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Grant Morrison Calls Out DCU’s Lanterns: Why the Legendary Writer Doesn’t See Hal Jordan in Kyle Chandler’s Performance
Legendary comic writer Grant Morrison shares a candid critique of DCU's Lanterns, praising Aaron Pierre's John Stewart while questioning Kyle Chandler's unconventional take on Hal Jordan.
When legendary comic book writer Grant Morrison speaks, the entire sci-fi and comic fandom listens. The visionary Scottish screenwriter recently took to their Xanaduum Substack to share some unfiltered thoughts on DCU’s high-profile television series, Lanterns. Directed by James Hawes and featuring powerhouse performances, the show has nonetheless sparked intense debate across the internet since its premiere. For Morrison, while certain elements of the series missed the mark entirely, others successfully captured the cosmic grandeur we expect from DC’s premier space-faring protectors.
Morrison didn’t hold back when dissecting the creative choices made by writer and producer Damon Lindelof, taking initial issue with a perceived glib dismissal of the iconic color green. Yet, as a creator deeply invested in the mythos, Morrison felt obliged to dive into the Nebraska-set murder mystery that strands intergalactic cops Hal Jordan and John Stewart on Earth. The verdict? Kyle Chandler delivered a phenomenal performance that somehow felt completely detached from the comic page legacy. Comparing Chandler’s grounded, weary cadence more to Doctor McCoy than the fearless test pilot we grew up with, Morrison famously quipped that willpower and booze simply do not mix for Hal Jordan.
Sci-Fi Scope and the True Detective Trap
Beyond character interpretations, Morrison’s critique zeroed in on a fundamental storytelling flaw: a heavy reliance on exposition over cosmic spectacle. By leaning too hard into the gritty, terrestrial noir tropes reminiscent of True Detective Season 1, Lanterns inadvertently boxed itself into a corner. Morrison argues that the series desperately needs to inject a heavy dose of pure science fiction to truly honor the lore, rather than dampening the cosmic scale with mundane procedural beats.
Despite the narrative turbulence, the series has found high praise in Aaron Pierre’s compelling portrayal of John Stewart, proving that the beating heart of the DCU’s green-ringed division still has immense potential. As Hal Jordan and his trainee navigate the dark underbelly of a high school shooting tied to rogue Manhunters and displaced alien refugees, fans are left eagerly theorizing about what lies ahead in Episode 3 and beyond. Whether the series heeds Morrison’s advice to embrace the weird, interstellar unknown remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the universe just got a whole lot more complicated.
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