Lanterns Finale Sets an HBO Record, but Season 2 Is Not Yet Confirmed

The Lanterns Season 1 finale drew 10.5 million viewers worldwide over its first three days on HBO and HBO Max, a series high, according to Deadline's report as relayed by Cosmic Book News. In the US the finale reached 7.2 million viewers, also a series best. The finale aired on October 4, and HBO has not yet announced a second season.

HBO says the season averaged 19.3 million viewers per episode worldwide, which it counts among its five biggest series launches. The premiere beat the openings of IT: Welcome to Derry, The Penguin and True Detective: Night Country, according to HBO. Screen Rant notes that the show holds a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The renewal status is unclear. HBO chief Casey Bloys told Deadline before the finale that no Lanterns Season 2 was in development, and said HBO is very selective about continuing its DC shows. James Gunn confirmed the October 4 episode was a season finale, not a series finale, but did not say a second season was coming. After the finale, Cosmic Book News reported that Deadline says a renewal is pending at Skydance's HBO.

Screen Rant reports that a writers' room has reportedly been opened and that showrunner Chris Mundy has not clearly said whether there are more stories to tell. It also says that if the show is renewed, co-creators Damon Lindelof and Tom King are reportedly not expected to return. Screen Rant adds that Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. could be complicating or delaying an announcement, though that has not been confirmed. You can read about the deal in our report on the merger.

Lanterns stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. HBO's other DC project in development is a mockumentary about Gorilla Grodd, according to Bloys.