Lanterns, based on the DC comic characters from Green Lantern comes to HBO in August and we have our first official trailer giving us a better idea what to expect.
The show stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and will feature Nathan Fillion returning as Guy Gardner after his debut in Superman and Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro.
HBO loves to put out compilation teasers of what’s coming soon to the platform and channel and it often gives us a first look at anticipation shows. In this case, we get our first look at Lanterns, the upcoming show from DC Studios based on Green Lantern.
The show stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and will feature Nathan Fillion returning as Guy Gardner after his debut in Superman and Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro.
Kyle Chandler will be slinging the ring as Hal Jordon in the television series Lanterns and it has been revealed that Aaron Pierre will be his partner in cosmic space policing as John Stewart.
Pierre was one of the actors rumored for the role and this would not be his first time playing a live action comic book character. Pierre was Dev-Em in Krypton, based on the Superman mythology. He was also a performer on the Old soundtrack, a film based on a graphic novel. In possibly his biggest role to date, Pierre will voice Mufasa in Mufasa: The Lion King.
Lanterns is going straight to series and comes from Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelöf, and Tom King. The trio are co-writing and executive producing the series, with Mundy serving as the showrunner.
The show is still casting for other roles and looking for directors, looking to begin shooting in January. In June it was announced the show was going straight to series for eight episodes.
The series focuses on Jordan who will mentor John Stewart. The two will investigate an Earth-bound murder with larger implications.
Kyle Chandler is trading “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” for “in brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight” as he’s being tapped to slip on a ring and play Hal Jordan in the HBO DC Lanterns series.
Chandler is primarily known for playing Coach Taylor on Friday Night Lights but has also starred in films like Super 8, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Zero Dark Thirty, The Wolf of Wall Street, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Godzilla vs. Kong. He’s also been part of shows such as Super Pumped, Star Wars: Visions, Blood Line, Grey’s Anatomy, and more.
Lanterns is going straight to series and comes from Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelöf, and Tom King. The trio are co-writing and executive producing the series, with Mundy serving as the showrunner.
The show is still casting for other roles and looking for directors, looking to begin shooting in January. In June it was announced the show was going straight to series for eight episodes.
The series focuses on Jordan who will mentor John Stewart. The two will investigate an Earth-bound murder with larger implications.
It’s Horrible Bosses meets David Fincher’s The Game.
Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) are a mostly happy married couple living in the suburbs whose highlight of their week is a game night with their friends. But when Max’s much more successful and wealthy brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) comes to visit, awakening Max’s sibling rivalry and competitive streak to the next level, Brooks decides to take over their game night by replacing it with a kidnapping / murder mystery. The twist? Brooks is actually kidnapped, and our group thinks it’s just a game. And. . . hijinks ensue.
What could’ve been another mundane comedy actually has some good laughs, including when it’s using its R-rating to the fullest extent it can. But more than that, it relies on building its characters and a great supporting cast to keep it interesting. Normally this premise might have worn itself thin, but there are a couple of twists and turns that keep it enjoyable. However, it’s never too much and the script never takes itself too seriously or thinks it’s smarter than it is. Overall, it’s what we expect from the people who made Horrible Bosses.
The real gem of the movie, though, is Jesse Plemons, who plays a creepy cop neighbor who really wants to get invited back to their game night. Plemons is one of the best actors working today, and he is perfect, even if a little over the top at times.
But his performance, like so many elements, actually make sense as things wrap up and you see the entire film for its totality. For instance? There are all these shots of various neighborhoods from above that somehow look like tiny scale models rather than real life. . . is it all part of a (gasp!) game? Make sure you stay through the first part of the credits for some specific payoff.
The other enjoyable part of this film is just how well it’s put together. An earlier comparison to Fincher is not just hyperbole– there is some artistry in the cinematography and directing here. For instance, a scene three-fourths of the way through the film during which a Fabrege egg (really it’s just a mcguffin– go with it) is used in a game of keep away in a gorgeous mansion as baddies chase our protagonists around– up and down staircases, in and out of rooms, swooping up and down giant open rooms with balconies above — all done to look like a single take.
It’s almost as much fun to watch as Plemons enjoy the heck out his character.
The biggest weakness of this film is it happens to be released amongst other films that will overshadow it at the box office. Can I recommend Game Night? Yes. Can I recommend you go see it instead of Black Panther or Annihilation? Well. . .
But if you are like our protagonists and are seeking some fun time with adult friends — and especially if you can go to a theater that will sell you adult beverages to go with it — and you just want to laugh and have a good time without thinking too much? This will scratch that particular itch. Otherwise, this is a definite recommend for watching at home with friends, with adult beverages, and perhaps with board games, especially if the game includes betrayal and murder. I highly recommend pairing this with a good game of Betrayal at House on the Hill or Werewolf.
(Rolls a d6 to determine overall score)
(Adds +2 Jesse Plemons)
3 out of 5 stars
It’s the latter part of the week and anticipation is building to see what Wondercon has as far as news. I’ll be at synDCon instead checking out what a Washington, DC game convention is like. We, of course will have coverage.
Around the Blogs:
The Back Room – Indy Comic Book Fail Lesson 46:The Crushing Defeat Of Moderate Success – How’d I miss this great series of articles about indy comics? I have a lot of reading to do to catch up I guess.
Evil Twin Comics – Talking to Comics “Pirates” – Writer Fred Van Lente wants to hear why you pirate comics.
The Beat – Comics retailers talk about business in 2011 – Unlike what Rebecca Black thinks, it’s not all “Fun, fun, fun, fun.” The Beat has the view of the comic book industry from various retailers at the front lines.
The Economist – In graphic detail – More and more journalists are turning to cartooning to report the news and The Economist covers this new trend.
The Sydney Morning Herald – Here’s hoping for a superhero every girl can aspire to – It’s not just a costume that Adrianne Palicki will be stepping into, it’s also a hell of a role model.
Bleeding Cool – Kyle Chandler Sought For Starring Role In Powers – I’m a huge fan of Friday Night Lights, so I’m first on board to say hells yes.
Around the Tubes Reviews:
Bleeding Cool – Action Comics #899
Multiversity Comics – Chew #18
Cosmic Book News – Cyclops #1
Bleeding Cool – Cyclops #1 and Wolverine #7
Comicvine – Savage Dragon #170
Complex – The Best Comic Books This Week: Captain America, Batman, Lex Luthor and More!
Kotaku – Week in Comics
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