Damon Lindelof explains “dumb” Green Lantern joke after Grant Morrison backlash

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Damon Lindelof, who co-created the TV series Lanterns, has acknowledged that his past remarks about Green Lantern were “foolish.” He made this statement after comic book writer Grant Morrison suggested Lindelof shouldn’t work on superhero projects.

The trailer for the new DCU series Lanterns recently faced criticism from fans who felt it strayed too far from the original comics, notably by omitting the color green. HBO Max playfully responded to the complaints with a post featuring a screenshot of a single green plastic basket and the question, “What do you mean there’s no green?”

What do you mean there’s no green?

— HBO Max (@hbomax) March 5, 2026

So, some old comments from Damon Lindelof popped up from a podcast interview he did back in 2024. He basically said the team thought calling it ‘Green Lantern’ was a dumb idea, and that’s why they went with ‘Lanterns’ instead. This week, Geoff Johns, who’s a huge name in Green Lantern comics and wrote a ton of the stories, came out and said he doesn’t agree with Lindelof’s approach to it.

In a post on his Substack, Morrison questioned Lindelof’s involvement with the project, wondering why he’d agree to work on something he considered “stupid.” Morrison also argued that “Green Lanterns” is a more compelling title than simply “Lanterns,” and suggested anyone who doesn’t understand that shouldn’t be writing superhero stories.

Damon Lindelof responds to Green Lantern joke backlash

Lindelof recently addressed comments made by Grant Morrison in a detailed Instagram post on Tuesday, March 17th. He explained that he had apparently upset Morrison, and jokingly added that this meant he’d likely offended many of the British and Scottish comic book writers he admired while growing up.

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A post shared by Damon (@damonlindelof)

Lindelof acknowledged he made a mistake, saying he told a silly joke on a podcast. He explained he wouldn’t try to justify it or offer excuses, and that the joke itself was foolish, but the fans who reacted were not. He said he wants to apologize and share what he truly feels.

One of the creators of The Lanterns shared memories of his lifelong passion for the Green Lantern, recalling wearing a Green Lantern t-shirt to his very first Comic-Con panel back in 2004 and explaining how the hero inspired him during his childhood.

He clarified that his preference for the color green has nothing to do with intelligence, stating it’s been his favorite color for as long as he can remember, and enthusiastically called it ‘awesome.’ He also expressed his genuine excitement about working on the Lanterns project, emphasizing that anyone suggesting he felt differently would be incorrect.

Lindelof acknowledged he hadn’t been careful enough with his statements, particularly considering his affection for characters like Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and the Green Lantern Corps as a whole. He promised to be more thoughtful in the future, adding that the quality of the show itself would ultimately demonstrate his commitment.

The response has generated a lot of discussion on Instagram and Reddit, and most people seem to accept the explanation, pointing to the creator’s impressive past work. One commenter wrote, “Lost, The Leftovers, and Watchmen are all fantastic—I can’t wait for Lanterns!”

Someone else pointed out it was clearly just a joke, and even smart people like Grant sometimes slip up. They guessed he’d reacted to something he read online instead of actually seeing the video, where I was wearing a very noticeable green shirt. These things happen, they said.

On Reddit, one person commented that the joke seemed insensitive, but felt a genuine apology would be sufficient. Another user praised the apology, noting it showed accountability for his words and their impact on others.

Honestly, one comment really stood out to me – someone said a single line gave them more hope for the show than the whole trailer did! And I totally get it. The trailer was a bit of a disaster, but that one line? It actually got me hyped.

The new show, Lanterns, will debut in August 2026. While you wait, check out our theories about a frightening villain, a preview of the shows we’re most excited about next year, and our list ranking all the DC Extended Universe movies.

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2026-03-17 14:23