HBO Max has an excellent sci-fi series that, despite all odds, survived two cancelations. HBO Max’s 2026 roster will only continue to expand in the coming months, but some of the streamer’s big sci-fi hitters have already come and gone. Although the streamer is primarily known for delivering high-quality drama, that has not stopped HBO from producing some great shows in a variety of genres. HBO Max’s sci-fi collection is proof of that, be it The Last of Us, Watchmen, or, more recently, Lanterns.
Interestingly, Lanterns has some loose connections to another sci-fi show on HBO Max that miraculously survived being canceled on two separate occasions. However, rather than being a 2026 release in DC Universe overseen by James Gunn, the 98-episode show in question first aired back in 2010. Since then, four seasons have been released, despite the show suffering from a cancelation in 2013, a subsequent revival, yet another blow in 2019, and then finally another resurgence.
Of course, that show is Young Justice. Young Justice is an animated show set in the world of DC, exploring younger superheroes of the brand operating as a unit under the guidance of the Justice League. At first, Young Justice aired on Cartoon Network as a teen-drama series, before being canceled after two seasons due to a toy deal with Mattel falling through. In 2017, after fan outcry and the formation of the DC Universe streaming service, Young Justice was revived for a 26-episode third season. Sadly, though, the DC Universe service was dissolved in 2021, again throwing Young Justice into limbo.
This led to DC’s properties transitioning to HBO Max, where shows like Peacemaker and the aforementioned Lanterns are housed. After this, Young Justice was renewed for one more season, allowing the show to overcome its initial cancelation on Cartoon Network and its second on the DC Universe streaming service for a 26-episode fourth season that was just as beloved as its initial three were.
Young Justice Will Never Have An Ending
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Despite the ongoing adventures of the Young Justice team across the show’s four seasons, it is unlikely to ever have a definitive ending. Even season 4, which was the last produced after the two previous cancelations, left aspects off for future adventures, with the showrunners claiming they have plans for several more seasons. That said, the DC Universe has yet again been rebooted since season 4’s story in 2022, with James Gunn’s vision for the franchise now the sole storytelling output going forward.
With this in mind, it is unlikely that Young Justice will ever receive more seasons and, as a result, an explicit conclusion. Still, this works for what the DC Universe is, in essence, and what writer Greg Weisman had in mind. Weisman stated himself that, regardless of Young Justice‘s renewal situation, the show will never have an ending. The idea is to be like the DC Universe in the comics in that the universe and story are alive and will never truly end; these characters will go on to have more adventures, whether we see them play out on screen or not.
Young Justice’s Impact Will Be Felt In The DCU No Matter What
The good news in all of this is that Young Justice will still impact James Gunn’s DCU, even if it is never renewed. As evidenced by the show’s survival of two different cancelations, Young Justice is regarded as one of the best DC adaptations ever, and certainly one of the best superhero TV shows in history. The way the show handled mature themes with younger characters really worked, earning it a dedicated fanbase that brought it back from the brink many times. When asked whether the DCU will take inspiration from this, James Gunn had a very blunt, yet promising, answer.
Evidently, Gunn intends to learn from what made Young Justice so great. This may not mean that the show gets renewed as a DCU Elseworlds project, but that will not stop tonal similarities, character arcs, or storylines from potentially being adapted in or paid homage to in other DC projects. Gunn keeps his ear very close to the ground concerning what DC projects fans love, as he is a fan himself, first and foremost. Ultimately, this means that Young Justice will only add to its history of sticking around after cancelation by still impacting the DC Universe, renewal or no renewal.
Young Justice
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