UPDATE: Variety has updated the wording of its initial report; Previously, the outlet reported that an insider claimed Lanterns “has not been renewed for a second season.” Today, their report states that the series “has not yet been renewed for a second season.” Our article has been updated to reflect this change.
A DC Studios insider suggests that HBO’s Lanterns is unlikely to be renewed for a second season despite rave reviews and audience interest, as recounted in a report from Variety.
Variety’s report follows the departure of James Gunn and Peter Safran from DC Studios on Monday, November 9. In a public statement, Gunn discussed his dislike of the more “professional” aspect of his position, citing long hours that negatively impacted his personal relationships.
Unsurprisingly, fans are now worried about the future of the DCU, considering Gunn has only been in his role for four years with only three films to show for it. Superman was released to generally positive reception; Supergirl decidedly less so; Clayface was also a mixed bag, but Lanterns, the live-action series released on HBO this year, was a huge success.
Boasting viewership numbers that rivaled those of The Pitt, it’s safe to say that audiences loved Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart, and hopes were high for a second season. In fact, it seemed almost inevitable – but, according to insiders, it didn’t really “capture the zeitgeist.” Whatever that means.
(While Variety’s report initially claimed that Lanterns had not been renewed for a second season, its latest update suggests that a season 2 is less likely as a result.) “People can’t wait to do another season of a hit show,” the source said.
This news, if true, comes as a real shock – but that seems to be the theme of the month, given the unexpected departures of Saffron and Gunn. In October, series co-creator Damon Lindelof revealed that the writers were already I’m looking for ideas for a second seasoneven though he had not yet received the green light.
Safran confirmed this news in an interview with IGN in October, although admitting that it depends on whether or not the team can deliver a story worth following in the first season.
“The episodic world will always be a very important part of our overall selection, it’s a great way to tell stories that require more space than a feature can give you, and it’s a great way to introduce characters that we then introduce into the feature world,” Safran told us. “And I think Aaron Pierre and John Stewart are a perfect example of that. We introduced it in Lanterns, and audiences will see it next summer in Man of Tomorrow. So it’s very important for us to continue to tell aspects of the story that we don’t tell in the feature film world, so there’s more to come.
“Look, we’ll see what happens with Season 2 of Lanterns. If, I think, the collective group of HBO, DC, Chris Mundy and the team all feel like we have something that is a worthy successor to a much-loved first season of television, then I wouldn’t be surprised to see more.”
While official news on the future of the Lanterns remains pending, this report paints a bleak picture of the future of the DCU that, tragically, was only just beginning.
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s senior news editor. With ten years of experience in the gaming and entertainment industry, she has a strong background in the fighting game community, influencer news and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
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