Is Green Lantern actually a cool name? Lanterns writer Damon Lindelof speaks out about the recent controversies involving the upcoming series.
To say that Damon Lindelof has been at the center of a five-alarm PR firestorm is an understatement. Following the recent release of the Lanterns trailer, the internet reacted to the series with a unanimous “Eh? It looks fine,” – with much of the critique stemming from the fact that it didn’t “feel” like a Green Lantern story.
While one could argue the validity of that claim twelve ways to Sunday, the real firestorm happened when an interview Damon Lindelof gave about Lanterns in 2024 resurfaced. During the chat, he remarked that the “Green” in Green Lantern was stupid, which is why it was cut from the title. This led to a massive wave of backlash, with even DC writer Grant Morrison chiming in to call the writer out.
Damon Lindelof Responds To Lanterns Controversy
It seems the backlash surrounding Lanterns actually got big enough that Damon Lindelof felt the need to respond. In a long Instagram post, the writer explained that the Green Lantern joke was simply that – a joke. He also clarified that he has the utmost respect for the characters and will strive to do better going forward with the series.
“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. To quote the bard (Otis Redding), this is nobody’s fault but mine.”
“I made a dumb joke on a comedy podcast. 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….And 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 f**king awesome.”
“…I was sloppy and careless with my words, ironic considering I care so much about Hal, John and the entire Corps. 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.”
Of course, as with any controversy on the internet, the backlash against Damon Lindelof wasn’t because of his Green Lantern comment (at least, for most). Rather, it was a convenient vector for people to attack what they don’t like about the Lanterns trailer, presuming the series to be a detective thriller like so many aimed at the middle America demographic.
The Green Lantern series Lanterns is set to debut in HBO later this year. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the DC Universe!
