Line of Duty favourite Kelly MacDonald lands next role in iconic superhero series

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Line of Duty star Kelly MacDonald has signed on to the cast of a highly anticipated chapter in the upcoming DC Universe.

The superhero franchise is getting a fresh coat of paint starting with James Gunn’s Superman blockbuster next year, and a packed slate of future films and TV series have already been confirmed.

HBO and DC Studios are currently busy on the eagerly awaited small-screen installment Lanterns, centred around the comic book franchise’s iconic Green Lantern Corps.

Kyle Chandler will lead the series as Hal Jordan, who was first brought to life in live-action by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 big-screen flop, opposite Aaron Pierre as another member of the intergalactic police force, John Stewart.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Trainspotting star MacDonald is onboard as a character named Sheriff Kerry.

An official logline describes her character as “a no-nonsense woman deeply devoted to her family and close-knit town.

“Her resilience, shaped by a complex past that’s hardened her resolve, anchors her when the community’s secrets begin to surface.”

MacDonald has given stellar performances in everything from TV hits like BBC's Line of Duty and Giri/Haji to cinematic favourites like No Country for Old Men and Disney Pixar’s Brave.

She most recently starred with British star Damian Lewis in Sky’s vampire comedy film The Radleys.

The upcoming TV event has been compared to True Detective as it follows Lantern legend Jordan and Stewart, a new recruit, investigating a sinister murder on Earth.

Their search for truth will take them deep into the American heartland as well as introducing another beloved section of the DC Universe to a whole new audience.

Lanterns also has some major TV pedigree working behind the scenes.

Ozark scribe Chris Mundy and Damon Lindelof of Lost fame are scripting the series with award-winning comic book writer Tom King also lending his expertise.

Director James Hawes, who has helmed episodes of Black Mirror and Slow Horses as well as the acclaimed Anthony Hopkins-led biopic One Life, will be directing the first two episodes and is also an executive producer.

In addition to Lanterns, the DC Universe will continue to expand with films like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, The Authority and The Brave and the Bold, a brand new iteration of Batman.

The franchise will officially start on TV with Max’s upcoming Creature Commandos, followed by a second season of Peacemaker and a spin-off series following Suicide Squad leader Amanda Waller (Viola Davis).

Lanterns is expected to premiere in 2026 on HBO and Max.

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