It’s semi-official, Ryan Reynolds is Green Lantern Hal Jordan in the upcoming live action movie set for a 2010 release date.
Ryan Reynolds has landed the coveted role of “Green Lantern,” getting the starring role in Warner Bros.’ live-action film based on the DC Comics hero.
Martin Campbell will direct. The studio is still working on the picture’s budget, but production is expected to begin in January.
The news caps off a memorable summer for Reynolds, who played Deadpool in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” a performance that prompted Fox to begin development on a spinoff film. Reynolds followed that by starring opposite Sandra Bullock in the romantic comedy “The Proposal,” which crossed the $100 million mark this week.
Warners and Campbell chose Reynolds, who vied for the superhero role along with “The Hangover” star Bradley Cooper and Jared Leto. The momentum built for Reynolds in the last week, as he was the only actor whose option was extended.
Greg Berlanti wrote the script with Marc Guggenheim and Michael Green. Donald DeLine will produce with Berlanti. Reynolds’ reps at UTA are working out his deal.
Ryan Reynolds, the man of a dozen comic book properties
Ryan Reynolds built up a considerable comic book fan following after he appeared in Blade III as vampire killer Hannibal King. Since then he brought the role of the merc with a mouth, Deadpool to life in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and has even signed on to star in a Deadpool spin-off film. Additionally, the actor has been rumored to star in a Warner Bros. movie based on the DC Comics superhero the Flash. All of these things paled in comparison after it was announced that Reynolds would be donning a magical power ring in DC Comics’ major motion picture.
While I’m not a big fan of Ryan Reynolds myself, comic book writer Geoff Johns has given the decision his seal of approval. As the writer who breathed new life into the Green Lantern in print, that carries a lot of weight with me. Additionally, Johns was the former assistant to Richard Donner, director of Superman: The Motion Picture. So if anyone has an idea on how a Green Lantern film would work, Johns is that guy.
The scoop on the ring-slinging flick
Details surrounding the plot of the film so far involve the origin story of Hal Jordan joining the Green Lantern Corps, taking over from the alien known as Abin Sur who perished upon crash landing on the planet Earth. The movie would follow Hal’s training under the charismatic yet egocentric and self-righteous Sinestro with whom Hal shares much in the ways of defiance to authority. This makes Hal unpopular with the blue-skinned Guardians who govern the Corps, but in the end it is Hal’s ability to innovate and act outside of the Guardians’ strict laws that makes him the greatest Green Lantern of all.
To get an idea of what a Green Lantern movie may look like, check out this clever fan-made trailer made up of footage from various sources ingeniously diced together (the alien Lantern footage is absolutely incredible):
How many heroes make up a ‘League’ anyway?
Guest appearances by future Green Lantern Guy Gardner and a certain mild-mannered reporter have the Internet world in a flurry. It seems that (as I had eluded to previously) Warner Bros. is planning to launch a Justice League project plan similar to what Marvel is plotting with their road to an Avengers film. This would involve guest appearances from other superheroes and a massive revision of both Superman and Batman.
Will Superman guest-star in the Green Lantern film?
The Man of Steel and Green Lantern team up in John Byrne's Superman series
Screenwriter Marc Guggenheim (of Marve’s Young X-Men and TV’s Eli Stone) spoke to MTV about the rumor and had nothing specific to say about it so far, not that it’s any real surprise:
While Guggenheim couldn’t get into specifics regarding plot points of the live-action “Green Lantern” movie, I did ask him about his comments late last year regarding a potential cameo from Superman (or rather, Clark Kent). Was a crossover still on the table for DC’s Green Lantern of Sector 2814?
“Honestly, it changes on a daily basis. Whatever information I gave you today would be obsolete in a week, and maybe come back again in two weeks,” said Guggenheim. ” And even if it wasn’t in flux at the script stage, it would still be constantly in flux because you can film it, put it in the original cut, and eventually it could end up on the editing room floor.”
However, he didn’t deny that the Superman’s alter ego would be making an appearance during the big-screen debut of “Green Lantern” — so there’s still hope for fans hoping to get Hal Jordan and Clark Kent on the same screen at the same time.
“I will say, all the Easter Eggs and the cameos that I put in, I couldn’t even begin to predict at this point which ones will stay and which ones will go,” he said. “I’ll be as interested as anyone else to see what we end up keeping and losing by the time the picture is actually locked… and that’s pretty far away from now.”
So there you have it, Green Lantern (and Superman) fans. Make of it what you will. Who knows? Maybe Brandon Routh will get to put on the cape again!
With both Superman and Batman in movie limbo, this is Warner Bros. one big hope in the ways of making a mark in the superhero movie war. Expect to hear lots of details about this film as the release date approaches.
