‘Lanterns’: Is It More Like True Detective or No Country for Old Men?

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James Hawes explores and explains the similarities often mentioned between the forthcoming DC series, “Lanterns,” and the popular HBO series, “True Detective.” When James Gunn unveiled his DCU plan for what he called “Chapter 1 – Gods and Monsters,” he described “Lanterns” as being similar to “True Detective.” It’s not difficult to understand why this comparison has been made, as “Lanterns” is being marketed as a buddy cop series where the cops, who are actually intergalactic police officers, solve a crime mystery in the heart of America.

James Hawes, responsible for directing the initial two episodes of the series ‘Lanterns‘, discussed the tonal influence behind the show during an interview about his newest project, ‘The Amateur‘. In the conversation with ‘The Hollywood Reporter‘, Hawes pointed out that while ‘Lanterns‘ shares some resemblances with ‘True Detective‘, it incorporates a touch more humor into its narrative compared to the latter. Hawes referenced the films of the Coen brothers, specifically ‘No Country for Old Men‘ and ‘Fargo‘, as sources of inspiration for ‘Lanterns‘. Hawes expressed:

“The series shares some similarities with ‘True Detective‘, but it has a bit more humor to it. The Coen brothers’ films, particularly ‘No Country for Old Men‘ and ‘Fargo‘, have served as inspiration for ‘Lanterns‘.

In terms of its style, the show seems deeply ingrained. You’d encounter two main characters, but the humor and wit you might not anticipate from a series like “True Detective” is present. It’s structured like a buddy cop story, with travel elements that add depth to the narrative. The production team, led by Chris Mundy, has done an outstanding job, making comparisons to “True Detective” valid, although some might still question the comparison. I would also draw parallels to shows like “No Country for Old Men,” “Fargo,” and others with a distinctly American heart, as there’s a dry humor present, which means there’s more wit and humor in this show compared to “True Detective.

Many DC Series Are Getting Compared to HBO Classics

James Gunn, in his initial proposal for the series Lanterns, likened it to the complex, character-driven narrative of True Detective. Similarly, he described the upcoming Wonder Woman prequel series, Paradise Lost, as akin to the epic and politically charged world of Game of Thrones. Notably, both True Detective and Game of Thrones are produced by HBO, which is owned by DC Comics’ parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery. Essentially, Gunn was tying together two distinct parts of Warner Bros.’ history through these series. Additionally, the upcoming The Penguin show seems to draw heavily from the narrative style of The Sopranos, and there have been whispers that the creators of The Righteous Gemstone were once involved in developing Booster Gold. This suggests that the DC series airing on HBO and Max are heavily influenced by the company’s past.

It’s understandable that some fans are disheartened because the new Green Lantern series is adapting the hard sci-fi concept of Green Lantern into an Earth-bound story. However, the approach of using two contrasting detective characters to solve a case, similar to True Detective, could be an intriguing twist for the Green Lantern concept considering it revolves around a space police force.

Although fans may have preferred a more conventional buddy cop sci-fi tale like Lethal Weapon meets Star Trek, the direction that Lanterns is taking seems to surpass the quality of the 2011 Green Lantern movie.

The show titled “Lanterns” is at present being filmed in Los Angeles, California, and is slated to air on HBO in the year 2026. It is anticipated to premiere ahead of “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” which is scheduled for a theater release on June 26, 2026. This suggests that it could be a spring or early summer series. The year 2026 marks the point when the DCU (DC Universe) will be in full swing. Alongside “Lanterns” and “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” the horror-themed movie “Clayface” is set to open in September of that year. While it may appear that “Creature Commandos,” “Superman,” “Peacemaker” Season 2, “Lanterns,” “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” and “Clayface” are an assortment of unrelated projects to launch a universe, they demonstrate the diverse tones and genres these stories can encompass. A Green Lantern series that combines elements of “True Detective” and the Coen Brothers is a compelling idea, indeed.

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2025-04-13 16:02