Damon Lindelof stepped back into the conversation around HBO's upcoming series Lanterns with an open note on Instagram after a joke he made on a podcast started a small storm in the Green Lantern fan world.

How this started

About a year ago Lindelof explained why the show uses the title Lanterns instead of Green Lantern. He joked that the team agreed the word "Green" was "stupid," and the remark resurfaced after the show released a teaser trailer with very little green in its color palette. Many viewers noticed the trailer leaned toward beige and brown, and some fans worried the series might not respect the comics.

Grant Morrison weighs in

Comic writer Grant Morrison publicly criticized Lindelof, saying that dismissing the "Green" in Green Lantern was a bad look and that the fans who care about the property are the very people the show should not alienate. Morrison's reaction helped amplify the conversation.

Why Lindelof replied

Given his track record with fan reactions from shows and movies such as Lost, The Leftovers, Watchmen and the backlash around Prometheus, Lindelof decided to address the issue directly rather than let it fester.

The apology

In his message Lindelof posted a photo from his first Comic-Con, wearing a very green Green Lantern T-shirt. He admitted his joke was dumb and that he had been sloppy and careless with his words. He made two clear points:

  • The joke was wrong. He wrote that the fandom is not the problem and that his comment deserved clarification.
  • He loves Green Lantern and the color green. He described how the character's focus on imagination mattered to him growing up and called green his favorite color.

Lindelof also said he was honored to be part of the team behind Lanterns and promised to do better. For now, he said he would let the show speak for itself.

What this means for the show

Short version: Lindelof apologized, reassured fans he cares about the characters, and pushed back against the idea that the project will discard what made the Green Lantern universe distinctive. Lanterns is due in August, and yes, expect a future trailer to include more green.

Whether that will calm everyone down remains to be seen. For now the creator has acknowledged his mistake and promised the series will be judged on the work itself.