Kyle Chandler reveals how his late father influenced his character's bond with co-star in Lanterns series

A still from Lanterns. Pic via X

Lanterns may be a superhero series, but for Kyle Chandler, who plays Hal Jordan, its emotional core was deeply personal. Speaking about the series finale, Chandler opened up about the father-son dynamic that developed between Hal and John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre, and revealed how his own relationship with his late father influenced the experience.

Kyle Chandler on father-son bond

Chandler said, "The father-son aspect of this show, I think, is for me, I lost my pop when I was 14, and it is just incredible," reflecting on Hal's bond with John. As the season progressed, Hal's relationship with the younger John evolved beyond that of two Green Lantern partners. Chandler said the father-son dynamic became increasingly apparent while filming, particularly through Hal's attempts to pass on his experience and wisdom.

"And, you know, Hal had that going on with John, that father-son relationship. It became apparent while we were shooting it and that wisdom and being able to give back a little bit," he said. Chandler added that the relationship ultimately became an emotional love story for his character. "And yeah, so that love story is he won my heart over in the end, and I was able to do what my father would have done for me."

Kyle Chandler gets emotional over Lanterns finale

The actor also admitted that watching the finale brought back memories of the six-month shoot and the people he worked with on the series. Chandler said the final moments between Hal and John affected him because they represented the culmination of everything the cast and crew had put into the show.

"After watching it this morning, there's something that really struck me is the last scene with Aaron and I in the show," he said. Comparing the feeling to winning a state championship, Chandler said that "all the work that you put in slams into you at one moment on the field."

For Pierre, the emotional connection between the two characters was equally significant. He described his relationship with Chandler as one that developed into a genuine friendship and brotherhood during the 116-day shoot.

Pierre said the series worked because the actors had to focus on the other person in every scene rather than making the performance about themselves. As Lanterns closes its first season, Chandler's comments offer a glimpse into why the Hal-John relationship became more than a conventional superhero partnership; it was ultimately a story about mentorship, vulnerability, loss and finding family in unexpected places. Lanterns is currently streaming on JioHotstar.