Official Green Lantern Casting and Discussion Thread

[Saint]

Right. I don't see why Kyle needs to be mentioned in the first film tho.

He doesn't need to be, but I would like him to be of comparable importance to Jordan himself, and adding a character of such importance in a sequel can be met with resistance, and be... tricky.

The real problem with using him in the first film would be that you couldn't replicate the circumstance of his origin. I don't Hal needs to be evil or destroy the Corps, but the Corps needs to be diminished or out of the picture in some capacity in order to maintain the spirit of Rayner. I personally think a workable situation would be for the Corps to be in disarray (perhaps following the emergence of the Sinestro Corps), with the battery destroyed and only a handful of Lantern's (like Hal, obviously) left across the galaxy. The Lanterns, instead of a police force, are suddenly more like a guerilla army, striking out periodically and then going back into hiding. They'd have few numbers and fewer resources. The Guardians mostly hide from the Sinestro Corps, finding the odd recruit when they can. Kyle would be such a recruit. This scenario would likely work best as a second film.

 

[BlackLantern]

Right. I don't see why Kyle needs to be mentioned in the first film tho.

Have to appease the Kyle fans....all 25 of them.....they are extremely vocal though so it seems like a lot moret:

 

[BlackLantern]

The character of John Stewart is loosely based off the exploits of Bob Sanders.

Fixed

 

[StorminNorman]

He doesn't need to be, but I would like him to be of comparable importance to Jordan himself, and adding a character of such importance in a sequel can be met with resistance, and be... tricky.

The real problem with using him in the first film would be that you couldn't replicate the circumstance of his origin. I don't Hal needs to be evil or destroy the Corps, but the Corps needs to be diminished or out of the picture in some capacity in order to maintain the spirit of Rayner. I personally think a workable situation would be for the Corps to be in disarray (perhaps following the emergence of the Sinestro Corps), with the battery destroyed and only a handful of Lantern's (like Hal, obviously) left across the galaxy. The Lanterns, instead of a police force, are suddenly more like a guerilla army, striking out periodically and then going back into hiding. They'd have few numbers and fewer resources. The Guardians mostly hide from the Sinestro Corps, finding the odd recruit when they can. Kyle would be such a recruit. This scenario would likely work best as a second film.

This scenario would likely work best as a fourth film.

I think everyone agrees that the two leads in the Green Lantern verse are Hal and Kyle - but that means that you should tell Hal's story and THEN Kyle's, you could even do it vice versa, don't tell both at the same time though.

 

[Saint]

Have to appease the Kyle fans....all 25 of them.....they are extremely vocal though so it seems like a lot moret:

Those Kyle 25 Kyle fans must have been buying a lot of extra copies to keep that book alive for ten years.

 

[BlackLantern]

Those Kyle 25 Kyle fans must have been buying a lot of extra copies to keep that book alive for ten years.

...and I appreciate them keeping the seat warm....

 

[Saint]

This scenario would likely work best as a fourth film.

Why? The first film should be Sinestro (Legion is lame), the second film could be as I described, and the third could be Blackest Night (depending on how that turns out, of course). Personally, I think planning more than three films is a disaster waiting to happen. Planning more than one is risky enough. All it takes is one mediocre performance and the plans are dead.

don't tell both at the same time though.

Why?

 

[StorminNorman]

Why? The first film should be Sinestro (Legion is lame), the second film could be as I described, and the third could be Blackest Night (depending on how that turns out, of course). Personally, I think planning more than three films is a disaster waiting to happen. Planning more than one is risky enough. All it takes is one mediocre performance and the plans are dead.

Sinestro shouldn't be the first film at all - you need at least two films to build the character and then tear him down as a villain.

 

[Saint]

Sinestro shouldn't be the first film at all - you need at least two films to build the character and then tear him down as a villain.

I always find that people underestimate the amount that can be achieved in one film. Dent didn't need two to become a villain, and his story would have been comparable to the my suggestion, had he survived. As with Dent, one film spent building him up until he falls in the third act, but with Sinestro the difference would be that he survives and returns in the sequel (with his Corps).

 

[Dark Knight]

The character of John Stewart is loosely based off the exploits of Henry Simmons.

Henry Simmons has always been my #1 choice for John Stewart.

Chikewa Ejiofor (that spelling is off) would be a good choice also

 

[Dark Knight]

Which is why people want him for Hal. Duhamel doesn't have to be a chameleon for a role like this.

Exactly!

 

[Dark Knight]

Gyllenhaal or Emile Hirch would be good choices for Kyle.

I don't think Kyle should be in the first GL film though...

 

[StorminNorman]

I always find that people underestimate the amount that can be achieved in one film. Dent didn't need two to become a villain, and his story would have been comparable to the my suggestion, had he survived. As with Dent, one film spent building him up until he falls in the third act, but with Sinestro the difference would be that he survives and returns in the sequel (with his Corps).

I knew you would point to Harvey Dent but its not a proper comparison.

Harvey Dent was allowed to be built and destroyed in one film because the other characters didn't have to be. Bruce and Gordon were established in the first film, the Joker was established in the first scene and needed no further explanation.

With Hal Jordan you are going to need to dedicate the first act to building Hal, the second act building Hal the Lantern and the third act is Hal saving the day. Shoe horning Sinestro just does the character an injustice - its better to establish him and build up to his fall.

No reason to blow your load in film one - especially when Green Lantern doesn't have Batman's rogue gallery.

 

[Franklin Richards]

Sinestro has to be established as the "reluctant ally" before he becomes his arch enemy. This will take a little time. Otherwise the impact isn't there when they become enemies.


:gl: :gl: :gl:

 

[BlackLantern]

I still say Timothy Dalton for Sinestro

 

[StorminNorman]

Timothy Dalton is Hades

 

[BlackLantern]

Nobody rocks a pencil mustache like Dalton.....Nobody....

 

[The Major]

Right. Hal is the face of GL. He was GL longest, everything iconic about GL was introduced with him.

Hal only became an icon because WB has used him more in animation then Kyle.

Stewart was used more then Kyle, as well.

But I don't think this makes Kyle unable to get to their level. He just needs his time to shine with he public like they have.

You don't need to be aware of Alan Scott in order to get Hal's story.

True.

In order to tell Kyle's (and the other GLs) story you have to know who Hal is, so it's best to start with Hal. Hal's story is the most streamlined and is the starting point for the contemporary GL stories.

Agreed.

Though John Stewart did fine without it in JL.

Hal has, IMO, the best story and is the most adaptable to alternate media solo projects. Give him good characterization and you got a movie. This argument sounds familiar....

Hal is a good introduction to GL, I agree, but the franchise has more to offer the public then him. Once he's got everything established and enough time has passed to do his best Kyle can take over to take the franchise in a new direction.

 

[Franklin Richards]

What can Kyle bring? Anything new? Other than being a Peter Parker clone?


I don't mean that as a slight. It's just not a very rich history. Not like a test pilot with the right stuff who was chosen by his successor and is an enemy with his teacher?

No offense but all Kyle has is his girlfriend in a refrigerator.


:gl: :gl: :gl:

 

[BlackLantern]

What can Kyle bring? Anything new? Other than being a Peter Parker clone?


I don't mean that as a slight. It's just not a very rich history. Not like a test pilot with the right stuff who was chosen by his successor and is an enemy with his teacher?

No offense but all Kyle has is his girlfriend in a refrigerator.


:gl: :gl: :gl:

I wasn't going to go there...but bravo Franklin

 

[The Major]

the only places I see any kind of regard for Kyle Rayner are here and when I go to Cons...most fans and people I know who are aware of Green Lantern associate with Hal Jordan....

Kyle doesn't have his own tv show like John or Hal had nor does he have his own Geoff Johns equivalent.

That's why people don't know him as much as Hal. Not that he doesn't a large fan base.

I never took to Kyle Rayner...I hated the GL outfit they put him in....I saw his as the ESPN 2 (The Deuce, early days of ESPN2) of GLs..I've grown to like him, but he isn't the GL that got me into comics...

So you didn't like him since you hated his costume, and he had the misfortune of not being the GL when you started reading GL?

Green Lantern was the first comic I remember reading as a child, so the character has a special place in my heart and mind

Nostalgia in itself is a bad reason to do something. Hal has more to offer as a character then that. He can keep it relevant with his character but he's far from the only GL who can do this with the franchise.

 

[StorminNorman]

Anyone trying to argue that Kyle should be made before Hal is fighting a losing battle and should just stop.

 

[BlackLantern]

...so if Kyle Rayner is such a fantastic character, why did DC Comics decide to bring back Hal Jordan?? Why not have Kyle Rayner be the torchbearer for the GL and the rebuilding of the GL Corps??

 

[The Major]

What can Kyle bring? Anything new? Other than being a Peter Parker clone?

The Peter Parker arch-type has made many franchises successful.

I don't mean that as a slight. It's just not a very rich history. Not like a test pilot with the right stuff who was chosen by his successor and is an enemy with his teacher?

He's got a very down to Earth cast, his girlfriends are always interesting and does have some great enemies to expand upon and could fight Hal's foes with a new twist.

No offense but all Kyle has is his girlfriend in a refrigerator.


:gl: :gl: :gl:

Kyle made the franchise relevant after Hal almost killed it.

Though I don't blame Hal himself for causing that. For some reason DC just couldn't figure out how to make him work back then. This is something that can happen with most characters. Hal's a good character but him doing that doesn't mean he's the only good one in the GL mythos.

 

[The Major]

...so if Kyle Rayner is such a fantastic character, why did DC Comics decide to bring back Hal Jordan??

Johns' prefers Hal over Kyle.

Why not have Kyle Rayner be the torchbearer for the GL and the rebuilding of the GL Corps??

That's a good question. I'd have liked him to remain the Torchbearer, as well.

Kyle was responsible for rebuilding the Corps.