It goes without saying that DC's Lanterns has proven to be one of the biggest surprises of the entire year. Despite being a part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe franchise, it just didn't have the visibility heading into its premiere as many expected it to. And then it premiered... and everything changed.
The HBO series brought two of DC's most iconic Green Lanterns to the screen, with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre portraying John Stewart and Hal Jordan respectively, in a story completely unlike anything audiences were expecting. A small-town detective drama and intergalactic mystery about the Guardians' true purpose for the Lanterns has gripped all of the DC fans and HBO regulars out there, making history in the process. The question on all of their minds: Who killed Hal Jordan?
As the first season wraps up, and have set their sights on a potential season 2. The question is: Is it happening? There's a somewhat bittersweet answer to that question.
Lanterns season 2 hasn't been green lit yet (despite a writers room being set up)
DC Studios, HBO, and Warner Bros. have yet to officially give Lanterns season 2 the green light (or should that be the Green Lantern?!) but it seems that it is in early development. A writers room has already been established for it, according to series co-creator Damon Lindelof, who recently confirmed as much in an interview with Screen Rant, saying:
"If it's successful and people love it, there's a lot of runway to launch into future seasons. But I think Chris Mundy has already started a new writers' room, figuring out what new stories could be for Lanterns."
If that is the case, then the show should have already been quietly renewed by now, because Lanterns was both critically-acclaimed and massively successful for both HBO and HBO Max. After a record-breaking series premiere, it has since been reported that Lanterns was averaging 19 million weekly viewers worldwide (12 million of which were from the US). Those numbers are astronomical, and more than speak to the success of the show, so it goes without saying that it deserves a second season.
The fact that a writers room has been established is a very positive sign in DC Studios' faith for the show, but fans are a little cautious still. First of all, Lanterns was very much presented like a potential miniseries, which it then very much doubled down on with the death o Hal Jordan in the opening episode. Unless John Stewart decides to take Hal's holographic consciousness around with him and the ring going forward, this particular storyline limited the shelf life of Lanterns in its current format. That is, unless the series opts for the anthology series approach, focusing on a different Green Lantern in season 2.
There is also Lanterns' overall existence within the DCU to take into account. Success doesn't always guarantee another season; just look at James Gunn's own Peacemaker, which enjoyed a very successful second season only to not get a third due to the franchise's overall plans for John Cena's character. Could the same go down here with Lanterns?
Well, we know that Aaron Pierre will be reprising his role as John Stewart / Green Lantern in 2027's Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, so it's possible that a renewal can't be announced until that storyline plays out.
Regardless, it's pretty unfortunate that Lanterns now joins the multitude of superhero shows without a certain future - despite there clearly being plans or a second season at some point. Here's hoping that those incredible viewing figures are enough to convince DC Studios and Warner Bros. to officially renew it for season 2.
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