Which spy thriller also influenced the tone of the DC series Lanterns?

The spy thriller Slow Horses also influenced the tone of the DC series Lanterns.

Lanterns was announced as a detective story inspired by both True Detective and Slow Horses. Slow Horses contributes a spy-thriller reference point, while True Detective provides the more obvious model for the show’s murder investigation and emotional mystery.

James Hawes, who directed the first two Lanterns episodes, also directed the first season of Slow Horses. This shared creative connection helped make the comparison especially relevant during Lanterns’ development. The series uses the idea of experienced and newer investigators working together while dealing with distrust, pressure, and broader institutional concerns.

Despite these influences, Lanterns is not an adaptation of either program. It is based on DC’s Green Lantern characters and incorporates power rings, the Green Lantern Corps, and extraterrestrial mysteries. Its creative team aimed to make the story accessible to viewers unfamiliar with the comics while retaining recognizable elements of the mythology.