James Oconner 
Anil Krishna 
Jonathan Millar 
Lanterns Season 2: DC Studios Explains Why the HBO Hit Hasn’t Been Renewed Yet
© HBO
Lanterns has made a strong impression on HBO, but that doesn’t mean season 2 is guaranteed just yet. The Green Lantern series, led by Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, has become an important part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe. Still, DC Studios hasn’t officially renewed the show, and Safran has now explained why the decision is taking time. Speaking to IGN, the DC Studios co-CEO said a second season is certainly possible, but the team needs to be confident there’s a good story to tell before moving forward. That means Chris Mundy and the rest of the creative team have some work to do before HBO and DC Studios give the project the green light.
The first season has set a pretty high bar, and simply bringing the show back because it performed well isn’t enough. Safran also made it clear that television remains a big part of DC’s plans. Some characters and storylines need more time than a two-hour movie can offer, while TV can also introduce heroes who eventually become part of the films. The idea is to make the DCU feel connected, rather than having its movies and shows operate like separate little worlds. But for Lanterns, at least, that doesn’t mean a renewal is automatic.
Is Lanterns Season 2 Happening? Peter Safran Shares an Update
Safran’s comments don’t amount to a cancellation, but they aren’t a renewal announcement either. HBO, DC Studios and the show’s creative team all need to feel that another season has a story worth telling. Until that happens, the future of Lanterns remains up in the air. There’s better news for fans of John Stewart, though. Safran confirmed that Aaron Pierre will return as the Green Lantern in Man of Tomorrow, which is scheduled for summer 2027. That appearance is significant because Stewart’s story won’t be staying on television. After introducing him through Lanterns, the DCU will bring him into its movie lineup, giving the character a role in the larger franchise.
This is the kind of connection Gunn and Safran have been talking about since they laid out their plans for the DCU. A series can spend time developing a character or setting up a storyline, and a film can pick things up from there. It also gives the studio room to explore parts of the universe that might not fit comfortably into a feature-length movie. Safran also confirmed that The People V. Gorilla Grodd is among the projects moving through production. There are other DC shows in development, too, but the studio hasn’t settled on which live-action series will be the next to begin filming.
What’s Happening With the Other DCU Shows?
Animation seems to be moving along more clearly. Mister Miracle is in pre-production, with Josh Hutcherson set to voice Scott Free and Mackenzie Davis attached as Big Barda. Meanwhile, work is underway on Season 2 of Creature Commandos, although HBO hasn’t announced when the new episodes will arrive. Some of the live-action projects first announced in 2023 are taking longer to get moving. Paradise Lost, set on Themyscira before Wonder Woman’s birth, remains without a confirmed production schedule.
Booster Gold is also still being worked on after an earlier version of the script failed to get the project approved. In other words, the studio has plenty of ideas in the pipeline, but not all of them are moving at the same speed. Then there’s Waller, the planned series focused on Amanda Waller, with Viola Davis expected to return. Jeremy Carver and Christal Henry have been involved in developing the project, which remains on DC Studios’ slate. There’s no release date to report yet, however, and the same goes for several other titles.
John Stewart’s DCU Future Is Secure, but Lanterns Season 2 Isn’t
For now, Lanterns fans are stuck waiting for an answer. The first season may have given DC a successful new television series, but the studio wants to be sure it has a story that can justify bringing it back. That’s a reasonable approach, even if it leaves the show’s future uncertain. At least John Stewart’s journey will continue in Man of Tomorrow, so his place in the wider DCU isn’t dependent on another season of the show. Whether the series itself returns will come down to the story the team can put together and whether HBO and DC Studios believe it’s worth pursuing.
The bigger picture is that Gunn and Safran want the DCU’s movies and television shows to work together, with characters able to move between them. That plan gives Lanterns a potentially important place in the franchise, but it also means the studio has to think beyond simply renewing a successful show. For now, Season 2 remains a possibility rather than a done deal.
About the Author
