The first season of Lanterns is finally coming to a close. Regardless of whether or not a Season 2 is in the cards, the Green Lantern show will surely provide answers to the long list of mysteries that have popped up over the past few weeks. An iconic comic book villain is now in the mix, as well, all while the gritty detective show is laying the groundwork for how its lead characters will fit into James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe.
If you are waiting on bated breath to witness the story’s conclusion, here is everything you need to know before Lanterns Episode 8 premieres:
When does Lanterns Episode 8 come out?
Season 1 Episode 8 will premiere on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 4. It will be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time. The episode, titled “Dirt and Stars,” is expected to have a runtime around 55 minutes.
Like The Penguin, House of the Dragon and most other major HBO titles, Lanterns releases one episode a week – all on Sunday nights. Since Season 1 is only eight episodes long – the same length as both seasons of Peacemaker and The Penguin – this marks the season finale. It is worth noting that HBO is marketing the episode as the season finale, rather than the series finale, leaving the door open for the show to return in the future.
(Warning: Spoilers for Lanterns Episode 7, Superman, Peacemaker and Supergirl ahead.)
Who will show up this episode?
Barring some last-minute flashbacks, Lanterns is now mostly grounded in the 2026 timeline. The 2016 plot came to a close in Episode 5, while the young versions of John and Hal seem to have already played their respective parts. There could be some DCU cameos or re-appearances of some characters who have dipped in and out, so here is a look at who could appear in Episode 8:
- Aaron Pierre as John Stewart
- Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan
- Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry Kane
- Ulrich Thomsen as Thaal Sinestro
- Jason Ritter as Billy Macon
- Shea Pritchard as Noah Macon
- Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner
- Sherman Augustus as John Stewart Sr.
- Nicole Ari Parker as Bernadette Stewart
- Romeo Brown as Aaron Stewart
- Amie MacKenzie as Carol Ferris
- Laura Linney as Lianna
What to expect in Lanterns Episode 8?
John’s plan to use the Hal-orgram to unlock Hal’s locked box was a success, even if they haven’t found all the answers just yet. The portal that Hal stashed before his death ultimately led them to Antaan’s dead world, which was torn apart by the Manhunters’ fear gas long ago. Now, Sinestro is hiding out on a stormy island on the otherwise vacant alien planet, fresh off escaping from Spacekaban.
Based on the Episode 8 preview from HBO Max, we know that Sinestro is going to tell John about the power of fear and the shortcomings of the Green Lantern Corps. The villain may have answers to how he broke out of prison, and why Hal had a portal to that world in the first place. Hal’s ring, meanwhile, is running out of charge, meaning John may not have much time left to chat with the Hal-orgram. The outdated construct is suspicious of Sheriff Kerry, who he thinks could have killed Hal despite of being in love with him. There is also Kerry’s son, Noah, who has a high school football game to win and a college commitment to make. On top of all of that, Guy Gardner will be back in Nebraska as well.
There is no official synopsis for this week’s episode, but there is the preview for Lanterns Episode 8:
Lanterns FAQs
When does Lanterns come out?
Lanterns Episode 8 will premiere at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 4. This will be the final episode of Season 1.
Where can I watch Lanterns?
Lanterns is available to stream on HBO Max. All other shows and movies in the newly-rebooted DC Universe are also available on the streaming service if you are looking to catch up, from Creature Commandos and Peacemaker to Superman. The franchise’s latest film, Supergirl, just hit HBO Max on September 10.
Will there be another season of Lanterns?
HBO has not publicly renewed Lanterns for a second season. However, according to a report from Jeff Sneider, the network has hired Halt and Catch Fire co-creator Christopher Cantwell to produce and write a potential Season 2.
When does the next DC project come out?
Following Lanterns‘ eight-week run on HBO, the next DC film or TV show will be Clayface. The horror-adjacent movie about the titular shape-shifting Batman villain will hit theaters on October 23, 2026.
