DC Comics writer Tom King is helming HBO's new series "Lanterns," a gritty, detective-style reboot of the Green Lantern franchise designed to shed the character's poor Hollywood track record, notably the widely panned 2011 Ryan Reynolds film. King, who is also behind Marvel's "WandaVision" and DC's "Supergirl" adaptations, brings an unusual background to the project: before his comics career took off, he spent several years as a CIA counterterrorism officer, giving the show's investigative tone added authenticity.

"Lanterns" stars Kyle Chandler as a jaded Hal Jordan mentoring newcomer Aaron Pierre, with the pair investigating a murder in rural Nebraska linked to extraterrestrial forces, in a style compared to HBO's "True Detective." King worked at the CIA from shortly after 9/11 until 2009, an experience he credits for his intense modern work ethic, including writing into the early hours after full days on other projects. He spoke to Variety in Brooklyn following the "Supergirl" premiere, ahead of travelling to France's Annecy festival to showcase his animated "Mister Miracle" adaptation, having started out as a comics-obsessed intern at DC and Marvel while at Columbia University.