HBO sporadically hailed Lanterns as a ratings hit, but in the wake of the DCU's demise (the James Gunn version, at least), everything is being questioned. The trades haven't gone easy on DC Studios' failure, with Variety questioning the studio's track record in a blistering report.
When the piece was published, it suggested that Lanterns Season 2 plans have been scrapped. An insider told the trade that the series "didn't get renewed for a second season," though the report has since been updated to say Lanterns "has yet to be renewed for a second season," a noticeable difference.
Even so, the report still states that "an insider at the company suggests the crime drama isn’t quite capturing the zeitgeist."
Responding to the claims on Bluesky, Lanterns executive producer and writer Chris Cantwell wrote, "Dear Internet: I haven't heard a f***ing thing. People sometimes wonder what future seasons of Halt and Catch Fire would've been. They would've arrived at social media, and Al and the characters would've killed themselves. Nothing's cancelled. Calm down."
So, nothing's cancelled...not yet, at least. It was Gunn who assembled a writers' room for Lanterns Season 2, and given the mixed response from fans, new DC Studios CEO Jeremy Latcham may be understandably wary of continuing the series and generating similar controversy.
It's also no secret that HBO wasn't overly keen on having DC content on the premium cable network (which is why Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2 were relegated to HBO Max). With Skydance eager for DC to generate some box office hits, it's likely that the DCU's time on streaming will be paused, regardless.
John Stewart is set to appear in next summer's Man of Tomorrow. However, with rumours swirling about a DCU reboot and a new Green Lantern movie, it's unclear whether Aaron Pierre will remain in the role and what, if anything, will become of Hal Jordan.
Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
Alongside Kyle Chander and Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jasmine Cephas Jones round out the cast.
"Lanterns' leads shine bright," we wrote in our Season 1 review, "but even they can't save this abysmal adaptation of the comics that, embarrassed by the source material it's based on, delivers a woefully bland and uninspired take on Green Lantern that's another miss for the DCU."
Lanterns is now streaming in its entirety on HBO Max.