- Primary Subject: The public dispute and subsequent apology between comic book writer Grant Morrison and showrunner Damon Lindelof regarding the DCU series Lanterns.
- Key Update: Grant Morrison criticized the "jockish dismissal" of the Green Lantern title in the DCU series.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 17, 2026
- Quick Answer: Grant Morrison slammed the Lanterns series for dropping "Green" from its title; co-creator Damon Lindelof apologized, admitting his "stupid" joke was a mistake.
Famed comic book writer Grant Morrison recently called out the upcoming DCU series Lanterns and its co-creator Damon Lindelof.
Fans have been anticipating the release of Lanterns, which will finally bring the Green Lantern Corps into the DCU franchise. However, despite the excitement on its release, it has also received some skepticism due to its grounded take on the characters and the muted colors, which lack the "green" color scheme that it is known for.
Why Grant Morrison is Calling Out Lanterns and Damon Lindelof
In his recent post on Substack, Morrison offered his hot take on the making of Lanterns and Lindelof's involvement. As many fans know, he has written a popular Green Lantern comic run in the past.
He took issue with Lindelof's past comment, where he said that the "green" in the title was "stupid" and explained why they are only calling the series "Lanterns."
"TV writer/producer Damon Lindelof’s comments notwithstanding, the ‘Green’ in ‘Green Lantern(s)’ green is not ‘stupid’. Why does a writer attach himself to this kind of narrative if he thinks it’s fundamentally ‘stupid’?" he wrote.
"You don’t hand CSI scripts to patronising writers who condemn forensics experts and their haircuts as ‘stupid’, so why hire people who are ashamed and in denial about the comic book material they’ve been assigned to develop? Why don’t they turn down jobs they’re not suited for?"
Morrison continued, "It’s not like he needs the money, and Lindelof has proven that he can come up with his own ideas. What is this jockish dismissal of superhero conventions intended to prove anyway? Does Lindelof imagine it makes him seem less nerdy? It’s a bit too late for that, so what’s it all about? 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.’"
The comic book writer explained why having the "green" in the title should have mattered and why he has skepticism about the upcoming series.
"Green Lanterns is a much more evocative and dramatic title than Lanterns, (just as Raise the Red Lantern is a better movie title than Raise the Lantern), and anyone who can’t grasp why that is shouldn’t be anywhere near superhero stories," he said.
"The show might even be good, but how much better could this stuff be if studios were willing to hire the right people for the job instead of phoning their embarrassed friends to water the source material down? Hollywood will die of insularity and inbreeding."
What is Damon Lindelof's Reaction to Grant Morrison's Remarks About Him?
In his Instagram post, Lindelof responded to Morrison's criticisms of his remarks on the Green Lantern title. He admitted that he made a mistake in his past comment and took accountability for his controversial words.
"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 wrote.
"I made a dumb joke on a comedy podcast. 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 Lanterns co-creator went on to share a story regarding the time that he wore a Green Lantern shirt at a Comic-Con panel. Then, he concluded with an apology and a promise to "do better."
"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," he said.
"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."
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!