Green Lantern reboot ideas.

[Batmannerism]

Maybe not Bats/Supes, but he's too big for GL. Probably even Flash at this point. I doubt any big name actor with a successful film career wants to be GL right now unless it John. We will not see Pine or Cooper come anywhere near GL after what happened w/ Hal's film. Reynolds doesn't even want it anymore. Rob Kazinski is perfect for Guy and he's at the stage in his career where the role could really help him

Dude, exactly ! Cooper is about to hit the apex of his career, there's no way he'll want to carry a DC comic movie unless it's Bats or Supes and sorry to say it, but outside of comic fans GL is not in the same league as either Bats or Supes.

ON that note, Idris Elba is on his way up, soon he'll be too big to play a supporting role in anything but an absolutely massive film.

Karl Urban could probably do a passable Hal Jordan, he's really underrated.
Totally agree on Kazinski as Guy !

 

[Rorschach2012]

Karl Urban would make an amazing Hal.

 

[Batmannerism]

Karl Urban would make an amazing Hal.

Cheers dude ! JUst thought of it while posting. He's so underrated,
I really enjoyed him as Dredd, and he absolutely nails McCoy in the Star Trek films.

If it was a team-up film, with all the GL's from Earth, Urban would be a
good lead as Hal (with maybe Kazinski as Guy Gardner, Kevin Zegers as Kyle Rayner, and Idris Elba as John Stewart) Quick, somebody call Christopher Nolan, we've got pure gold here !

Hope it was a Merry Christmas for you.

 

[Lantern Venom]

Maybe not Bats/Supes, but he's too big for GL. Probably even Flash at this point. I doubt any big name actor with a successful film career wants to be GL right now unless it's John. We will not see Pine or Cooper come anywhere near GL after what happened w/ Hal's film. Reynolds doesn't even want it anymore. Rob Kazinski is perfect for Guy and he's at the stage in his career where the role could really help him

The core JLA members have each been around for 50 years or more. They are also characters likely to be around long after an actor's good looks and fame fade away. Any actor who thinks he's "too big" for GL, Flash, Martian Manhunter, etc isn't worthy of the character.

Also, Cooper played Templeton Peck in the A-Team. Despite the movie's mixed reviews, controversy, and modest success (not to mention being based on a cheesy 80s TV show), he stated that he might well do a sequel. Thus, I can't see a guy who attached himself to that franchise thinking a major comic book character is somehow beneath him.

 

[Batmannerism]

The core JLA members have each been around for 50 years or more. They are also characters likely to be around long after an actor's good looks and fame fade away. Any actor who thinks he's "too big" for GL, Flash, Martian Manhunter, etc isn't worthy of the character.

Also, Cooper played Templeton Peck in the A-Team. Despite the movie's mixed reviews, controversy, and modest success (not to mention being based on a cheesy 80s TV show), he stated that he might well do a sequel. Thus, I can't see a guy who attached himself to that franchise thinking a major comic book character is somehow beneath him.

May have to agree to disagree on this one dude.

Anyway, IMO Cooper was great in A team, but that was a few years ago, and he's gotten bigger since then (Silver Linings playbook). It's not so much that Cooper, who is apparently a great guy - and speaks terrific French BTW- would think it's beneath him, it's more about studios casting him in that role.

Also, GL may be a big name in the comic book world, but not so much to the moviegoing public at large. Given the damage that the first GL movie did to the brand, there may be even less buzz about a GL film.
And in terms of iconic characters, Batman and Superman stand waaayyy above him in terms of the public consciousnesss.

I suppose casting a really great actor in the lead is now mandatory, (or maybe not, Chris Hemsworth is good, but not great, yet with a great supporting cast he pulls off Thor) but you'd need a great story and director to pull it off. Also, I see the next GL film as sort of an ensemble cast film, or a follow up to a JL film.

Personally, I can't see it, if I'm wrong, and he winds up the next GL, then big props to you. Again, I don't think he's right for the character, good actor, but even his serious side is pretty light - I'm going to go back to my most recent choice and say Karl Urban, although who knows.
Whatever happens, in one form or another, it would be great to see GL back on the big screen.

 

[Rorschach2012]

I'd like to see Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Pine, Karl Urban or Bradley Cooper as Hal

Although I'm not his biggest fan, Jensen Ackles acting style would be really well suited to Hal, and he could work really well in a Justice League film, or an ensemble GL film with Hal, John, Kilowog, Tomar-Re, Katma Tui as the main characters.

 

[Batmannerism]

I'd like to see Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Pine, Karl Urban or Bradley Cooper as Hal

Although I'm not his biggest fan, Jensen Ackles acting style would be really well suited to Hal, and he could work really well in a Justice League film, or an ensemble GL film with Hal, John, Kilowog, Tomar-Re, Katma Tui as the main characters.

Yeah, I though about Ackles for Hal, but I reckon he's more suited to Guy.
Dean Winchester is a lot like Guy Gardner, with a gun ! Stubborn, arrogant, punch-first-think-later, but basically a hero underneath.

My plan, are you listening Christopher Nolan? Follow up the lame GL, with the utterly splendidly awesome GL Corps, as an ensemble cast film, that way, one crappy performance won't tank the movie. Kind of an Expendables in outer space.

How's this "Green Lantern Corps: Fear Itself"

Maybe Urban as Hal, Ackles as Guy, Elba as John, Zegers as Kyle.
Plus some of the GL ladies, played by very capable actresses (because
Blake Lively was awful), maybe Kate Beckinsale (she's underrated and bad-ass) or Milla Jovovich (if not, she's got to do a superhero/villain roll sooner or later) or Lena Headey (man she does tough chick so well, check out Sarah Conner chronicles) or Jessica Biel (dudes, check out Blade 3 !) or maybe Summer Glau, or maybe Rachel Nichols or Lauren Cohan
- basically nobody who's so big they're going to overpower an ensemble cast, but who are going to fit in and put in a solid performance -and convincingly kick ass.

( Just a thought, what about Joel Edgerton as Guy Gardner ? He's a solid actor, and good at ******* roles, e.g. Great Gatsby )


Chuck in the Rock as Kilowog, and you'd have a billion dollars in the bank.
Keep Mark Strong as Sinestro, and get a few actors who specialize in thug roles as the yellow lantern posse.

Come on, who's with me ? Who feels the awesomeness?

Okay, sorry, got carried away there, peace out ring-slingers !

 

[Rorschach2012]

I'm liking your ideas. I wouldn't bring back Strong as Sinestro though. Any connections to the first movie should be severed.

I like the idea of Jake Gyllenhaal as Hal, Idris Elba as John, Kate Beckinsale as Katma Tui sounds good, as does Jensen Ackles as Guy, the Rock would be awesome as Kilowog, but Kilowog is an easy one to cast, it's just a voice.

I like Mads Mikkelsen as Sinestro.

 

[Lantern Venom]

May have to agree to disagree on this one dude.

Anyway, IMO Cooper was great in A team, but that was a few years ago, and he's gotten bigger since then (Silver Linings playbook). It's not so much that Cooper, who is apparently a great guy - and speaks terrific French BTW- would think it's beneath him, it's more about studios casting him in that role.

Also, GL may be a big name in the comic book world, but not so much to the moviegoing public at large. Given the damage that the first GL movie did to the brand, there may be even less buzz about a GL film.


I suppose casting a really great actor in the lead is now mandatory, (or maybe not, Chris Hemsworth is good, but not great, yet with a great supporting cast he pulls off Thor) but you'd need a great story and director to pull it off. Also, I see the next GL film as sort of an ensemble cast film, or a follow up to a JL film.

Think about this: Cooper is voicing Rocket Racoon, a member of a hero group that doesn't have a fraction of the name recognition that JLA has. If he's willing to do that, it only stands to reason that he would jump at the chance to play Justice League member. A movie like Silver Linings Playbook (which was amazing, BTW) wouldn't exclude him, it would only make him more attractive.

 

[Lantern Venom]

I'm liking your ideas. I wouldn't bring back Strong as Sinestro though. Any connections to the first movie should be severed.

I like the idea of Jake Gyllenhaal as Hal, Idris Elba as John, Kate Beckinsale as Katma Tui sounds good, as does Jensen Ackles as Guy, the Rock would be awesome as Kilowog, but Kilowog is an easy one to cast, it's just a voice.

I like Mads Mikkelsen as Sinestro.

I really like the idea of Beckinsale as Tui. Although I don't necessarily think 'Wog has to be CGI. If studio did find a big, competent actor, they could just use effects to make him seem even larger.

 

[Airwings]

Could Peter Hyams, Adam Green, Thomas Vinterberg, Ronny Yu, Harald Zwart, Jonas Åkerlund, Shane Carruth or Mike Newell direct a GL reboot? Do any of them fit the bill?

Hyams will make the best space opera, Newell the best adventure, Vinterberg the best drama.

 

[TommyJones1945]

May have to agree to disagree on this one dude.

Anyway, IMO Cooper was great in A team, but that was a few years ago, and he's gotten bigger since then (Silver Linings playbook). It's not so much that Cooper, who is apparently a great guy - and speaks terrific French BTW- would think it's beneath him, it's more about studios casting him in that role.

Also, GL may be a big name in the comic book world, but not so much to the moviegoing public at large. Given the damage that the first GL movie did to the brand, there may be even less buzz about a GL film.
And in terms of iconic characters, Batman and Superman stand waaayyy above him in terms of the public consciousnesss.

I suppose casting a really great actor in the lead is now mandatory, (or maybe not, Chris Hemsworth is good, but not great, yet with a great supporting cast he pulls off Thor) but you'd need a great story and director to pull it off. Also, I see the next GL film as sort of an ensemble cast film, or a follow up to a JL film.

Personally, I can't see it, if I'm wrong, and he winds up the next GL, then big props to you. Again, I don't think he's right for the character, good actor, but even his serious side is pretty light - I'm going to go back to my most recent choice and say Karl Urban, although who knows.
Whatever happens, in one form or another, it would be great to see GL back on the big screen.

What damage?

 

[The Guard]

Have people forgotten that Bradley Cooper audtioned for GREEN LANTERN and lost out to Ryan Reynolds? By his own admission, he didn't have the first idea on how to play the character.

 

[Batmannerism]

What damage?

Sorry, you didn't give us enough to determine if that was
sarcasm or genuine disbelief.

Had GL been as successful as any of the Thor films it would have
increased the profile of the character in the public consciousness
- outside of fans, who would have gone to see it anyway.
Characters like Batman, Spiderman and Superman are so big, that
even crappy films can't diminish their popularity. Secondary
characters like GL have a lot more work to do to gain widespread
acceptance, and as such, their films have to be good in order to
raise their profile.

Dark Knight took Batman to even greater heights, the first, superb
Iron Man film made the character a huge success.

What did the GL film achieve ?

poor reviews (it's rating about 26% on rotten tomatoes)

financial underperformance (it only just made back what it cost).

If you saw it and liked it, more power to you. However, there are many who felt that it was not a particularly great superhero film.
Myself included, and I like GL, in fact the GL animated series was arguably more fun to watch.

In contrast, GL in the comics has had some terrific stories in recent years,
(rebirth, Sinestro corps war etc), which have raised the character's profile,
and dare I say it, his brand.

As such, the GL film damaged the brand so as to make it tougher to reboot the character. Studios will be less likely to take a risk on a film, and audiences will be less likely to go and see it, as in .....

"Hey, let's go see that new Green lantern movie ."

"Nah, the last one sucked, let's go see fast and furious 12, I hear they
race across the great wall of China, and Vin Diesel talks in an even deeper voice."

There you go. Probably the best proof of the damage GL did is that we
haven't seen a sequel yet ( whereas after Batman Begins, the next two films were in the works in short order, Marvel's films come at an even greater regularity, Amazing Spider-Man 2012, ASM 2 in 2014). GL came out in 2011, and who's talking about the sequel, just a bunch of guys on a superhero forum......like us (and Geoff Johns, bless him), but the execs aren't keen, having not made their money's worth on the first one.

 

[DrCosmic]

Listen guys, I know you love your Hal/Kyle/whoever, but you put this on a poster, people will show up in droves. In fact, mention his name and you'll be more likely to get top talent behind the camera as well. There's a lot of great actors out there, but none who simultaneously say "This is nothing like the last GL movie" and "Get ready for Heimdall/Stacker Pentecost/Nelson Mandella levels of awesome!" just by showing his face. TV actors need not apply.

Put him up against a Manhunter army and a corrupt Guardian with Katma Tui training him and watch the green awesomeness fly.

 

[TommyJones1945]

Sorry, you didn't give us enough to determine if that was
sarcasm or genuine disbelief.

Had GL been as successful as any of the Thor films it would have
increased the profile of the character in the public consciousness
- outside of fans, who would have gone to see it anyway.
Characters like Batman, Spiderman and Superman are so big, that
even crappy films can't diminish their popularity. Secondary
characters like GL have a lot more work to do to gain widespread
acceptance, and as such, their films have to be good in order to
raise their profile.

Dark Knight took Batman to even greater heights, the first, superb
Iron Man film made the character a huge success.

What did the GL film achieve ?

poor reviews (it's rating about 26% on rotten tomatoes)

financial underperformance (it only just made back what it cost).

If you saw it and liked it, more power to you. However, there are many who felt that it was not a particularly great superhero film.
Myself included, and I like GL, in fact the GL animated series was arguably more fun to watch.

In contrast, GL in the comics has had some terrific stories in recent years,
(rebirth, Sinestro corps war etc), which have raised the character's profile,
and dare I say it, his brand.

As such, the GL film damaged the brand so as to make it tougher to reboot the character. Studios will be less likely to take a risk on a film, and audiences will be less likely to go and see it, as in .....

"Hey, let's go see that new Green lantern movie ."

"Nah, the last one sucked, let's go see fast and furious 12, I hear they
race across the great wall of China, and Vin Diesel talks in an even deeper voice."

There you go. Probably the best proof of the damage GL did is that we
haven't seen a sequel yet ( whereas after Batman Begins, the next two films were in the works in short order, Marvel's films come at an even greater regularity, Amazing Spider-Man 2012, ASM 2 in 2014). GL came out in 2011, and who's talking about the sequel, just a bunch of guys on a superhero forum......like us (and Geoff Johns, bless him), but the execs aren't keen, having not made their money's worth on the first one.

This is all rainbows and cupcakes, but it doesn't really answer my question.

 

[Dr. Evil]

Listen guys, I know you love your Hal/Kyle/whoever, but you put this on a poster, people will show up in droves. In fact, mention his name and you'll be more likely to get top talent behind the camera as well. There's a lot of great actors out there, but none who simultaneously say "This is nothing like the last GL movie" and "Get ready for Heimdall/Stacker Pentecost/Nelson Mandella levels of awesome!" just by showing his face. TV actors need not apply.

Put him up against a Manhunter army and a corrupt Guardian with Katma Tui training him and watch the green awesomeness fly.

Plus they can beat Marvel to the punch by having a minority led superhero film first before Black Panther.

 

[Batmannerism]

This is all rainbows and cupcakes, but it doesn't really answer my question.

Dude, no disrespect, but I don't know how else to answer it.
Maybe if you expand on your question, I can come up with an answer for
you. Maybe if you disagree, you might say why.

If not, I stand by my opinion that the GL film damaged the brand,
and made it less likely that subsequent GL films will appear.


If that doesn't do it for you, well.....here are some more rainbows and cupcakes, I'm all out of unicorns at the moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdZtpBATJYc

 

[Batmannerism]

Listen guys, I know you love your Hal/Kyle/whoever, but you put this on a poster, people will show up in droves. In fact, mention his name and you'll be more likely to get top talent behind the camera as well. There's a lot of great actors out there, but none who simultaneously say "This is nothing like the last GL movie" and "Get ready for Heimdall/Stacker Pentecost/Nelson Mandella levels of awesome!" just by showing his face. TV actors need not apply.

Put him up against a Manhunter army and a corrupt Guardian with Katma Tui training him and watch the green awesomeness fly.

Great poster !

You're turning me into a believer. Maybe Stewart as the main character, would work, with Hal and others showing up for cameos/supporting roles ?

Maybe Stewart has to rescue Jordan, who's fallen into Sinestro, or some other bad guy's clutches, while on a mission, or something like that.

Elba has got to headline some kind of superhero film soon, he's just magnificent. Who else could say " Today we are CANCELLING the apocalypse!" and have the audience cheer (most actors would inspire laughter).

Okay, I could see this, but I still reckon you need to throw in Hal, somewhere and definitely Guy, for comic relief.

 

[TommyJones1945]

Dude, no disrespect, but I don't know how else to answer it.
Maybe if you expand on your question, I can come up with an answer for
you. Maybe if you disagree, you might say why.

If not, I stand by my opinion that the GL film damaged the brand,
and made it less likely that subsequent GL films will appear.


If that doesn't do it for you, well.....here are some more rainbows and cupcakes, I'm all out of unicorns at the moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdZtpBATJYc

The only way one bad movie could damage the GL brand is if the franchise thrived on cinematic releases or if DC was dependent on making GL as big as say Iron Man or Spiderman. At best the movie did nothing at all, at worst, it makes it harder to make another GL movie--which really isn't a problem since the JL movie will come before any GL movie is greenlighted.

Your previous post was basically GL movie wasn't as good as Thor/Iron Man/Batman's so it "damaged"......sth.

 

[Lantern Venom]

Listen guys, I know you love your Hal/Kyle/whoever, but you put this on a poster, people will show up in droves. In fact, mention his name and you'll be more likely to get top talent behind the camera as well.

Put him up against a Manhunter army and a corrupt Guardian with Katma Tui training him and watch the green awesomeness fly.

I'd love to live in a world where John Stewart is famous, but that simply isn't the case. DC has never shown much interest in letting the world at large know about any titular Lantern other than Hal Jordan. Even in the JL 'toon, John was just there without much commentary on how and why he got his ring.

A character's motivation is absolutely essential to selling him/her as a character. Superman has the destruction of his planet. Spider-man has the death of his uncle. What's John have? Almost nothing, just like Kyle and Guy. Poor John isn't even on the cover of the TPB with his own origin tale in it. If John is the GL in JLA, the GA sheeple will just look at him and go, "Huh?"

 

[Batmannerism]

The only way one bad movie could damage the GL brand is if the franchise thrived on cinematic releases or if DC was dependent on making GL as big as say Iron Man or Spiderman. At best the movie did nothing at all, at worst, it makes it harder to make another GL movie--which really isn't a problem since the JL movie will come before any GL movie is greenlighted.

Your previous post was basically GL movie wasn't as good as Thor/Iron Man/Batman's so it "damaged"......sth.

Okay, that's a bit more specific. Thanks for that. Allow me to respond.

My main point, is that a poor GL movie (let's put performance at the box office, and critical reception aside), but a movie that isn't that great,
lowers the public perception of GL as a superhero.

Sure, if you're a fan, you just slap your forehead and go back to reading your comic. Fair enough. I bought "Rebirth" long after the GL film came out, (after not really having read GL since the 80's). But, does it help to attract new fans ? No.

Think beyond the comic book fan-base, and look at the character in the public consciousness. Movies are now the biggest form of expression in the superhero genre, as they reach the biggest audience. So a poor film alienates part of that much larger audience -particularly if it kills off possibility of sequels.

Just how much damage the GL movie did, who can say. You're probably right, not a huge amount - but that's to to the established comic-reading fan-base.
But, as it doesn't promote the character or raise his profile, it's not helping at all - and probably put off some potential readers.

As such, it damages the brand, because it ******s its growth. Comic books need new readers as well as fans to sustain them.

Think of it this way. After the Dark Knight came out Batman sales surged, particularly graphic novels. A whole new audience was introduced to Batman - there are still people whose whole conception of the character is based on the 1966 tv show, sadly.
A good GL film might have done great things for GL, but.......

While I do believe that GL was an inferior film to Thor or Iron Man, that's not the point. The point is that Iron Man wasn't one of Marvel's top characters (well, not at least on a par with Xmen or Spider-Man), yet a highly successful movie franchise have catapulted him into the forefront of public consciousness. A good GL film could have done that for the character too.

The sad thing, is that the GL could have been as good as Thor/Iron Man or even better, given the amazing mythology of the character and his rogues gallery. If you enjoyed it, more power to you, and you won, because you probably didn't feel ripped off by it. I didn't think it was very good, and much as I wish they didn't, the critics and paying audience agreed.

Anyway, that's my take on it, if you disagree I respect your opinion.

 

[Batmannerism]

I'd love to live in a world where John Stewart is famous, but that simply isn't the case. DC has never shown much interest in letting the world at large know about any titular Lantern other than Hal Jordan. Even in the JL 'toon, John was just there without much commentary on how and why he got his ring.

A character's motivation is absolutely essential to selling him/her as a character. Superman has the destruction of his planet. Spider-man has the death of his uncle. What's John have? Almost nothing, just like Kyle and Guy. Poor John isn't even on the cover of the TPB with his own origin tale in it. If John is the GL in JLA, the GA sheeple will just look at him and go, "Huh?"

True.
John Stewart has nowhere near the profile that Hal does.
But maybe having a quality actor, who's very much in the public consciousness right now (and probably up for an Oscar for his portrayal as Nelson Mandela) might raise the profile of the character and make him fly (pun intended).

Also, having a new GL might help sever any negative connections people might make with the first film. I think it would work as a fresh start.

Now, if Bradley Cooper becomes Hal Jordan, I owe you a beer.
I honestly do think he's probably not going for supporting roles at the moment, but now that he's Rocket Raccoon, who knows, maybe he'd be part of a JL film after all ?
If they use the JL origin story, by Geoff Johns, GL has quite a big part in that (mostly as bit of a bonehead) but maybe Cooper would go for that after all.

I guess I see Cooper as similar to ( similar but a much better actor than) Ryan Reynolds. Hal is cocky, arrogant and stubborn but also quite a serious character, which is why I don't see Cooper in the role.
I'm not saying he couldn't do it, just that there are other guys who are a better fit for the character.

Now you've mentioned it, I'm looking forward to hearing Cooper as Rocket Raccoon.

 

[HR-PUFF&STUFF]

[FONT=&quot]GREEN LANTERN, EMERALD DAWN
Hal Jordan becomes the new GL of sector 2814 when Abin Sur is killed by Manhunters working for a rouge Lantern, Sinestro. Not knowing what the dying Abin Sur may have told Jordan Sinestro takes him on as his partner as way to find out what he knows. As Sinestro trains him Jordan starts to see there is something going on with Sinestro. Soon Jordan finds out what happened to Abin Sur and confronts Sinestro about it. Sinestro tells him there is more going on then he knows and attacks Hal when he decides to go to the Guardians. Jordan lets Sinestro think he is dead and hides. Later back to Oa Sinestro tells the Guardians that Jordan is dead that he wasn’t ready but is caught in his lie when Jordan shows up. Jordan tells them everything he knows and Sinestro is stripped of his ring and imprisoned for his crimes. Jordan is then trained by Kilowog and sent back to his sector of space. Months go by and Hal gets on with is life dating Carol Ferris things are going smooth until Sinestro escapes from his cell with the help of a Manhunter and a new Yellow power Ring. Sinestro Sends a group of Manhunters to attack Jordan while the rest he uses to take over Oa. Hal beats the Manhunters and returns to Oa frees the other Lanterns and find Sinestro in the Central Power Battery chamber. Sinestro tells him that the Yellow ring is what he was working on with the Weaponers and that with it he will replace the Guardians and the Corps. The two fight this time Jordan wins Sinestro is trapped in the Central Power Battery and his ring is locked away.

[/FONT]

 

[Lantern Venom]

True.
John Stewart has nowhere near the profile that Hal does.
But maybe having a quality actor, who's very much in the public consciousness right now (and probably up for an Oscar for his portrayal as Nelson Mandela) might raise the profile of the character and make him fly (pun intended).

Also, having a new GL might help sever any negative connections people might make with the first film. I think it would work as a fresh start.

Now, if Bradley Cooper becomes Hal Jordan, I owe you a beer.


Now you've mentioned it, I'm looking forward to hearing Cooper as Rocket Raccoon.

That's exactly what concerns me. The JLA film shouldn't take the GL movie into account at all. Even had it been better, it's yesterday's news because it's not connected via a shared universe. Jordan is bigger than that one incarnation, so using him won't scare anyone away.

However, should WB decide that John be used, he should be given extra screen time for his origin and some other releases prior to the JLA movie. Introducing him as "Here's another Green Lantern because we're nervous about the other one" is a disservice to John, Hal, and the Green Lantern mythos as a whole.