‘Lanterns’ Writers Room for Potential Second Season Identified but HBO Remains Silent
HBO’s ‘Lanterns’ has emerged as one of the standout DC stories of the year. Premiering on August 16, the series features Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, two Green Lanterns delving into a murder investigation in Nebraska. Episode 3 reportedly attracted 10 million viewers globally, making it the highest-rated DC series on the platform.
This success has sparked numerous inquiries regarding the future of the show. The eight-episode season is set to conclude with its finale on October 4, and ‘Lanterns’ currently stands as the only DC Universe series airing. However, HBO has yet to officially renew it, with network head Casey Bloys stating that no second season is currently in development.
New developments have surfaced. According to an exclusive report from Nexus Point News, the complete writing team for a potential second season has been revealed. DC Film News shared the lineup on X: Christopher Cantwell, Vanessa Baden Kelly, Zack Whedon, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, and Nakkiah Lui.
This group will work under showrunner Chris Mundy. Notably, co-creators Damon Lindelof and Tom King will not be joining for the next season, leaving Baden Kelly as the only writer from the first season to return alongside Mundy. While these names are not new hires, this marks their first public acknowledgment in this context.
Cantwell, known for co-creating AMC’s ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ and serving as an executive producer on Prime Video’s ‘Paper Girls’, joined ‘Lanterns’ as a writer and executive producer in May. He confirmed this news on Bluesky, and reports have since described him as co-showrunner alongside Mundy, although earlier reports varied on that title.
Whedon reunites with Cantwell after collaborating as a writer and producer on all four seasons of ‘Halt and Catch Fire’, with additional credits including ‘Fringe’ and ‘Deadwood’. Baden Kelly serves as a co-executive producer, having penned ‘Trust Fall’ and ‘OutKast’, the John Stewart origin episode that sparked significant discussion during the first season. Hinds and Lui complete the writing team.
While the lineup may suggest a green light, the situation is more nuanced. Nexus Point News clarifies that a staffed writers room does not guarantee a second season. The Ankler reported that a renewal is not imminent, as HBO awaits pitch pages from the Mundy and Cantwell team.
According to that report, HBO executives are interested in continuing the show but have not indicated when they will make a decision. It remains unclear when the writers room will present its pitches. Cosmic Book News notes that Bloys has also stated that nothing is currently in development at HBO for this series or other DCU projects.
Nevertheless, the creative team is acting as if a positive outcome is likely. Mundy has indicated that planning for a second season is already in progress, and Lindelof mentioned that a new writers room is exploring future storylines. He also emphasized that the first season was designed with a clear beginning, middle, and end, suggesting that any continuation would represent a new chapter rather than a resolution to a cliffhanger.
The trailer for the final episode of ‘LANTERNS’ has arrived!
Premieres October 4 on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/N9zTdjrQnY
— DC Film News (@DCFilmNews) September 28, 2026
Fans received a boost this week when James Gunn posted on Threads ahead of the finale. When a follower inquired if it would be a season finale, he confirmed that it would be. Some fans interpreted this as a sign of renewal, but the response does not constitute an official announcement.
The broader DCU also provides some context for the show’s future. Pierre is expected to reprise his role as John Stewart in the upcoming Superman sequel ‘Man of Tomorrow’, which will introduce the alien villain Brainiac. This crossover could influence the direction of any new episodes.
For now, fans are in a waiting game. The writers room is assembled, the creative leadership is established, and the ratings are promising, but the final decision rests with HBO. A clearer picture is likely to emerge once the finale airs and the network reviews the pitches.
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