Nathan Fillion and James Gunn Show Support for ‘Lanterns’ Co-Creator Damon Lindelof Amid Superhero Criticism
Nathan Fillion, star of the upcoming HBO series Lanterns, has come to the defense of co-creator Damon Lindelof after controversial remarks made by Lindelof about the Green Lantern character sparked backlash from fans and creators alike.
Last year on a podcast, Lindelof made headlines when he joked about the absence of the word “Green” in the title of the series. When asked about the adaptation simply being called Lanterns, Lindelof stated, “It’s called Lanterns, because we all agreed that the ‘Green’ was stupid, so now it’s just Lanterns.” This comment ignited a discussion among fans, especially after the release of a teaser trailer for the series, which omitted the color entirely. Lanterns is set to debut in August on HBO, featuring a cast that includes Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, and Fillion.
The situation intensified when Green Lantern comic writer Grant Morrison criticized Lindelof’s comment in a recent Substack post. Morrison stated, “TV writer/producer Damon Lindelof’s comments notwithstanding, the ‘Green’ in ‘Green Lantern(s)’ is not ‘stupid.’ Why does a writer attach himself to this kind of narrative if he thinks it’s fundamentally ‘stupid’?” He added, “The only people who give a fuck about the Lanterns TV series are Green Lantern fans. Why alienate them at the start? That feels more like ‘stupid.’”
In a response to the backlash, Lindelof offered an apology via Instagram. Accompanying a photo of himself wearing a Green Lantern t-shirt, he wrote, “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.”
He further acknowledged the nature of his joke, admitting, “I made a dumb joke on a comedy podcast… I owe them an explanation and a genuine reflection of my actual feelings.” Lindelof recalled his early fandom, mentioning, “For a quiet, uncoordinated kid, there was nothing cooler than a hero whose superpower was his imagination. And green is not stupid; it is my lifelong favorite color… Green is fucking awesome.” He expressed regret over his careless words, emphasizing his respect for the series and its characters.
Responding to Lindelof’s apology, Fillion, who portrays Guy Gardner in Lanterns, commented on Instagram, “The joke was funny. No harm, no foul! Keep up the great work, we appreciate you!” His message concluded with a green high-five emoji.
Lindelof replied, complimenting Fillion: “@nathanfillion you are a fantastic Guy and an even more fantastic guy.” Meanwhile, James Gunn, executive producer of Lanterns and co-CEO of DC Studios, added a heart emoji in response to the ongoing discussion, emphasizing the positivity surrounding the series.
Green, of course.
