Nicole Ari Parker Joins HBO’s “Lanterns” as John Stewart’s Mother

Nicole Ari Parker is stepping into the DC Universe. The actress, best known for her role in HBO’s And Just Like That, has been cast in a recurring role in Lanterns, the upcoming HBO drama centered on the Green Lantern Corps. Parker will portray Bernadette, the mother of John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), one of the two central Green Lanterns in the series.

HBO describes Bernadette as “formidable and tenacious,” a woman who has spent her life ensuring her family is not left behind. She is fiercely protective of her son, a trait that will likely shape John Stewart’s journey in the show.

The series follows John Stewart and Hal Jordan (played by Kyle Chandler), two members of the Green Lantern Corps, an elite intergalactic force tasked with maintaining order across the cosmos. Their power stems from special rings that grant superhuman abilities, making them one of the most formidable forces in the DC Universe.

Lanterns is significant for DC Studios as it marks the first live-action series developed under the leadership of co-chairmen and co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. The show received a straight-to-series order in June, securing an eight-episode season with True Detective: Night Country and Ozark showrunner Chris Mundy at the helm.

In addition to Parker and the lead duo, the cast includes Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, and Ulrich Thomsen, who will portray the iconic Green Lantern antagonist Sinestro.

This isn’t the first time Green Lanterns have appeared in live-action. Hal Jordan was famously played by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 Green Lantern film, though that adaptation was widely criticized. Meanwhile, John Stewart has long been a fan-favorite in the comics and animated series but has yet to receive a proper live-action portrayal. His inclusion in Lanterns marks a significant moment, as Stewart was one of DC’s first Black superheroes and a key figure in Green Lantern lore.

DC’s live-action universe is undergoing a major transition. Nathan Fillion has been cast as another Green Lantern, Guy Gardner, in Gunn’s upcoming Superman film, slated for a July release. With Lanterns, HBO is set to bring a detective-style drama to the Green Lantern mythos, a tone Gunn previously described as inspired by True Detective.

As of now, HBO has not announced an official release date for Lanterns. Meanwhile, Nicole Ari Parker will also return for Season 3 of And Just Like That, set to premiere later this year.

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