the series—showing the personal foundation that shaped one of DC’s most iconic Black superheroes.
Described as a True Detective-style mystery with superhero stakes, Lanterns follows two Green Lanterns—Stewart, a former Marine stepping into his power, and Hal Jordan (Chandler), a seasoned veteran of the Corps—as they investigate a dark conspiracy unfolding on Earth.
Bernadette’s character description paints her as “formidable and tenacious, refusing to give up no matter the odds.” At her core, she’s a fiercely protective mother who has spent her life ensuring her family isn’t overlooked. With Parker in the role, Bernadette is set to bring a powerful emotional presence to the series.
Lanterns was given a straight-to-series order with eight episodes, making it the first live-action show created specifically under DC Studios’ new leadership, James Gunn and Peter Safran. Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country, Ozark) serves as showrunner, bringing a prestige drama sensibility to the superhero series.
The cast is stacked, with Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, and Ulrich Thomsen, who will portray the legendary Green Lantern villain Sinestro.
While Lanterns is expected to land on HBO and Max in 2026, the Green Lantern Corps won’t be sitting on the sidelines until then. Nathan Fillion will introduce another Lantern, Guy Gardner, in Superman this summer, marking the first official Green Lantern appearance in James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe.
Additionally, the animated series My Adventures With Green Lantern will explore the story of Jessica Cruz, a new recruit thrown into an intergalactic conflict.
With Lanterns shaping up to be a bold reimagining of the Green Lantern mythos, DC Studios is clearly making sure these heroes finally get the spotlight they deserve.