DC Studios' next original series, Lanterns, looks like it has a bright future after perceived gaffes in the trailer and its launch. In fact, the future is glowing brighter than a power ring, and moreover, it is shimmering long before the show's August debut. In an update putting it on the receiving end of a massive vote of confidence, a new report indicates that DC and HBO are already mobilizing a reshuffled writers' room to map out a second season.
And they've added a name to the roster that already boasts Chris Mundy, Tom King, and Damon Lindelof: Christopher Cantwell, co-creator of AMC drama Halt and Catch Fire. This news originated from Jeff Sneider in his InSneider newsletter, and it could've easily been written off as a rumor. But Cantwell later confirmed his hiring in no uncertain terms on his Bluesky.
Cantwell will work alongside Ozark's Mundy while King and Lindelof reportedly take a backseat as they move on to other commitments. They were instrumental in crafting Lanterns as a True Detective-style procedural drama, complete with grit and a critically polarizing muted color palette, and might be a loss to the chemistry. However, the addition of Cantwell should have fans buzzing.
His resume brings the exact kind of credibility a serious and grounded DC show needs. Halt and Catch Fire lived up to the high standards set by its AMC family members Mad Men and The Walking Dead with the same level of writing, casting, performance, and strikingly deft production value. By itself, the first season (which looks ripped out of a 1980s noir thriller) is a cinematographer's masterclass in mood, style, and framing.
Its cast also has the pedigree of the kind of high-concept sci-fi and comic book movies Lanterns will emulate and compete against. Halt starred Lee Pace (Ronin the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy, a film by a current DC Studios head honcho) and Scoot McNairy (Batman v. Superman) as tech entrepreneurs in the '80s.
Willing to do anything to get on the ground floor of an embryonic industry, they enlist former lovers and family members to realize their ambitions and put a lot of strain on their personal lives in the process. Terminator: Dark Fate and Blade Runner 2049 star Mackenzie Davis rounds out the main cast.
We should stress that a second season of Lanterns is not a sure thing yet. An official renewal order from Warner Bros. Discovery has not been handed down, and they obviously don't see any ratings rolling in yet to calculate. However, with the sort of pre-sale prep going on, you can argue a sophomore season order is a foregone conclusion.
Lanterns debuts on HBO and HBO Max August 17. It features the talents of Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Garret Dillahunt, Jason Ritter, and Nathan Fillion for an obligatory appearance by Guy Gardner.
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