Aaron Pierre and Chris Coy Share Behind-the-Scenes Photo From ‘Lanterns’ Production
HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ has spent several years quietly assembling one of the most star-studded ensembles in DC Studios’ current lineup. Now that the series has premiered, fresh behind-the-scenes glimpses from production are giving fans a look at the camaraderie built along the way.
The eight-episode series follows Green Lantern recruit John Stewart and veteran Hal Jordan as they investigate a murder in small-town America. It officially premiered on HBO on August 16 after over a year of casting reveals and set photos that built anticipation. This excitement continues even post-debut, with new candid images from filming surfacing online.
The latest comes from a set photo featuring Aaron Pierre and Chris Coy together on location for the series, offering fans a lighthearted, off-duty look at two actors who share screen time within the show’s expansive ensemble. Pierre stars as John Stewart, the young Green Lantern recruit whose investigation forms the emotional backbone of the series, appearing in all nine of its episodes.
Coy plays Waylon Sanders, a guest role described in casting materials as either an intelligent survivor or a nervous truck driver, with the character’s real name and age left deliberately unknown. According to Deadline’s original casting report, Sanders is framed as someone “unbound by the laws of nature,” suggesting a stranger, more otherworldly presence than his brief single-episode appearance might imply.
Coy’s addition to ‘Lanterns’ fits a broader pattern for the show, which has leaned heavily on performers known for grounded, character-driven television rather than typical superhero casting choices. His résumé includes standout roles in HBO’s ‘The Deuce’ and ‘Treme,’ along with a recurring part in ‘Lawmen: Bass Reeves,’ credits that align closely with the detective-drama sensibility emphasized by showrunner Chris Mundy throughout the series’ development.
Speaking about joining the project, Coy expressed genuine enthusiasm for the character’s ambiguity. “I’m thrilled to bring this character to life and explore the complexities of a person who is not bound by the laws of nature,” Coy told Deadline at the time of his casting.
Pierre’s John Stewart anchors the series alongside Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan, with the two intergalactic cops investigating a mystery that pulls them deep into the fabric of small-town America. The show’s broader ensemble includes Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, and Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, rounding out a cast built to support the series’ slower, more atmospheric storytelling approach.
This approach appears to be paying off critically. ‘Lanterns’ has quickly become the highest-rated project in DC Studios’ current cinematic universe on Rotten Tomatoes, drawing comparisons to prestige dramas like ‘True Detective’ for its restrained, mystery-driven tone.
Given the attention the show has generated since its premiere, candid moments like this latest photo of Pierre and Coy continue to offer fans a window into the collaborative energy behind one of DC’s most unconventional recent projects. With new episodes rolling out weekly, more behind-the-scenes glimpses from the cast are likely to surface as fans delve deeper into the show’s mysteries.
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