HBO has published the first teaser for Lanterns Episode 3, and it comes with a first look at Hal Jordan wearing Green Lantern's iconic domino mask.
The network dropped the latest trailer for its DCU show following the conclusion of Episode 2 last night. If you didn't catch it after the credits rolled, the full 42-second Lanterns teaser can now be found on the HBO Max YouTube channel.
Don't worry; it doesn't give away too much. As has already been teased, John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) is being set up to be a special part of the DCU as episodes roll out. That means confronting what seems to be a Guardian (played by Laura Linney) and reckoning with his past. If the Lanterns Episode 3 teaser is anything to go by, the Green Lantern-in-training seems to be the star of next week's episode, but the moment that has everyone talking online actually concerns a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment featuring Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler).
Just after the 17-second mark, you can see a few frames from an old TV playing what seems to be footage of the news covering Hal Jordan. He appears to be suited up in the same outfit we've seen Chandler wear in the show itself, but the main difference here is his bright-green domino mask.
So far, Chandler has given DC fans a slightly grumpier version of the Green Lantern they might be used to. While he's generally been hailed as a fitting inclusion for the DCU, connecting his character to the one we've seen featured in comic books and animated projects for decades has been a bit difficult for some. Seeing him suited up in full Green Lantern Corps attire seems to have already helped connect those dots for those fans online.
Warning! Spoilers for Lanterns Season 1 Episodes 1 and 2 follow.
All of that said, this may be a little more than an Easter Egg rather than a sneak peek at what this particular costume will eventually look like in motion. For starters, the end of Episode 1 pretty heavily implied that Hal Jordan's days in the DCU are already numbered. The Episode 3 teaser also suggested that we'll be skipping around the timeline yet again, potentially traveling back to 1996. If we do see Hal Jordan sporting his domino mask, those moments may be limited to a few flashback sequences.
MASKED HAL JORDAN YOOOOO #Lanterns pic.twitter.com/R61q87Psp2
— Axel(@AxelTalksFilm) August 24, 2026
Still, it's easy to see why fans might be excited for such a relatively small development. The last time we saw a live-action Hal Jordan wearing the mask was when Ryan Reynolds played the character for his 2011 standalone movie, and we all know how that went.
As the DCU comes together, moments like these can be just as important as the projects themselves. Fans clamored for a first look at Robert Pattinson as Batman and again flocked to see him throw on the cowl for The Batman Part 2. David Corenswet's Superman drew eyes when his costume was revealed back in 2024.
As Hal Jordan seemingly winds down his time as a Green Lantern, we've yet to see what Pierre's John Stewart looks like in the suit. We'll hopefully get a better look when he reprises his role for the DCU's Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow, next year.
While we wait for Lanterns Episode 3 this weekend, August 30, you can see what IGN thought of Episode 2. You can also learn about the villain some viewers think is hiding in plain sight, as well as what DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn had to say about the gritty tone for the new DCU series.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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