Lanterns Creator Damon Lindelof Responds to Green Lantern Writer’s Criticism

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I was really interested to see how Damon Lindelof, one of the creators of the new show, reacted to some comments made by Grant Morrison, who used to write Green Lantern. Lindelof actually took responsibility, explaining on Instagram that they decided to drop the “Green” from the title Lanterns because he felt it was a bit silly. It’s cool to see him address it so directly!

As Otis Redding famously sang, ‘It’s my own fault,’ and I take full responsibility,” Linelof posted on Instagram. He admitted to making a silly joke on a comedy podcast and explained he wouldn’t try to justify it. He acknowledged the joke was poorly thought out, but praised the fans, saying they didn’t deserve it and that he wanted to offer a sincere apology and explain how he truly feels.

He shared a picture of himself at a comic convention, proudly wearing a Green Lantern t-shirt. My first time on a ComicCon panel was back in the summer of 2004. I’d outgrown my childhood Green Lantern underpants – my Hal Jordan uniform – and upgraded to a t-shirt! As a shy and clumsy kid, I always thought a hero powered by imagination was the coolest thing ever. And green isn’t just a color I like – it’s my favorite, and I even have a third-grade questionnaire to prove it. Seriously, green is fantastic!

Lindelof finished by saying he was incredibly honored to have worked on ‘Lanterns’ and felt it would be a disservice to his colleagues to say otherwise. He admitted he hadn’t always expressed himself clearly, which he found ironic given how much he cares about the characters Hal and John. He promised to be more careful with his words in the future and asked viewers to judge the show for themselves, expressing excitement for them to hear it.

Nathan Fillion and James Gunn Show Support for Damon Lindelof

Nathan Fillion, who plays Green Lantern Guy Gardner in the DC Universe (first appearing in Superman), responded to Lindelof’s comments with support. He wrote, “The joke was funny. No harm, no foul! Keep up the great work, we appreciate you!” Lindelof then replied, praising Fillion by saying, “You are a fantastic Guy and an even more fantastic guy.”

James Gunn, who leads DC Studios, showed his support for Lindelof with a simple green heart emoji.

Grant Morrison Felt Damon Lindelof Was Ashamed of Lanterns’ Comic Book Source Material

The creators had previously featured Green Lantern characters in their DC Comics work, notably including new Green Lantern Kyle Rayner among the Justice League’s core seven members starting with their influential JLA run in 1997. They interpreted Lindelof’s statements as suggesting he was somewhat ashamed of the show’s origins in older, Silver Age comics, and believed the new title was intended to distance itself from that history.

In a recent newsletter, Morrison questioned why a writer would take on a project they consider ‘silly.’ They used the analogy of giving CSI scripts to writers who dislike forensic science, asking why anyone would hire someone who is critical of or embarrassed by the source material they’re tasked with adapting. Morrison suggests these writers should simply decline work that doesn’t align with their interests or expertise.

They questioned why he felt the need to deviate from established superhero tropes, especially since he’s financially secure and capable of original thought. They wondered if he was trying to appear less of a fan himself, pointing out it wouldn’t work. Ultimately, they saw no reason to intentionally distance himself from the source material, calling the approach foolish.

Lanterns is set to debut on HBO in August.

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    2026-03-18 01:44