James Gunn on Hal Jordan's 'Lanterns' Death and Fan Backlash
Fans criticize Hal Jordan's death after the character's return to the series: "It was the worst thing you could have done," said one of them.
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Image credits: Hal Jordan Lanterns/Publicity
The head of the new DCU, James Gunn, responded to fan criticism about how Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, was handled in Lanterns. The co-CEO of DC Studios defended the decision to kill the character in the 2026 timeline and stated that the character received ample screen time in the production.
In response to a social media user who criticized Hal Jordan's death in the first episode and claimed that Gunn was disrespecting the character who helped popularize the comics, the filmmaker defended the decision. According to him, Hal is the star of Lanterns and appears in every episode so far. "We more than respect him. We love him, despite his imperfections," he wrote.
Gunn also highlighted Chandler's performance and said that the series has already given Hal more live-action screen time than any other adaptation of the character. For him, knowing when Hal's death occurs "is not the same as killing him immediately."
The most attention-grabbing comment, however, came next. When discussing the character's fate, Gunn added: "if that's exactly what it is," leaving open the question of whether the death depicted in the series truly represents the end of Hal Jordan.
Everything you need to know about Lanterns
The series follows a young John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) and a veteran Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) as they become embroiled in a dark, earthly mystery while investigating a murder in the heart of the USA. It's speculated that the murder victim is a member of the Green Lantern Corps, a kind of galactic police force, and that's how Stewart will acquire the ring that grants members of the group the power to create objects made of green light.
The series cast also includes Garrett Dillahunt (No Country for Old Men), Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire), Cary Christopher (Weapons), and Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol), as well as Ulrich Thomsen as the villain Sinestro.
Nathan Fillion will appear as Guy Gardner, one of the Green Lanterns – a role he previously played in the Superman movie. With eight episodes confirmed, the production is helmed by Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen), Chris Mundy (Ozark), and Tom King.
