"Sherlock Holmes" actor Mark Strong is in talks to play Sinestro in the "Green Lantern" movie, according to director Martin Campbell.
Speaking with MTV News during the junket for "Edge of Darkness," his upcoming action thriller opening January 29, Campbell dismissed rumors that "Watchmen" actor Jackie Earle Haley was in talks for the role.
"No, that's completely wrong," said Campbell of the persistent rumor, which popped up again recently despite Haley denying any involvement with the "Green Lantern" movie. "In fact, we're in negotiations with Mark Strong to play Sinestro."
"He's not only a wonderful actor, but he looks like Sinestro," he added. "If you look up old pictures of Sinestro, he's very like him. The Jackie Earle Haley thing, somebody told me about it this morning; I had never heard it before in my life."
If negotiations pan out, Strong will have a role in not one but two much-anticipated comic book movies, as he also plays mobster Frank D'Amico in Matthew Vaughn's adaptation of John Romita Jr. and Mark Millar's "Kick-Ass." However, Campbell didn't stop there — he also offered up a list of characters from Green Lantern's universe making an appearance in the film.
Oh, and brace yourselves, folks — Kilowog is one of them.
"Well, Kilowag will be," said Campebll. "Tomar-Re is in it. Sinestro is in it. Abin Sur is in it. All the origin people. Carol [Ferris], of course, who will be played by Blake Lively. All the main characters are there, and it's a complex story. The origin story of Green Lantern is complex, probably one of the most complex, which makes it a challenge to get it right."
If Strong becomes Sinestro, he could join recently announced in-negotiations actor Peter Sarsgaard, who's in talks to play villain Hector Hammond.
In the comic books, Sinestro is a former Green Lantern who trains Hal Jordan (played by Ryan Reynolds), only to become one of Jordan's greatest enemies when he leaves the cosmic police force.
THat is fookin brilliant!
