The upcoming Lanterns show for HBO has already cast its Green Lantern leads, Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre will play them. And reports are saying that Nathan Fillion will guest star as Guy Gardner, the Lantern he plays in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman. But what about the “Big Bad” of the Green Lantern mythology, Sinestro? Even though James Gunn describes Lanterns as more Earth-bound than cosmic, it will feature the alien villain Sinestro. Now, according to Deadline, we’ve learned Sinestro will be played by Danish actor Ulrich Thomsen, famous for his Cinemax series Banshee. Mark Strong played Sinestro in the 2011 Green Lantern film, but times they are a-changing.
Thaal Sinestro first appeared in Green Lantern #7 way back in 1961. Described as a former Green Lantern who became the fascist dictator of his home planet of Korugar, the Guardians of the Universe stripped Sinestro of his green power ring. He forged another ring, however, powered by yellow energy. He became Green Lantern Hal Jordan’s primary antagonist in the comics. Sinestro gained even more popularity as a part of the Legion of Doom in the Super Friends cartoon. In the modern DC Comics era, his popularity doubled, as he founded a Yellow Lantern Corps, powered by the emotion of fear. The Sinestro Corps story in the 2000s remains one of the most popular Green Lantern stories ever.
Lanterns will be the first new HBO series taking place in the DCU, following a second season of Peacemaker. It debuts sometime in 2026, around the same time as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow hits theaters. With Ulrich Thomsen’s Sinestro joining the DCU Lanterns fun, we await news on which other alien characters will appear in the series. Could we see the alien Green Lantern Kilowog? Sinestro’s replacement on Korugar, Katma Tui, who later marries John Stewart? We can’t wait to find out who else is in the wings. Lanterns has a tentative release date on HBO and Max of late 2026.
