After much fan and press speculation, EW has learned an expired music license was the reason for the trailer’s absence.

Lanterns trailer absence, explained: HBO teaser returns online after music license issues

After much fan and press speculation, EW has learned an expired music license was the reason for the trailer's absence.

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

April 30, 2026 1:25 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Aaron Pierre as John Stewart on HBO's 'Lanterns'. Credit:

- HBO's *Lanterns* trailer made a return online this week after it was quietly removed from the internet.

- It was taken down because of an expired music license, EW has learned.

- The show now has a confirmed premiere date for this August.

Earlier this week, DC fans and press took notice of the lack of a *Lanterns* trailer online. The first-look teaser for the upcoming HBO drama from DC Studios released back on March 4 and had quietly vanished overnight for a few days. The trailer arrives back on YouTube and other platforms Thursday, now with a confirmed Aug. 16 premiere date on HBO Max.

The vanishing act caused quite a bit of speculation. Some media outlets and fans suggested or implied a link to a conversation that recently played out online regarding creator comments on the color green of their Green Lantern characters. That is not the case.

The original version of the *Lanterns* trailer included licensed music that expired and was taken offline until it could be replaced with an evergreen version, ** has learned. It's a fairly common practice when it comes to trailer and teaser assets that contain licensed tracks.

Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler on 'Lanterns'.

John Johnson/HBO Max

"Beware my power, Green Lantern's light. #Lanterns premieres August 16 on @hbomax," James Gunn, the co-head of DC Studios, wrote on his various social media channels on Thursday.

Lanterns stars Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, a new recruit to the Green Lantern Corps., an intergalactic policing organization that patrols various sectors of the cosmos. Each Lantern, upon their successful indoctrination, is armed with a power ring, an immensely formidable item that lets its bearer conjure just about anything they can think of, including weapons, armor, power blasts, force fields, and constructs.

'My Adventures With Superman' sets season 3 premiere, previews 'Reign of the Supermen' (exclusive)

'The Authority' movie shelved, James Gunn says: 'Didn't work in terms of the larger DCU'

In the case of Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, who first debuted in last summer's *Superman*, summoning giant green middle fingers to tip over tanks is also an option. Fillion will also make an appearance on *Lanterns*.

John is partnered with Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler), a veteran of the Corps. tasked with showing him the ropes. Together, they investigate a murder in the American Heartland that, Gunn previously teased, will have ripple effects for the larger DCU.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

The cast features Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry, who becomes territorial when the "big shot" Lanterns roll into her town; Garret Dillahunt as William Macon, described as a modern cowboy; Poorna Jagannathan as Zoe, a potential love interest for John; and Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, the most well-known villain of Green Lantern comics.

Chris Mundy, who hails from *True Detective: Night Country*, serves as showrunner. He writes *Lanterns* alongside fellow executive producers Damon Lindelof of HBO’s *Watchmen* and prolific DC comic creator Tom King.

Pierre's John Stewart is also set to appear in next year's *Man of Tomorrow*, Gunn's follow-up film to *Superman*.

- Superhero TV Shows

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Superhero”