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Lanterns showrunner was shocked to hear about James Gunn’s DC departure and thinks a season 2 is now a “coin flip”
James Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as co-chief executives of DC Studios, leaving the future of HBO’s Lanterns uncertain. Showrunner Chris Mundy said a second season is “a coin flip, 50/50”, despite the show receiving strong reviews and being described as one of HBO’s most successful new series.
Lanterns has not been renewed, though Mundy has already opened a writers’ room. A report says Skydance may feel the series is not “capturing the zeitgeist”; the company’s acquisition of Warner Bros. has also raised questions about the wider DC Universe. Aaron Pierre is set to return as John Stewart in Man of Tomorrow, which has finished filming, while Jeremy Latcham is due to replace Gunn and Safran from 1 December.
In short
- Lanterns season two is uncertain after DC Studios’ leadership change.
- Showrunner Chris Mundy puts its chances at 50/50.
- Aaron Pierre is still set to appear in Man of Tomorrow.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A second season could build on Lanterns’ strong reviews and reported success, while keeping a promising story and cast within HBO’s slate. Mundy’s writers’ room suggests there is creative momentum, and Pierre’s return in Man of Tomorrow offers a way to maintain continuity in the wider DC Universe.
The case against
A renewal is not guaranteed by good reviews or viewership claims; the new leadership may set different priorities and judge whether the series fits its plans for DC. With the acquisition raising wider questions about the franchise, holding off on a second season could give the company time to assess the show’s audience, costs and place in its slate.
Explained simply
DC Studios oversees the films and television shows based on characters from DC Comics, including Batman, Superman and Green Lantern. Its co-chief executives, James Gunn and Peter Safran, have helped shape a connected DC Universe, where stories across different projects can share characters and settings.
Lanterns is an HBO drama centred on Green Lanterns John Stewart and Hal Jordan, members of an intergalactic force that protects the universe. Aaron Pierre plays Stewart, whose character is also due to appear in the upcoming film Man of Tomorrow.
The show’s future sits within wider changes at DC and its parent company, Warner Bros. Skydance’s acquisition of Warner Bros. has prompted questions about the direction of its studios and which projects will continue.