Grant Morrison Rips Lanterns Writer Damon Lindelof for Calling Green Lantern “Stupid”
The debate surrounding HBO’s upcoming
Lanterns series just picked up a major new voice, and it’s not one that’s holding back. Legendary DC Comics writer Grant Morrison is openly criticizing comments made by
Lanterns writer Damon Lindelof about the mythology of Green Lantern, accusing Hollywood of repeatedly hiring creators who appear embarrassed by the comic book properties they are adapting.
The remarks come after comments from Lindelof joking about the concept behind the Green Lantern name, which sparked backlash among fans of the character.
“The show is called Lanterns because we all agreed the Green was stupid,” Lindelof said. Now Morrison has entered the conversation with a blunt rebuke.
Grant Morrison Says Green Lantern’s Core Idea Isn’t “Stupid”
Writing on his Substack, Morrison addressed the controversy directly and rejected Lindelof’s comments outright.
“TV writer/producer Damon Lindelof’s comments notwithstanding, the ‘Green’ in ‘Green Lantern(s)’ green is not ‘stupid,’” Morrison wrote.
The comics legend didn’t stop there. He questioned why a writer would choose to work on a franchise if they don’t respect the core concept behind it.
“Why does a writer attach himself to this kind of narrative if he thinks it’s fundamentally ‘stupid’?” Morrison asked.
The criticism reflects a broader frustration among comic book fans who believe some modern adaptations treat the original material as something that needs to be “fixed” or toned down. Morrison’s position appears to be the opposite: embrace the mythology rather than apologize for it.
Morrison Warns Lanterns Could Alienate the Only Audience That Matters
Grant Morrison also raised a practical concern about the upcoming
Lanterns series — that alienating longtime Green Lantern fans could undermine the show before it even premieres.
“The only people who give a f-ck about the
Lanterns TV series are Green Lantern fans. Why alienate them at the start?” Morrison wrote.
That warning arrives as online debate continues around early footage and promotional material for the HBO series. Some fans have criticized what they see as a stripped-down or grounded interpretation of the franchise that appears to minimize the cosmic spectacle traditionally associated with Green Lantern stories.
Morrison Says Hollywood Keeps Hiring Creators Embarrassed by Comics
Beyond Lindelof and
Lanterns specifically, Grant Morrison used the moment to call out what he views as a recurring problem in Hollywood.
According to Morrison, studios frequently hire creators who seem uncomfortable with comic book storytelling and attempt to distance themselves from the genre’s more fantastical elements. He argued that this approach leads to diluted adaptations that fail to capture what fans enjoy about the source material.
Morrison compared the situation to hiring writers for other genres who openly mock the very premise they are supposed to adapt. In his view, the problem isn’t the material — it’s the attitude toward it.
Morrison Says “Green Lanterns” Would Be a Better Title
Morrison also took issue with the show’s title. He suggested that
Green Lanterns would be a stronger and more dramatic title than simply
Lanterns, arguing that removing the iconic name diminishes the mythology rather than strengthening it.
That perspective reinforces his broader criticism that some modern adaptations appear hesitant to fully embrace comic book storytelling.
A Harsh Warning for Hollywood
Morrison closed his comments with a sweeping criticism of the entertainment industry itself.
“Hollywood will die of insularity and inbreeding,” he said.
While Morrison’s comments are aimed primarily at the creative philosophy behind
Lanterns, they reflect a larger debate playing out across the superhero genre — whether modern adaptations should reinvent comic book ideas or celebrate them.
Morrison Still Praises James Gunn
Despite his criticism of the creative direction surrounding
Lanterns, Morrison made clear he is not attacking DC Studios as a whole.
He recently praised James Gunn’s
Superman, saying he believes Gunn delivered one of the best superhero films yet. That distinction suggests Morrison’s issue is not with DC’s broader direction but with the creative mindset he believes is creeping into certain projects.
The Lanterns Debate Isn’t Slowing Down
With Grant Morrison now joining the discussion, the debate surrounding HBO’s
Lanterns appears unlikely to fade anytime soon.
Fans have already been arguing about whether the series feels too grounded and too far removed from the cosmic scale that defines Green Lantern stories.
Morrison’s comments pour fuel on that fire — and raise a question that will likely follow the show all the way to its premiere: If the creators don’t fully believe in the mythology, can the audience?
Fonte
