Lanterns: Why Grant Morrison Doesn’t Recognize Kyle Chandler’s Hal Jordan Performance

Grant Morrison does not seem to be impressed by DCU’s Lanterns. The James Hawes-directed TV show, which premiered on August 16, 2026, has garnered some negative reviews. And the 66-year-old is the latest addition to the list.

In a recent statement on his Xanaduum Substack, the well-known comic book writer got candid about the new TV show. Morrison initially pointed out that while he did not like the “glib dismissal of the colour green by writer and producer Damon Lindelof,” he felt “obliged” to watch the show. Furthermore, putting forth his honest opinions, the Scottish screenwriter wrote, “Kyle Chandler anchored the show with a great turn as Doctor McCoy, but he wasn’t any Hal Jordan I recognised. Willpower and booze don’t mix for a start.”

However, Morrison did praise Aaron Pierre’s portrayal of John Stewart. Delving deeper into his assessment of the show so far, the 66-year-old called for the incorporation of more elements of science fiction into the show. He added, “Otherwise on this outing, way too much tell, not enough show, and those comparisons to True Detective, invoking season 1 of that, show, only worked against Lanterns.”

What has happened so far in the Lanterns show?

The plot for DCU’s Lanterns revolves around a couple of intergalactic cops, played by Chandler and Pierre. As they get entangled in a Nebraska murder mystery, things slowly start to take a grim turn. Investigating a high school shooting, Hal Jordan and his trainee uncover a group of aliens. These aliens are after a Manhunter, who was responsible for engineering a holocaust on the aliens’ home planet.

Such a revelation came as a big talking point for the fans. With the introduction of the Manhunter, several audiences speculated that the Martian Manhunter might make an appearance. However, this was not true, as Manhunter and the Martian Manhunter are two different entities in DC Comics. At the moment, only two episodes have been released. Episode 3 is scheduled to premiere on August 30, 2026.

Apart from Pierre and Chandler, the HBO Max show features Poorna Jagannathan, Ulrich Thomsen, Nathan Fillion, Jason Ritter, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Laura Linney, Cary Christopher, Romeo Brown, Sherman Augustus, Nicole Ari Parker, and many more.