Trending Now: James Gunn Fires Back at 'Lanterns' Backlash Over Hal Jordan: "Sorry If You Don't Like It"

James Gunn Fires Back at 'Lanterns' Backlash Over Hal Jordan: "Sorry If You Don't Like It"

The DCU's Lanterns is currently delivering a grounded, true detective style mystery, but not all fans are happy and DC Studios co CEO James Gunn has officially entered the chat. Following the recent premiere of Episode 6, fan frustration reached a boiling point over the show's treatment of Hal Jordan. Played by Kyle Chandler, this older, deconstructed version of Hal has been highly controversial. Fans were dismayed that after a 15yr wait for Hal's return to live action, the series portrayed him as a flawed figure who went to prison for his actions in 2016, culminating in a sparsely attended, lonely funeral in the most recent episode. One fan took to Threads to confront Gunn directly, stating that killing Hal off was the worst choice the studio could have made. Gunn quickly pushed back saying Chandler's Hal has actually received more live action screen time than all the live action screen time he's had combined throughout history. Gunn argued that Hal is the star of the series and has been in every episode so far. He also reminded fans that comic continuities vary wildly, stating that the DCU won't necessarily take the exact trajectory of a specific comic timeline. Gunn closed out his defense with a blunt statement regarding the show's success and the fan backlash: "Hal is a big reason why the show is so popular with fans & non fans alike, sorry if you don't like it".

Gunn's "sorry if you don't like it" sign-off has rubbed some fans the wrong way, with critics feeling the response was overly defensive or dismissive of legitimate grievances. What do you think of Gunn's response and the treatment of Hal Jordan in the series? Let us know your thoughts in the comments