- Primary Subject: Producer comments regarding the Green Lantern power ring in HBO's Lanterns
- Key Update: Lanterns co-executive producer and writer Vanessa Baden Kelly raised eyebrows by claiming the Green Lantern ring is "sexist" for passing over John Stewart's mother, Bernadette, in favor of male candidates.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: September 4, 2026
- Quick Answer: A Lanterns producer argued the ring is "sexist" for bypassing John Stewart's mother, though comic lore establishes it simply seeks individuals with overwhelming, reckless willpower.
As DC Studios continues building out its unified DC Universe, HBO's Lanterns series is diving deep into the mythology of the Green Lantern Corps. However, recent behind-the-scenes comments from one of the show's top creatives have ignited a major debate among comic book fans on how the iconic power ring actually chooses its owners.
Why the Lanterns Producer Believes the Green Lantern Ring Is 'Sexist'
Speaking in a recent interview with Collider, writer and co-executive producer Vanessa Baden Kelly revealed an argument she often defended in the show's writers' room, where, if the ring were truly unbiased, it would have chosen John Stewart's mother, Bernadette, over its traditional male candidates.
"The thing that I would always say in the room is that if the ring wasn't sexist, Bernadette would have been chosen, because she really is just the most fearless of everybody," Kelly said, "For me personally, as a writer, and I feel like most of the writers' room would probably agree, this idea of willpower and overcoming fear is so different depending on where you stand."
Kelly added that despite the key to making sure they were "respectful to the canon", "some [of the writers] didn't know anything about Green Lantern."
She also noted that the Guardians' selection criteria often favor people "dumb enough to not be scared" rather than understanding how different people process fear and willpower in their everyday lives.
The Canonical Truth on Why the Ring Picked Hal Jordan
While the producer's take offers a reasonable critique of the Guardians of the Universe, longtime DC Comics fans have pointed out the canon that lies behind selecting Hal Jordan as the next Green Lantern ring-bearer.
See, the Green Lantern ring does not search for someone with no fear at all; it specifically seeks out someone who can and is willing to overcome great fear through sheer force of will.
In DC lore, Abin Sur's ring chose Hal Jordan because his background as a test pilot instilled an almost reckless level of willpower that allowed him to harness the Green Energy spectrum better than anyone else on Earth.
Beyond Earth, the Green Lantern Corps has historically featured countless female Lanterns, including Soranik Natu, Boodikka, Laira, and Earth's own Jessica Cruz and Jo Mullein, proving the Guardians' technology evaluates emotional energy rather than gender.
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