(Photo Credit: HBO)
HBO Max’s upcoming series Lanterns has added a new, acclaimed creator to its writing team. The new addition comes ahead of a potential season 2 renewal for the DC Studios show. According to a new report, the Lanterns writing team is gearing up to produce scripts for a second season in anticipation of a renewal.

What creative is joining the Lanterns Season 2 writing team?

According to Jeff Sneider’s The InSneider report, Lanterns has added Christopher Cantwell, co-creator of AMC’s acclaimed series Halt and Catch Fire, as a writer and executive producer for Season 2.

In addition to producing the AMC series, Cantwell has also worked on shows like Paper Girls, The Terror, and Lodge 49. More importantly, Cantwell has worked in the comic book world, penning several superhero stories including those featuring Batman, Superman, Moon Knight, Thanos, Iron Man, The Mask, and more.

The report reveals that Lanterns co-creators Tom King and Damon Lindelof have other commitments ahead of them, leading to this addition to the writing team. Cantwell will reportedly work with showrunner Chris Mundy to “expand upon the first season”.

(Photo Credit: HBO)

Lindelof is reportedly going to be busy with HBO’s adaptation of The Chain, a thriller novel by Adrian McKinty. Tom King is also reportedly working on another DC project. While HBO has yet to officially greenlight a second season, the hope is that it won’t take long, even factoring in Paramount’s ongoing acquisition of Warner Bros.

Lanterns stars Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Nathan Fillion, Ulrich Thomsen, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Nicole Ari Parker, Chris Coy, Jason Ritter, Sherman Augustus, Cary Christopher, Paul-Ben Victor, Paula Patton, and Laura Linney.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed that Lanterns will be an 8-hour adventure. Following that, Aaron Pierre will reprise the role of John Stewart in James Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow.

Lanterns will premiere on August 16, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max.