Christopher Nolan Meets Zack Snyder In HBO's 8-Part Sci-Fi Series

The unique style of two of Hollywood's most famous directors, Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder, come together perfectly in HBO Max's new science fiction series. Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder have very distinct styles as directors, but they also have a lot of overlap in their directorial careers. Nolan's best films are high-concept action and sci-fi blockbusters with stunning visuals, and Snyder's best films are also action and sci-fi blockbusters that use visual effects to elevate great scenes.

Most importantly, Nolan and Snyder both have a direct connection to DC Comics and the superhero genre at large. Nolan basically invented the modern superhero blockbuster through his Dark Knight trilogy, and Snyder helmed the DCEU for years, starting with Man of Steel. Both directors have left an indelible mark on film at large and an even bigger mark on the sci-fi and superhero genres.

While they have a lot of similarities, Snyder and Nolan have also carefully cultivated very distinct styles in their filmmaking. Both of their movies are instantly recognizable as their work from just a single scene, which should mean it's very difficult to blend both styles together. HBO Max's most recent superhero show, Lanterns, which follows Green Lanterns Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), has not only proven that it's possible to marry Snyder and Nolan's styles together, but also that it results in a fantastic series.

Lanterns Takes Zack Snyder's Heightened Realism & Edgy Approach To A Superhero Story

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Lanterns season 1, episode 1.Lanterns has the most similarities to Zack Snyder's directorial style, and not just because of his past with the DCEU. Snyder, especially in his DCEU movies, tries to make his stories and characters into larger-than-life legends who are also somewhat realistic. Take Man of Steel, for example: Snyder tries to highlight the realism of a god-like hero such as Superman through the many buildings he destroys and the weight of his punches, but he also uses slow motion and intense film techniques to make his powers seem real and legendary.

Snyder's style is heightened realism, making it seem like all the things Superman does are possible in the real world, but that they're still extraordinary despite being possible. Lanterns nails this balance perfectly. When Hal Jordan takes flight in Lanterns, he launches off the ground with a ton of force. When he conjures up a bubble to stop an explosion, the construct has weight and physics tied to it. Fantastical things happen in Lanterns, just as they did in Snyder's DCEU movies, but they have realistic consequences and real weight behind them to make them feel more lifelike.

Zack Snyder is also known for his edginess and dark moments, and Lanterns also mimics that aspect of his style. Snyder's Superman, for example, is no boy scout. He kills Zod, he has no qualms about collateral damage, and he isn't afraid to go to dark places emotionally. Hal Jordan and John Stewart are the same way in Lanterns; they're still heroes, but they're decidedly more mature than James Gunn's Superman 2025.

Hal and John are detectives and humans first and foremost. John has a dark and troubled past, he gets frustrated with Hal's training, and he even has sex in the show's premiere. Hal is jaded after so many years working as a superhero. He uses the ring to counterfeit money, he goes into interrogations and training sessions with a lot of arrogance, and he gets his butt kicked. Just like Zack Snyder's superhero movies, Lanterns is a superhero story made specifically for adults.

Lanterns Also Mimics Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy In Many Ways

The DCU's Lanterns also seems to be drawing inspiration from Christopher Nolan, and specifically his Dark Knight trilogy. Nolan's The Dark Knight and his other Batman films were mostly known for their grounded take on the superhero genre and the militaristic feel he injected into it. Gone were the spandex Batsuit and art-deco Batmobile, Nolan replaced them with Kevlar armor and a tank. Nolan's Batman felt like a super soldier more than a superhero, from the way he looked to the gritty and brutal way he fought.

Lanterns clearly borrowed the Dark Knight trilogy's focus on grounded and militaristic superheroes. Hal and John rarely use their ring unless it's absolutely necessary, treating it like a weapon of mass destruction. When they do use it, the constructs they create are very utilitarian, like bubble wrap or a simple shield. Even Hal's Green Lantern suit, which hasn't been seen in the show yet, is more like a set of leather combat armor instead of the bright green, skintight energy construct of the comics or the Ryan Reynolds movie.

The actual story of Lanterns is also closely aligned with Nolan's Batman trilogy and his other movies. Nolan loves the mystery, thriller, and procedural genres. His films put a heavy emphasis on the process of unraveling a big mystery, from The Joker's next move in The Dark Knight to Odysseus' journey home in The Odyssey. The way his films unravel those mysteries also carries the same grounded feel his action and set pieces do; each decision is calculated, the logic is consistent, and his films highlight his characters' competence and intelligence.

Lanterns also has that going for it. Hal is a seasoned "space cop," as the show puts it, and he has years of experience and intuition to fall back on as he searches for aliens disguised as humans. As he trains John as a Green Lantern, the pair also get a chance to explain their reasoning, try to peel back the layers of an ever more complicated conspiracy, and get to the truth of the show's mystery. It's a detective thriller like Memento, just with aliens instead of memory problems.

Lanterns is also starting to dabble in a mainstay of Nolan's other movies: time. So many of Nolan's films, from Inception to Tenet to Memento to The Odyssey, experiment with non-linear storytelling and time itself. Lanterns also seems to be dipping its toes into this realm, as the show primarily takes place in 2016 with a flash-forward to a major event in 2026. Only new episodes of Lanterns, however, will be able to reveal just how much the show draws from Christopher Nolan's fascination with time.