Lindelof Addresses Green Lantern Fandom Backlash Over 'Stupid' Comment
Damon Lindelof has issued an open letter on Instagram to the Green Lantern fandom, responding to recent backlash stemming from a year-old podcast comment. The controversy centers on remarks Lindelof made about his upcoming HBO series, "Lanterns," an adaptation of the Green Lantern Corps comics.
The Genesis of the Controversy
The dispute originated from a comment Lindelof made a year ago, stating that the show was named "Lanterns" because "the 'Green' was stupid." This particular comment gained renewed attention and was widely recirculated following the release of the show's teaser trailer. The trailer's visual style, featuring a beige color palette rather than the iconic green, led some fans to question the series' faithfulness to the source material.
Morrison Weighs In
On Sunday, renowned Green Lantern comic book writer Grant Morrison contributed to the discussion via Substack. Morrison firmly stated that the 'Green' in 'Green Lantern' is not "stupid" and questioned the logic of a writer attaching himself to a narrative he considered "fundamentally 'stupid'." Morrison also suggested that alienating Green Lantern fans at the outset was "stupid."
Lindelof's Apology and Clarification
In response, Lindelof posted a photo of himself wearing a Green Lantern T-shirt from his first Comic-Con appearance, accompanying it with a lengthy caption.
"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."
Lindelof acknowledged making a "dumb joke on a comedy podcast" and clarified that the fandom is not dumb. He then provided a deeper explanation and reflection on his actual feelings, emphasizing his long-standing admiration for the Green Lantern character, Hal Jordan, since his childhood. He further stressed that green is his lifelong favorite color.
Lindelof concluded by stating he was honored to be part of the team creating "Lanterns" and admitted he was "sloppy and careless with [his] words." He pledged to "do better to be worthy of the oath" and affirmed that he would let the show speak for itself. The "Lanterns" series is scheduled for release in August.