The eighth and final episode of Lanterns offered some answers to questions raised from the start, but at the same time it seeded additional clues for potential paths to explore, and to tell more, it was showrunner Chris Mundy who shared the development, having co-created the DCU TV series alongside Damon Lindelof and Tom King. Set within the broader DC Universe envisioned by James Gunn and Peter Safran, Lanterns presented the audience with an in-depth story about the workings of the Green Lanterns. Chris Mundy, in a recent interview, commented on the revelations of the finale and considered some ideas to explore in an eventual second season, should it be renewed. Note: following this, we will refer to what happened in the last episode of Lanterns, so we invite you to continue reading only after you’ve finished watching to avoid spoiling surprises.
Lanterns, the showrunner comments on those finale twists: behind the scenes (SPOILERS)
Diverse questions accompanied the episodes of the first season of Lanterns, and, fortunately, the eighth episode offered some answers: for instance, it revealed who killed Hal Jordan, portrayed by Kyle Chandler, and also who released Sinestro. Another major step forward is John Stewart, who becomes Earth’s protector.
Regarding John’s trajectory and his future in the DCU, Chris Mundy also weighed in. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he indicated that part of their intent was to address the character’s nature: can he be defined as a Green Lantern? “It’s certainly an aspect that could be explored if and when the series continues. We considered him Earth’s Green Lantern, but obviously for now we know he is in a sense coercing the Guardians, so he stands in a precarious yet powerful position at the same time.” The final scene of Lanterns, in fact, lays the groundwork for the return of John Stewart and Guy Gardner in Man of Tomorrow, the Superman sequel due in theaters in 2027. Yet, when the scene was shot, the writers didn’t have this exact connection in mind: “We saw it in the context of our small eight-episode miniseries. We wanted to close definitively. We wanted John’s role to be clear, and then pass the baton to James Gunn for what he would do. We simply wanted to put a definitive end to our story, basically.”
Turning to the character of Sheriff Kerry, the episode reveals new details about her past that come straight from Gotham City: “It’s an unresolved matter we want to leave open. We had theories, but we liked the mystery surrounding it. It’s another aspect of how she is as a mother, her nature-education relationship. We even discussed it in the bar scene. So we talked about it at length, but we like it to remain a mystery,” Mundy clarified.
Who is Noah really, and what does this discovery mean?
Noah is revealed to be the Manhunter, the son of Sheriff Kerry Kane, in the finale. When asked whether Manhunters could reproduce, the showrunner replied: “Obviously in our story there exists that machine capable of reanimating human tissues and all the rest. So, for us, it was about the ability to create human tissues and organs and things like that. Thus the absurd incident—the birth of Noah—arose from that gray area where the full mechanism of this technology wasn’t yet fully understood and had never been tested. So, yes, we’re positing that it could be possible under crazy circumstances.”
Regarding the incident, he elaborated: “Sort of an accident. We discussed that, in our minds, Zoe [Poorna Jagannathan] tried to reproduce the situation in various ways, never quite succeeding. It’s not shown anywhere on screen, but in the small bubble of our writers’ room, we thought that if she had seen what had happened and then met Noah, she would have thought: ‘I’ll start doing it too.’ It’s one of those things that prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and perhaps she would have continued trying, but never succeeded. I believe that, given how the Manhunters view the world, she would have seen it as a chance to begin repopulating the area.” But what is the true nature of this character? “We have the sense that she is a hybrid, representing a kind of real litmus test between nature and culture. What is programming and what is free will? He was born from a human and was raised by a human. He was loved and cared for, but he is certainly also the other.”
Lanterns, will there be a second season? What the showrunner thinks
The showrunner was asked what the fate of Lanterns might be, whether a second season would happen: “One must approach these situations assuming something will happen and not be disappointed if it doesn’t. We’re all happy and proud of the first season and especially glad that it was well received by audiences for the reasons we set out. If there is a continuation, great. And if there isn’t, we’ve still had our moment.”
Asked if Mundy had an ideal number of seasons in mind, he responded: “I think the story itself dictates the rules. We go ahead for a while and then you realize perhaps you’ve gone too far. But of course that isn’t how I see it now. If and when the story continues, I think the situation will become clearer. But it’s not like there are three acts in our minds, you know what I mean? It’s not like that at all. It’s more a matter of: what’s interesting? Is the creator still invested? And is the audience still interested? That’s what determines the length.”
Comments