Let $H_0 = \lambda_0$ and $H_1 = \lambda \neq \lambda_0$. Then
$$-2\log \lambda(y) = -2\log\frac{L(y|\lambda_0)}{L(y|\hat{\lambda})} = 2n \left(\bar{y} \log \left(\frac{\bar{y}}{\lambda_0}\right) + \lambda_0 - \bar{y}\right).$$
Then by Wilk's theorem when $H_0$ is true and $n$ is large
$$2n \left(\bar{Y} \log \left(\frac{\bar{Y}}{\lambda_0}\right) + \lambda_0 - \bar{Y}\right) \sim \chi^2_1$$.
Why is that?