**Damon Lindelof Sets the Record Straight on “Lanterns”: “Green is f- awesome”**
Damon Lindelof, co-creator and executive producer of the upcoming HBO Max superhero drama *Lanterns*, is addressing the backlash following his previous comments about the show’s title. In a heartfelt apology posted to Instagram on Monday, the prolific TV writer—known for his work on *Lost*—clarified his stance and expressed his genuine admiration for the Green Lantern legacy.
“I made a dumb joke on a comedy podcast,” Lindelof wrote alongside a photo of himself wearing a very green T-shirt emblazoned with the Green Lantern symbol at his first Comic-Con appearance. “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.”
The joke that sparked controversy originated from Lindelof’s appearance on a 2024 episode of *Pod Save America* co-host Jon Lovett’s podcast, *Lovett or Leave It*. When asked about the show’s title, Lindelof said, “It’s called ‘Lanterns’ because we all agreed that the ‘Green’ was stupid.”
These remarks resurfaced recently after the release of the first *Lanterns* teaser earlier this month, during which some fans noticed an apparent lack of green. The resulting uproar caught the attention of comic book legend Grant Morrison, who penned a direct response in a Sunday Substack post. Morrison questioned Lindelof’s involvement with the project, writing:
“Why does a writer attach himself to this kind of narrative if he thinks it’s fundamentally ‘stupid’? What is this jockish dismissal of superhero conventions intended to prove anyway? Does Lindelof imagine it makes him seem less nerdy? The only people who give a [f-] about the ‘Lanterns’ TV series are Green Lantern fans. Why alienate them at the start? That feels more like ‘stupid.’”
Lindelof acknowledged Morrison’s criticism and took responsibility for his remarks. He also shared a personal reflection on what the Green Lantern character Hal Jordan meant to him growing up:
“For a quiet, uncoordinated kid, there was nothing cooler than a hero whose superpower was his imagination,” Lindelof wrote. “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.”
He went on to emphasize his pride in being part of the *Lanterns* creative team:
“More importantly, it would be a betrayal to everyone I worked for and alongside to say anything other than I was absolutely honored to be a part of the team that manifested the incredible construct that is *Lanterns*, because it was,” Lindelof added. “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.”
Support soon followed in the comments section of Lindelof’s Instagram post. Among those sending encouragement were *Superman* actor Nathan Fillion—whose Green Lantern Corps member Guy Gardner will appear in *Lanterns*—and DC Studios president James Gunn.
“The joke was funny. No harm, no foul! Keep up the great work, we appreciate you!” Fillion wrote, including a green glove emoji. Gunn expressed his support more succinctly, sharing a single green heart emoji.
With the apology and positive reinforcement from notable figures in the DC fandom, Lindelof looks to move forward confidently as *Lanterns* gears up for its highly anticipated debut.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2026-03-17/green-lanterns-damon-lindelof-apology