James Gunn defends Hal Jordan treatment in Lanterns

James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios, has publicly defended the portrayal of Hal Jordan in the HBO Max series Lanterns after fans criticized the character's apparent death early in the show's first season. Gunn responded on Threads to a fan who accused the series of disrespecting the character, writing that Jordan appears in every episode released so far and has accumulated more live-action screen time in Lanterns than in his entire prior film and television history combined. "We more than respect him. We love him, despite his imperfections. Us knowing the time of his death, if thats exactly what that is, is absolutely not the same thing as killing him off right away," Gunn wrote. He added: "Hal is a big reason why the show is so popular with fans non fans alike sorry if you dont like it." The dispute centers on how Lanterns handles Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler. The series opens with a flashforward set in 2026 depicting Jordan's death, which becomes the central mystery the show sets out to solve, while earlier scenes unfold in 2016.