‘Lanterns’ Team Explains That Heartbreaking Change to Hal Jordan’s Origin Story

As "Lanterns" races toward its series finale, the show has unveiled a shocking twist in the beloved Green Lantern veteran's origin story. In Episode 6, viewers meet a younger Hal Jordan, played by Kyle Chandler, through the Halogram construct. Here, John Stewart and fans are given a glimpse into the tragedy that shaped the senior Lantern into the man he became in 2016.

Chandler explained to TheWrap that this revelation serves to build a more complex character, delving deeper into Hal's dark history and psychological struggles. "It's more to build into the character. It's more history. It's more darkness. It's more pathology of the character. There's a lot going on with these two dudes," he said.

A major change in Hal Jordan's origin story has been revealed - his father, Martin Jordan, didn't die in an accident, as traditionally believed in Green Lantern's comics. Instead, he took his own life, carefully planning the plane crash to spare his sons the pain. Martin's decision to pass away was influenced by a painful family legacy known as the Jordan Boys Legacy, a condition that had been passed down through generations of Jordaans.

This heartbreaking revelation comes just as shooting began, allowing Chandler to work the emotional turmoil into Hal's character from the start.

According to "Lanterns" showrunner and co-creator Chris Mundy, this twist came about at a crucial moment, giving Chandler ample time to incorporate this depth into his performance. The new storyline brings a fresh perspective to the superhero genre, showing how the showrunners approached adapting established characters with decades of lore.

Co-creator Damon Lindelof stated that while adapting such characters requires treating canon like "plutonium," they also needed to ensure their storytelling remains creative and innovative.

Lindelof, along with co-writer Tom King, tackled the challenge of expanding Hal's and John's rich backstories without compromising their established identities. They pondered questions like "Is Batman still Batman if his parents aren't killed?" and "Is Superman still Superman if there's no Krypton?" Ultimately, they sought to recontextualize Martin Jordan's death, asking if the loss of his father could still define Hal Jordan's character.

The writers' room faced skepticism from DC fans but ultimately succeeded in creating a compelling story that resonated with audiences, with the series receiving critical acclaim and a new TV adaptation in the works.