AceShowbiz - As a comic book character, Green Lantern has often been viewed as somewhat silly, which has made adapting the hero into live-action a persistent challenge. The 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds became infamous, with Reynolds himself frequently poking fun at its shortcomings. While director Zack Snyder included a brief Green Lantern appearance in a Justice League flashback, Warner Bros. prevented the character’s integration into the present-day DC Extended Universe (DCEU). A Green Lantern Corps movie was announced in 2014, but after several top writers including David S. Goyer, Geoff Johns, and Christopher McQuarrie tried and failed to crack the script, the project was eventually shelved.

With those setbacks, the character seemed destined to remain mostly confined to amusement parks and animated projects, where Green Lantern has appeared often. Now, HBO’s upcoming series, Lanterns, takes a markedly different, grounded approach to the material. DC Studios co-chief James Gunn described the show last year as “a very grounded, real show,” emphasizing the effort to bring an outlandish space cop concept—heroes wielding magic rings—into a realistic context.

Lanterns features two members of the Green Lantern Corps: Kyle Chandler plays Hal Jordan, a former U.S. Air Force test pilot turned cosmic hero, who is mentoring John Stewart, portrayed by Aaron Pierre. The teaser trailer depicts the pair investigating a murder in Nebraska, a case that leads them into darker, more mysterious territory. Despite these promising elements, the teaser trailer faced criticism from fans almost immediately.

Many felt the teaser lacked the vibrant green hues associated with the Green Lantern mythos and bore a gloomy tone more reminiscent of crime dramas like True Detective. This impression was heightened because showrunner Chris Mundy also worked on True Detective: The Night Country. Some viewers were also put off by the seemingly antagonistic dynamic between the two leads, who appeared to dislike each other intensely, making them less relatable early on in the series. However, given this is only a teaser and the show aims to appeal to a broad audience, these creative choices might be preliminary and strategic.

The negative reaction to the trailer revived a comment made a year earlier by the show’s co-creator and executive producer Damon Lindelof, who is no stranger to both critical acclaim and backlash from fans. On the Lovett or Leave It podcast, Lindelof joked that the show’s title was shortened to Lanterns because they all agreed the “Green” part was “stupid.”

This offhand remark did not sit well with some industry figures, most notably comic writer Grant Morrison, who penned a well-regarded Green Lantern run from 2018 to 2021. On his Substack, Morrison expressed his frustration with Lindelof’s dismissal of the “Green” in Green Lantern. He questioned why a writer would take on the project if they thought the core concept was fundamentally “stupid.” Morrison argued that one wouldn’t assign CSI scripts to writers who disparage forensic science, so why hire creators who appear ashamed of the material they are developing?

Morrison continued, “Why don’t they turn down jobs they’re not suited for? It’s not like he needs the money, and Lindelof has proven that he can come up with his own ideas.” He criticized the “jockish dismissal of superhero conventions,” wondering if Lindelof believed it made him appear less nerdy, though Morrison thought that ship had long sailed. He stressed that the only people who truly care about the Lanterns series are Green Lantern fans, so alienating them from the start is counterproductive and “feels more like ‘stupid.’”

Despite the criticism, Morrison conceded, “The show might even be good.” But he lamented how much better such adaptations could be if studios hired creators truly suited for the job instead of relying on “embarrassed friends” to dilute the source material.

For those not deeply invested in the Green Lantern fandom, the entire debate may seem trivial. Given the strong start for James Gunn at DC and Lindelof’s established reputation for acclaimed and inventive work—winning three Emmys and helming shows like Lost, The Leftovers, and Watchmen—it would be prudent to withhold judgment until the series premieres. However, as Morrison points out, fandoms are notoriously sensitive and alienating passionate fans can carry significant risks.

Damon Lindelof has since posted a detailed response to Morrison’s comments and the controversy surrounding his “green is stupid” remark, though no official statements from HBO or Lindelof have been made regarding the full scope of the criticism.

Lanterns is slated for release in August. The teaser trailer is available to view, offering a glimpse into the series’ tone and direction as it attempts to reinvent one of DC’s most challenging properties for television.

As anticipation builds, fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see if this grounded, noir-inspired take on the Green Lantern Corps can finally succeed where previous attempts have faltered, or if it will further alienate the comic’s loyal following.