DC readers know that Jordan’s test pilot father Martin died in a crash, but “The Jordan Boys Legacy” revealed that the elder Jordan’s death was actually a suicide, a fact that puts the hero’s journey from test pilot himself to the supposedly fearless, ring-wearing protector he became into a whole different light. According to an interview with TheWrap, the creators undertook the character-defining change fully aware of their responsibility to both honor the Green Lantern’s legacy and serve the story they wanted to tell.
“How do I expand upon the existing canon without completely and totally violating it?,” Lindelof asked, before explaining that the intention became to “recontextualize” Hal’s story without fundamentally changing it. “Ultimately, it’s sort of like, what is the basis of the character?,” says Lindelof, “Is Batman still Batman if his parents aren’t killed? Is Superman still Superman if there’s a Krypton? Is Hal Jordan still Hal Jordan if his dad didn’t die in a test flight? Probably not.” But, as the creator explains, “at the same time, there’s kind of no fun and creativity and originality in that, so you simultaneously sort of have to start to kind of iterate.”
Lanterns, with its more grounded and character-focused take on superheroing, has received a largely positive response from fans and critics, something Hal Jordan actor Kyle Chandler appreciates as well. “It’s more to build into the character. It’s more history. It’s more darkness. It’s more pathology of the character,” says the Friday Night Lights star. “There’s a lot going on with these two dudes. As I’ve said before, and (Lanterns costar Aaron Pierre) can speak for himself, but Hal had a pretty rough coming up in the world, all the stuff that happened, getting the ring, knowing about my family’s past, but look at his childhood! [Laughs] I mean, come on!”
Indeed, it’s the effortlessly charismatic Chandler’s work—both as Jordan and the artificial construct dubbed the “Halogram” who delivers the pivotal revelation—that’s helped elevate Lanterns. And Hal’s transformed backstory was always part of the plan. Says Mundy, “Before we rolled camera, he knew the pain his character held so that he could incorporate that however he does, in his sort of brilliant way, into the performance he was giving.”
Lanterns season finale airs this Sunday on HBO.
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