Lanterns arrived like somebody finally scrubbed the radioactive residue off Green Lantern’s Hollywood reputation. The HBO mystery averaged roughly 19 million global viewers, while its finale pulled 10.5 million viewers worldwide within three days. Suddenly, power rings were cool again; Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan became appointment television.

And Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart had fans arguing about oaths, fear, Manhunters, and questionable intergalactic HR policies every Sunday night. Season 1 even ended with John becoming Earth’s renegade Green Lantern. Naturally, viewers immediately wanted another case. DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran has now addressed Season 2.

But the green light remains frustratingly metaphorical.

Peter Safran told Collider's Steve Weintraub in an Exclusive ahead of Clayface's premiere that fans should hear about Lanterns Season 2 "before the end of the year," though he stopped short of announcing an official renewal.

""If we're able to come up with what we believe to be a worthy successor to a beloved and great first season, that's what's going to dictate whether there's a second season," Safran stated, making clear that story quality and not viewership numbers will determine the show's future.

Safran praised Season 1 for rehabilitating a property he described as somewhat irradiated since 2011, referring to the poorly received Green Lantern film starring Ryan Reynolds. He expressed satisfaction that the HBO series brought Green Lantern back into the conversation, into public culture, in a really positive fashion.

The DCU boss confirmed that the Season 2 writers' room is actively developing the next story, but renewal remains conditional on whether that material meets the high bar Season 1 set. Safran declined to clarify whether Hal charging his ring in the finale means the character is dead, telling fans they'll have to keep waiting for answers on both Hal's fate and the show's future.

Luckily, John Stewart does not need Season 2 to continue his DCU journey, because his next assignment already involves Superman.

The Green Lantern corner of the DCU is already jumping from television to theaters. Aaron Pierre will return as John Stewart in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, marking the character’s big-screen debut after Lanterns. Nathan Fillion is also officially back as Guy Gardner, joining David Corenswet’s Superman and Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor.

Having John and Guy together gives Man of Tomorrow some serious Justice League-adjacent energy without DC formally announcing the team. John also enters the movie in a fascinating position. He rejected the Guardians’ traditional structure in the Lanterns finale and essentially told Guy, “You take the stars. I’ll take the dirt.” 

Then there is Batman. Rumors claim Bruce Wayne could appear late in Man of Tomorrow and help set up The Brave and the Bold. DC Studios and Gunn have not confirmed that claim, so the Batmobile should remain firmly parked in the rumor garage for now.

What do you think about DC Studios waiting for the right story before officially renewing Lanterns? Let us know in the comments.