Where was ‘Lanterns’ filmed? All the locations behind HBO’s DC series
HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ may be set in rural Nebraska, but the new DC series was filmed primarily in Southern California. The series combined real Southern California locations with sets built at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank to create its fictional Nebraska setting.
The series follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and rookie John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they investigate a murder that leads to an even bigger mystery. HBO announced the start of production on the series in February 2025, noting that filming had officially begun on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank. Here are the locations where the latest DC series was filmed:
Piru, California, became Rushville
One of the primary filming locations for the show was the small unincorporated city of Piru in Ventura County, California. This town was transformed into the mysterious Rushville, Nebraska, which is referenced throughout the series. The production team utilized Center Street and other local streets to make it look like a Midwestern town. In addition, several local stores were used to furnish the set with additional materials. An official post from the Piru Neighborhood Council in June 2025 noted that a nighttime closure of Main Street and Center Street was necessary due to the HBO Max Lanterns production.
The choice of the Piru location was appropriate, as the small-town feel of the streets and the surrounding farmland were reminiscent of rural Nebraska. The only problem was the local geography: the surrounding mountains had to be digitally removed to make it look like the Midwest. Showrunner Chris Mundy told the Television Academy that the series took extensive VFX work to transform the landscape into the perceived image of Nebraska.
Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank
The production also used Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank for interior scenes and constructed sets. As noted by HBO’s official website, the filming had officially begun on the Warner Bros. lot. According to the Television Academy, the series used three of the complex's available stages during its six-month shoot in the Los Angeles area.
By using the available stages, the production team managed to recreate the interior spaces of real-world locations, which would have been difficult to film on location. Particular attention was paid to making sure that the location of the Stewart family home was realistic. This allowed the production to achieve the level of realism that was necessary for the show.
Los Angeles and the surrounding area
Aside from the city of Burbank and the small town of Piru, the production team also used several other areas within Los Angeles County for the series. According to the Television Academy, some of the show’s exterior scenes were filmed near an abandoned military base in Pomona, in the Inland Valley region of Los Angeles. Other scenes were also shot in the greater Los Angeles area, with Burbank being the main location of the production.
Principal photography began in February 2025 and continued until July. So, while HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ may be set in rural Nebraska, the production’s filming locations were actually much closer to Hollywood. By using local streets, as well as the Warner Bros. stage, Southern California was able to stand in for the Middle West in this latest DC television series.
