HBO’s new streaming series “Lanterns,” based on DC Comics’ Green Lantern universe, is drawing criticism from viewers over dialogue centered on race and “white privilege” that appears in its early episodes.
The show is executive produced by James Gunn and run by Damon Lindelof, the “Lost” co-creator who was previously removed from a planned Star Wars film project after seeking to rework the franchise’s concept of “the Force.” “Lanterns” draws on the Green Lantern Corps, the interstellar police force introduced in DC Comics decades ago, with Hal Jordan — introduced in 1959 as the character’s first prominent human member — serving as an entry point to the story, alongside the earlier Green Lantern character Alan Scott, who debuted in 1940.
In the series, Hal Jordan is played by Kyle Chandler and is portrayed as a cynical, disheveled figure who is killed by the end of the first episode. His protege, John Stewart, played by Aaron Pierre, becomes a central character in subsequent episodes.
In the second episode, a scene features a character telling Stewart that white men have the “luxury” of being “eccentric” and that “white men with money can do whatever the fuck they want.” Similar themes reportedly continue into the third episode.
Ahead of that third episode’s release, James Gunn posted a message on social media urging fans to watch the show. Despite that appeal, some viewers have expressed frustration online with what they see as a heavy emphasis on racial commentary running through the early run of the series.
HBO has not issued a public response to the criticism.
