So, Lanterns is doing well

DC Studios' latest television venture, Lanterns, has been performing exceptionally well, surpassing expectations right from its debut. The eight-episode series, starring Kyle Chandler as Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, made quite an entrance, drawing in an impressive 9.3 million viewers within the first three days of its HBO/HBO Max premiere.

This marks the biggest premiere for any DC Studios show to date, outdoing their own live-action productions like Peacemaker season two and The Penguin. Even the popular animated series Creature Commandos couldn't hold a candle to Lanterns' impressive start.

Comparisons with other series premieres offer some perspective. The 2024 Colin Farrell-led crime drama, The Penguin, managed to capture 10.4 million viewers across all platforms in just 11 days after its premiere, putting Lanterns firmly in the "hit" category. If Lanterns' momentum continues, there's a possibility of a second season being green-lit for production.

Series co-creator Chris Mundy, known for True Detective, has already started planning for a potential follow-up, with Christopher Cantwell, a comics writer and co-creator of Halt And Catch Fire, on board if the opportunity arises. Damon Lindelof and Tom King, currently occupied with other projects, will likely return to helm season two should it get the green light.

Christopher Cantwell's optimism about the series is reflected in his comments to The Hollywood Reporter, stating that they feel confident they've told the story well in season one. The question now is whether audiences are ready for another season, and if so, they want it told in a fresh way with characters they already know and care about.

The series' ratings, coupled with Kyle Chandler's humorous comment about one Green Lantern Corps member being a "fucking squirrel," hint at the potential for the once-scoffed-at Green Lantern Ch’p to make a triumphant live-action return someday.