Lanterns has scored largely very positive reviews, but among comic book fans, the series is proving highly divisive. That's almost solely down to the portrayal of Hal Jordan; the hero has been aged up, vilified (that's not hyperbole; he went to prison for his actions in 2016 and no one attended his funeral), and is ultimately a far cry from the comics.
While there is precedent for Hal breaking bad—and going mad—on the page, Lanterns has yet to suggest it's heading down the Parallax route. All may yet be forgiven depending on the final two episodes, but as of now, it seems Hal is really dead and will never be portrayed as a true hero.
Fans have been expressing their frustrations on social media, calling out DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn for the creative decisions made with Hal. Now, the executive and filmmaker has broken his silence on the backlash with two lengthy posts on Threads.
"I'd say avid comics readers are well aware of the differences from universe to universe," Gunn started. "Whether it's the DCU or Earth 0 or the Absolute Universe, they all pay homage to these iconic characters, retelling their stories in different ways. Heck, even the MCU combined elements of the Ultimate universe, the 616, and original ideas."
"That's how these things work," he continued. "But if you want the DCU to take the exact trajectory of whatever your favorite comics continuity is, that's probably not going to happen."
Touching more directly on Hal, Gunn said, "Hal's the star of [a] TV series [and] he's in all the episodes so far. It's more live-action screen time than all the live-action screen time he's had combined throughout history. Kyle is amazing in the role."
"We more than respect him. We love him, despite his imperfections," he said of the DCU's Hal. "Us knowing the time of his death, if that's exactly what that is, is absolutely not the same thing as killing him off right away. Hal is a big reason why the show is so popular with fans [and] non-fans alike; sorry if you don't like it."
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that Gunn has hinted that Hal might not be dead after all. Whether Lanterns ends with the former Green Lantern renewed, redeemed, or as a full-blown villain, that would arguably be all that's needed to end the complaints about Hal's DCU portrayal.
Still, DC Studios will still have to reckon with fans who aren't pleased with a grounded take on the Green Lantern Corps that's led to minimal space-set action, few constructs, and a Hal who is not the hero they know from the comics.
Lanterns follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
Alongside Kyle Chander and Aaron Pierre, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Nicole Ari Parker, Jason Ritter, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jasmine Cephas Jones round out the cast.
Six episodes of Lanterns are now streaming on HBO Max.