‘Lanterns’ Damon Lindelof Walks Back “Dumb Joke” After Public Criticism

by

I’ve definitely been there – you say something you regret and your first instinct is to try and clarify! But honestly, I’ve learned it’s usually way better to just apologize quickly and move past it. Take Damon Lindelof, one of the creators of Lanterns – he knows what I’m talking about!

Lindelof recently faced criticism from comic book fans after jokingly saying the upcoming series, Lanterns – based on DC Comics’ Green Lantern – chose its short title because they thought the color green was silly. While he was clearly just trying to be funny, the comment caused a stir. Despite the huge success of comic book adaptations in recent years, comics were long seen as just for kids, and dedicated fans are still wary of seeing their favorite stories changed in movies or TV shows. Even with billions of dollars earned at the box office, people remain understandably protective of the original source material for Lanterns and similar projects.

Grant Morrison, a well-known writer of Green Lantern comics, was quick to disagree with Lindelof’s statements. He questioned why Lindelof would upset Green Lantern fans, the very people who would be watching the show, calling it a “stupid” move. Soon after, Alan Moore, famous for his work on Swamp Thing, The Killing Joke (a Batman story), and the incredibly impactful Watchmen (also adapted into an HBO series with Lindelof involved), also voiced criticism.

Alan Moore, irritated by a comment Damon Lindelof made about his graphic novel Lantern, remembered receiving a letter from Lindelof when the Watchmen movie was being made. Moore described the letter as filled with “anxious, rambling thoughts” and said he replied by asking Lindelof to never contact him again. Moore is well-known for disliking Hollywood adaptations of his work.

Lindelof apologized on Instagram (as reported by the Los Angeles Times) and was very direct about it. He admitted he’d made a silly joke on a podcast and said he wouldn’t try to excuse it. He acknowledged the joke was foolish, but praised the fans, adding that they deserved an explanation and an honest expression of his true feelings.

He explained to his fans that these feelings all came from a real love of comic books. He shared that growing up, he was a shy and clumsy kid, and nothing seemed cooler than a hero who could solve problems with their imagination. As for his fondness for the color green, he insisted it wasn’t a silly preference – it’s been his favorite color since he was a child, a fact he even documented in a third-grade questionnaire.

Lindelof explained he’d feel like he was letting down his cast and crew if he didn’t express thankfulness for the chance to work on the show. He admitted to being “sloppy and careless” during a recent podcast and promised to be more thoughtful in the future. Until then, he said he’d let the show itself demonstrate its quality, and he’s excited for everyone to experience it.

Lindelof has some time before the reaction to his comments dies down, which is good news. The first season of Lanterns, with eight episodes, isn’t expected to debut until August 2026 – after the Supergirl movie premieres in June and before the Clayface film arrives in October. Hopefully, between now and then, he can be more thoughtful with his statements and build more enthusiasm for the series.




5 Questions

Lanterns Drama: Test Your Green Lantern Fandom Knowledge!
Your Top Score
—
Attempts
—
0
0
Report Error

Found an error? Send it info@movieweb.com so it can be corrected.

Read More

2026-03-18 16:25