In episode 2 of HBO Max's original series Lanterns, titled “Trust Fall,” viewers are treated to a high-energy highway chase featuring John Stewart, portrayed by Aaron Pierre. The sequence, expertly choreographed by stunt coordinator and second unit director Justin Riemer, showcases John’s attempt to evade alien captors while safeguarding Hal’s lantern and his conjured green bird. The action-packed scene involves close-quarters combat inside a moving van and a perilous chase through oncoming traffic, marking the show’s first major action set piece that reveals John’s fighting prowess and character.

Riemer highlighted the complexities of integrating the bird into the chase, which was a notable challenge given it is a living creature that isn’t physically present during filming. This required careful planning about the bird’s size, movement, and interaction with both John and the environment, including the van interior and the highway setting. The bird serves a critical narrative and functional role, initially distracting John’s captor to facilitate John’s escape and later becoming the central focus as John pursues it amid heavy traffic, adding layers of tension and continuity between the fight and chase segments.

The choreography reflects key aspects of John Stewart’s background as an ex-Marine and boxer, emphasizing his skill, power, and composed fighting style. Riemer explained the scene was designed to immediately show John as a highly capable fighter, matched by a captor whose subtle inhuman traits hint at the extraterrestrial nature of the antagonists. The fight progresses with a palpable story beat, evolving from a confined physical struggle inside the van into a dynamic, obstacle-filled pursuit on the highway where the surrounding traffic replaces the captor as the primary threat.

Though Riemer didn’t reveal much about upcoming fight sequences, he reaffirmed that John’s combat abilities extend beyond his iconic ring, highlighting his resourcefulness in using both his own body and summoned constructs for defense. Lanterns continues to stream Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max, blending action and storytelling to explore the DC character’s depth, with further insights and episode breakdowns available from Forbes contributor Sabrina Reed.