- Primary Subject: HBO's Lanterns (DC Universe series)
- Key Update: Showrunner Damon Lindelof apologized for calling the word "Green" in the title "stupid" after being publicly slammed by comic book legend Grant Morrison.
- Status: In Post-Production / set to premiere August 2026 on HBO and Max
- Last Verified: March 17, 2026
- Quick Answer: Damon Lindelof called his "no green" comment a "dumb joke," while Grant Morrison criticized the "jockish dismissal" of the source material by embarrassed Hollywood creators.
Fans roared at the shocking first Lanterns trailer when they realized that the HBO series is not the Green Lantern adaptation they were hoping for. While the Lost and Watchmen mastermind Damon Lindelof made fun of the original, comic book legend Grant Morrison did not let him slide.
How Green Lantern Comic Book Writer Grant Morrison Clapped Back
The Lanterns trailer showed Hal Jordan's washed-out costume, which disappointed many, considering that the trailer supposedly builds the expectations the series has in store. However, fans are not on board given the lack of green in the material.
Lindelof did little to help with the matter at hand, given his response: "It's called Lanterns, because we all agreed that 'Green' was stupid."
Acclaimed Batman and Green Lantern comic book writer Grant Morrison publicly criticized Lindelof's "jockish dismayal of superhero conventions."
On Morrison's Substack, Morrison dropped bars by writing: "Why does a writer attach himself to this kind of narrative if he thinks it's fundamentally 'stupid'? Why hire people who are ashamed and in denial about the comic book material they've been assigned to develop? Why don't they turn down jobs they're not suited for?"
Morrison added that it would seem only Green Lantern fans are the only people "who give a [frick] about the Lanterns TV series" and yet Lindelof chose to alienate them from the start, "That feels more like 'stupid.' Anyone who can't grasp [why it should be Green Lanterns] shouldn't be anywhere near superhero stories."
Lanterns Co-Creator Damon Lindelof Clarifies 'Green is Stupid' Comment After Backlash
Recently, Lindelof has broken his silence upon Morrison's response, considering that this impacts the future of the DC Universe and its developing franchises.
"I have upset Grant Morrison, which means I have now pissed off MOST of the brilliant British/Scottish comics writers that I grew up idolizing," Lindelof wrote in his Instagram post, disclosing that the 'stupid green' was a joke, nothing more, "I made a dumb joke on a comedy podcast."
Lindelof continued, "I'm not going to bob and weave about context, the joke was dumb, the fandom is not. I owe them an explanation and a genuine reflection of my actual feelings."
"Green is not stupid, it is my lifelong favorite color, and I have a questionnaire that I filled out in third grade to prove it. Green is [fricking] awesome," Lindelof went on to share that he was 'absolutely honored to be a part of the team' and that he was 'sloppy and careless' with his words.
In the end, Lindelof signed off his post with: "I can and will do better to be worthy of the oath... until then, I'll let the show speak for itself, and I can't wait for you all to hear what it has to say."
Lanterns is set to premiere on HBO sometime in August 2026.
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