HBO's “Lanterns” first look reveals Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre hitting the road as DC heroes

DC's next dynamic duo has arrived. Mufasa star Aaron Pierre and Friday Night Lights vet Kyle Chandler officially hit the road as the Green Lanterns known as John Stewart and Hal Jordan, as seen in HBO's first look at the upcoming Lanterns series.

James Gunn, the co-head of DC Studios, shared the first image of the pair in action as production kicks off in Burbank on the Warner Bros. lot. The photo shows the two lead stars out of their superhero outfits, while Gunn calls the drama "something really special."

Lanterns launches an eight-episode first season that's inspired by the Green Lantern characters of DC comics. As part of the Lantern Corps., an intergalactic policing organization dedicated to protecting the cosmos, these heroes come equipped with power rings that allow them to create virtually anything they can think of, from shields to armor to weapons to power blasts — even constructs.

Related: Lanterns star Aaron Pierre hasn't seen the Ryan Reynolds movie, talks casting process (exclusive)

Pierre's John is a new recruit to the Corps. when we find him at the start of Lanterns. He teams up with Chandler's Hal, a celebrated veteran, to investigate a murder in the American heartland. This Earth-based mystery will have larger implications for the franchise, which includes this year's Superman movie and Peacemaker series, as well as the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow feature.

Ulrich Thomsen will play Sinestro, a chief Lanterns villain of DC Comics. The series also features Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry; Garret Dillahunt as William Macon, described as a modern cowboy; and Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe, a potential love interest for John.

“We have a few other Lanterns peppered in there, but this is really a terrestrial-based TV show that is almost like True Detective with a couple of Green Lanterns who are space cops watching over precinct Earth,” Gunn previously said in an early DC Studios video presentation.

Related: James Gunn jokingly asked Ryan Reynolds about a DC return: 'Get the f--- out of here!'

Chris Mundy of True Detective: Night Country serves as showrunner on Lanterns, and he writes the show alongside fellow executive producers Damon Lindelof of HBO’s Watchmen and prolific DC comic creator Tom King.

The Home Box Office network also revealed the directors lineup. James Hawes (Slow Horses, Black Mirror) will helm the first two episodes. Subsequent chapters will be directed by Stephen Williams (Watchmen, Lost), Geeta Vasant Patel (House of the Dragon, Ahsoka), and Alik Sakharov (Ozark, The Witcher) also tapped to direct.

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"From the start, our driving force has been to deliver a layered drama — rooted in nuanced storytelling and rich world building — that balances tension and mystery with honest, authentic emotion," Mundy said in a statement. "The goal is to create something that feels timeless and grounded without sacrificing the magic of the source material."

See the first look above.

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