UPDATE: While he doesn't comment on the Green Lantern movie rumours, insider Daniel Richtman is reporting today that "I hear a green light for Lanterns Season 2 is near." So, perhaps the Green Lantern Corps will remain on the small screen for now. We'll have to wait and see, especially in light of that recent update about the DCU's small-screen future from HBO boss Casey Bloys.
Lanterns has been a success on HBO, with positive reviews from critics and strong viewership figures on the premium cable network. DC Studios has reportedly started assembling writers for Season 2, but has James Gunn now pivoted to a Green Lantern movie?
The DCU TV series is very grounded and has reintroduced the Green Lantern Corps in a True Detective-style story that's light on constructs and cosmic action. Controversially, Lanterns has also killed Hal Jordan, though many fans are convinced that he's somehow still alive.
With Aaron Pierre's John Stewart set to appear in Man of Tomorrow, it might not be long until we get a more comic-accurate Green Lantern in the DCU (we saw the character's potential when Guy Gardner showed his ring's might in Superman).
Today, a rumour is circulating on social media that claims DC Studios is now fast-tracking a Green Lantern movie starring Pierre and Nathan Fillion. There's currently no word on whether Kyle Chandler will return as Hal, but it's worth remembering that we've heard the actor only signed up for a single season of Lanterns.
We wouldn't put too much stock in this claim for now. However, fans would welcome a big-budget Green Lantern movie that either pits the Corps against the Parallax-possessed Hal or even adapts the "Sinestro Corps War" storyline.
If, however, DC Studios is heading down the route of bringing Lanterns to the big screen, it could face the same box office challenge that Marvel Studios did with The Marvels and Thunderbolts*. Kevin Feige has learned the hard way that fans won't necessarily follow characters from streaming to theaters.
If these rumours are false and Lanterns Season 2 does happen, then the show will lose the two creative driving forces behind Season 1.
"Sources also say a writers' room for season two of Lanterns has been hard at work for more than a month, even though HBO hasn’t handed out an official renewal," a recent report from The Ankler explained. "Lindelof will not return for season two, per sources — he initially signed on for a single season and is now focused on his HBO limited series thriller, The Chain."
"[Tom] King, who is working on DC’s animated Mister Miracle series, is also not part of the writers' room for season two but remains involved. To fill the void, Halt and Catch Fire creator Chris Cantwell was hired in May to serve as a co-showrunner alongside [Chris] Mundy."
Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
Alongside Kyle Chander and Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jasmine Cephas Jones round out the cast.
Five episodes of Lanterns are now streaming on HBO Max.