- Danish actor Ulrich Thomsen cast as villain
- Eight episodes coming to HBO
- Series likely to hit screens in 2026
The DCU Lanterns series has found its villain and cast 61-year old Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro. The new HBO series focuses on the Green Lanterns, a group of intergalactic peacekeepers who wield power rings fueled by willpower.
Per the official logline, the show will follow “new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”
Thomsen joins previously announced leads Kyle Chandler (as Hal Jordan) and Aaron Pierre (as John Stewart). Other confirmed cast members for the series include Kelly Macdonald, who will play a character known as Sheriff Kerry and Poorna Jagannathan will also star.
Thomsen no stranger to complex characters
His previous acting credits are primarily from Danish productions, though he has featured in some notable Hollywood films. He is best known for appearing in 2011’s The Thing and had a brief role in the James Bond flick The World Is Not Enough, as Mr. Kill.
Many of Thomsen’s roles explore the psychological and emotional struggles of his characters. He is often cast as villains, such as his portrayal of Kai Proctor in the series Banshee for Cinemax, where he plays a former gangster turned corrupt businessman in a small town.
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Sinestro – who was previously portrayed by Mark Strong in the 2011 Green Lantern film -first appeared in the comic book Green Lantern, Volume 2, #56 released in 1961. It is not yet known what role Sinestro will have in the upcoming series, but he is one of the most iconic characters in the Green Lantern world.
He was originally a Green Lantern himself, but was kicked out of the corporation for abusing his power. He formed his own Sinestro Corps, powered by the yellow rings of fear, establishing himself as the arch enemy of Hal Jordan.
The official description of the character states, “Ruthless yet undeniably charming, Sinestro is a former Green Lantern who turned rogue. Sinestro’s manipulative nature drives his enduring obsession with his former mentee, Hal Jordan.”
Sinestro’s chance to shine in Lanterns
We’re yet to see Sinestro’s full potential explored. The 2011 Green Lantern movie set the stage for a larger role for Sinestro, but the planned sequel was never made. While the character has made limited live-action appearances and some cameos (The LEGO Batman Movie, 2017), the new series will be a chance for DCU fans to get a closer look at the super villain.
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Lanterns is co-written by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, who between them have some impressive credits to their names, including Ozark and Lost. It was originally intended as a Max original, but was picked up for eight episodes at HBO in June 2024.
It is reported that the series is currently in pre-production, with filming scheduled to begin in early 2025. That means 2026 is likely to be the year that we see Lanterns on our screens.
