Lanterns' Star Kyle Chandler on the Series' Premiere Twist and the Mystery Unveiled
The highly anticipated HBO series 'Lanterns' has arrived, and it's already making waves with its intricate narrative and mind-bending twists. In an exclusive interview, Kyle Chandler, the star of the show, delves into the series' opening sequence and the clever way it sets the stage for an ongoing mystery. With a non-linear storytelling approach, the show takes viewers on a journey through time and space, leaving them intrigued and eager to uncover the truth.
The premiere introduces us to the legendary Lantern Hal Jordan and his protégé, John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre. As the episode unfolds, a murder in Rushville, Nebraska, becomes the catalyst for Hal's investigation, which quickly takes a turn for the extraterrestrial. The twist? Hal Jordan is dead, and John Stewart, his former trainee, has seemingly moved on with his life, having not spoken to Hal in a decade. The sheriff's call to John leads them back to the football stadium, where their story began, but the question remains: what happened to Hal?
Chandler, who portrays Hal Jordan, is fascinated by the series' non-linear structure. He explains, 'The whole search is to find out what happened to him. I like the fact that the show is non-linear and they've layered it like that.' This approach, he compares to a complex game of chess, requiring the actors to navigate the emotional landscape of the characters and reveal hidden clues along the way. 'Once you get all your pages taped on the wall and you know where all your scenes are, then you can take this page in the script and this page in the script, and figure out how to play with the material to reveal things differently,' he says.
The premiere's twist not only introduces a single murder mystery but also hints at a deeper, interconnected narrative. Chandler reveals, 'The reveal introduces audiences to the fact that there is not one murder mystery being solved throughout this series, there are two, and the events in 2016 clearly have some sort of influence on what’s to come.' This layered storytelling technique adds depth and complexity to the show, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.
'Lanterns' is a joint creation by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, and it showcases their unique vision. The series airs Sundays at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET on HBO and is available simultaneously on HBO Max. With its intricate plot and clever use of time, 'Lanterns' promises to keep audiences engaged and eager to unravel the mysteries that lie within.
