Your GL movie

[Cinemaman]

I made this thread to know your opinions about GL movie.

How should it look?

Wha should be the main plot?

How would you make it?

 

[Katsuro]

Hal Jordan, Abin Sur origin, Legion and Sinestro as villains.

Hal Jordan: Nathan Fillion
Sinestro: Hugo Weaving

Also, it would be the start of perhaps a trilogy, and would be an epic space opera, not a zany comedy full of fart jokes.

 

[Cannibal Feast]

Oh wow. I like the idea of Hugo Weaving as Sinestro.
I don't know who Nathan Fillion is though.

 

[DarKush]

I would do a GL movie featuring John Stewart. Dennis Haysbert or Derek Luke would take on the ring.

I would do a version of the story in which Stewart destroys a planet, and is hunted down by the Manhunters & Fatality.

He comes to find out he was framed. He escapes with help from somebody-not sure whom at the moment. And he has to find out why before the Manhunters, Fatality, or the GL Corps arrests him.

 

[The Guard]

Classic origin involving Abin Sur, Sinestro as Hal's mentor, with Legion and some of the classic Corps as a cameo in the beginning. Romantic angle with Carol Ferris and his friend would be developed to a point, along with Carol's father. The psychological nature of will and power and its responsible use would be explored as Hal tried to learn to use his ring as a member of the Green Lantern Corps. Sets up a trilogy where The Controllers and Sinestro would be the main villains in GREEN LANTERN 2 and Hal would go berserk because of Coast City in GREEN LANTERN 3 (with a different outcome than in the comics). I wrote a script along these lines a long time ago.

GREEN LANTERN

Darkness. Silence.
As the orchestral strains of the Green Lantern March begin, the universe appears, washed in green. Planets and stars. The green glow fades, becoming the vast blackness of space. We sweep through the cosmos, speeding through the Universe.
GANTHET (V.O.)
Since the dawn of time, the forces of order have clashed with the forces of chaos. Millenia ago, The Guardians of the Universe, beings of incredible knowledge and power, sought to repel the forces of chaos with the establishment of an elite corps, comprised of beings from all sectors of the known Universe.
We’re still moving through the Universe. Slowing now.
GANTHET (CONT’D)
The Corps. was brought together for a single purpose. To defeat the forces of chaos, and to create universal order.
We are in a strange system, moving toward a small planet.
SUPER TEXT:
OA
THE CENTER OF THE KNOWN UNIVERSE
As we near the surface of Oa, we see a disturbing sight. The planet is a battlefield, lit up with green and red flashes.
As me move closer, we can make out dozens and dozen of beings of various races, all clad in identical black battlesuits with green insignias on their chests. These are THE GREEN LABNTERN CORPS. And their stronghold is under attack.
At the edge of the battlefield, a towering silver FORTRESS rises above the landscape, the home of The Guardians and the stronghold of The Corps. Though the battlefield is littered with the dead and wounded, The Green Lanterns battle on.
One group of three Lanterns is flung from the source of the destruction, a massive golden armored CONSTRUCT. Whatever this thing is, it's all but unstoppable. A group of Lanterns attack in tandem, and The Construct fires red LASERS from its arm-mounted pulse cannons, burning holes right through them.
The Construct marches over a field of bodies, toward another group of Green Lanterns, who fire continuous streams of green lasers. This has no effect on The Construct, which plows right through the soldiers, FRYING them with a strafing red laser blast. The Construct charges on through the confusion.
EXT. OAN FORTRESS, WATCHTOWER
High above, on a parapet, four senior Green Lanterns watch as chaos ensues below. The Oan equivalent of commanders, these four beings watch in silence as their forces are decimated.
The four beings are:
KILOWOG. A massive, six hundred pound being resembling an alien hippopotamus, with brown skin and a massive jaw.
SINESTRO. A tall, thin humanoid with blood-red skin, thin features, a shock of slick black hair and black eyes.
ABIN SU. The same race as Sinestro, although shorter and far more muscular, he is in fact the other Lantern’s brother.
TOMAR-RE, a tall, thin, beak-headed alien with dark orange scale-covered skin and a large dorsal fin on his head.
The sounds of combat can be heard below. Laserfire and the screams of injured Green Lanterns. Abin Sur shakes his head.
ABIN SUR
Another squadron has fallen. We must sound the retreat, Kilowog.
KILOWOG
Not while The Corps. still stands. The Guardians must be protected.
TOMAR-RE
Much of our forces has fallen. We cannot stop it. We must evacuate.
SINESTRO
No, Tomar-Re. We mustn’t waver. We must halt this intruder’s progress here and now.
ABIN SUR
How, Brother?
KILOWOG
A frontal attack is no good. Its armor weakens our auras. Our rings are next to useless against it.
SINESTRO
So far.
KILOWOG
You have an idea, Sinestro?
SINESTRO
Perhaps. Regardless, we must all intervene now. The Lanterns’ wills are fading. If it gains the fortress, then all will be lost.
KILOWOG
For The Guardians, then. Attack!
The four Green Lanterns rise into the air, rings glowing, auras bright with the strength of their wills, and descend toward the battleground below. Their presence creates an element of hope, and several of the Green Lanterns cheer.
Kilowog and Sinestro land in front of the construct. The two of them attack in tandem, firing devastating power beams.
The Construct, unaffected, raises its pulse cannons. Both Sinestro and Kilowog throw up force fields as it fires, and are propelled backward across the battlefield.
Abin Sur flies forward, firing his own power beam into the ground beneath The Construct, disrupting its balance. A red laser strikes Sur’s aura and sends him spinning. He crashes to the ground and rolls, injured and out of action. The Construct approaches him, leveling it's laser cannon at him.
SINESTRO
Abin Sur!
Sinestro flies forward, creating a bubble to shield Abin Sur from The Construct’s lasers. Then Sinestro flies off, Abin Sur in tow. He sets him down behind a rock outcropping and kneels over his brother, who appears to be half-conscious.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
Brother?
Abin Sur's eyes flicker open. He looks up at Sinestro.
ABIN SUR
I'm fine. You must...end this.
SINESTRO
I will, Brother. I swear it.
Kilowog has retreated to an outcropping near Sinestro.
KILOWOG
It's too powerful. Sheer force is not enough. We haven’t the power to defeat it.
SINESTRO
Then we'll have to outsmart it.
Sinestro looks around. Sees the bodies. The smoke. The flames. The utter, total chaos. He trembles with rage.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
No more of this. I have had enough.
It’s path cleared, The Construct stalks toward the Fortress, incinerating four more Green Lanterns who attack in tandem.
Sinestro moves out from behind his cover. His protective aura beings to glow as his anger toward the intruder increases.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
I will not allow this chaos to prevail. Order must be maintained!
KILOWOG
Sinestro!
ABIN SUR
Wait!
Sinestro fires a power beam at The Construct. It has little effect, but The Construct swivels on a hinged axis and begins to return in Sinestro's direction. It raises it's arm and fires lasers at Sinestro. Sinestro dodges the attack and flies off. The Construct runs after Sinestro, tracking him across the battlefield, firing lasers as Sinestro flies.
EXT. OA, CANYON BASE
Sinestro lands in front of a pool of tar between two nearby canyon walls. The Construct follows him into the canyon. Sinestro stands his ground as The Construct advances.
SINESTRO
You are nothing to me, invader. Nothing but a bringer of chaos.
Sinestro raises his ring and fires a power beam at The Construct. The beam strikes The Construct. Nothing happens. The Construct fires its own laser. Sinestro BLOCKS it with a chunk of boulder, then HURLS the chunk at construct.
Sinestro stands on the other side of the tar pit. The Construct moves toward him, its laser cannons leveled.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
Come.
The Construct moves forward. Sinestro smiles as it begins to cross the tar pool. And then, The Construct starts to SINK.
Sinestro FLIES up into the air and comes down on its “head” with force, driving The Construct down into the tar, where it disappears from view with a loud whirring of machine parts.
All is silent for a few seconds, and then the tar pit bubbles, and The Construct EXPLODES from it's surface, now covered in thick, black tar, and pissed, if a machine can be.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
All right, then. Let’s finish this.
The Construct FIRES a laser, which Sinestro deflects with a green FORCE SHIELD. He FLIES forward, SLAMMING into the construct, DRIVING it back into a canyon wall. The construct rises to its feet, but Sinestro is much faster. He grabs the construct's feet and SWINGS it, THROWS it across the canyon, where it SMASHES into another rock wall.
Sinestro FIRES an intense POWER BEAM at it, and the construct smokes, damaged. It RACES toward him, and Sinestro PUNCHES it backward. The Construct ROLLS, gets to it's feet, and LEAPS into the air toward him. Sinestro reaches out with his ring, and traps The Contstruct inside a POWER BUBBLE in mid-air.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
Your advantage is gone.
Sinestro rises up into the air until he is level with it.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
The advantage is now mine.
Sinestro FLIES upward, the construct in tow, toward the blackness of space. He looks at the stars in front of him.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
You’ve brought chaos here. Now you will share the fate of all those who attempt to threaten order.
Sinestro WHIRLS once, and with tremendous ring-aided strength, HURLS the construct into the far reaches of space, watching as it disappears into the stars. He descends back to the ground, watching after it. Kilowog land beside Sinestro. The two of them look up at the stars.
SINESTRO (CONT’D)
The threat is past.
KILOWOG
Then...it's over.
SINESTRO
For now, Kilowog. But we must be ever vigilant. Order must be maintained. Whatever the cost.
We move up and through the endless void of the Universe.
GANTHET (V.O.)
For billions of years, the legend of the Green Lanterns has grown, as they strive to bring light to the darkest reaches of the Universe. Their deeds have become legend. Now...another legend will begin.
We hear a hundred tongues, speaking various oaths. Rising in volume, their voices blend into the hum of unbridled power.
A sleek, futuristic, green POWER BATTERY emerges from the blackness of space, shining with a brilliant green light. The green energies within it begin to glow so bright that it wipes out the screen in a green FLASH as music crescendoes.
SUPER TEXT:
GREEN LANTERN
The green glow fades out on deep space. A field of stars.
EXT. SOLAR SYSTEM
Moving through fields of stars, we reach our own solar system, sweeping past the planets. Reaching Earth, we descend toward North America, and down, down, down, through thick white clouds and blue skies until...with a SONIC BOOM, an EXPERIMENTAL JET rockets past the screen, trailing smoke.
INT. EXPERIMENTAL JETPLANE
The skies sweep past the cockpit. The rush of pure speed. The loud roar of the jet's powerful engine. The pilot at the controls twists the yoke and the world spins for a moment.
EXT. SKIES -- DAY
The plane does a series of BARREL ROLLS in the blue skies.
INT. EXPERIMENTAL JETPLANE COCKPIT
The clouds are reflected off the helmet of the pilot. He steadies the controls. The dashboard radio crackles to life.
TOM
(Radio)
Stop showing off.
HAL
(Muffled)
You like that?
TOM
(Radio)
You ever going to bring her back?
HAL
(Muffled)
In a little while, Pieface. I'm still just getting to know her.
TOM
(Radio)
You've been getting to know her for hours. You’re running out of fuel.
HAL
(Muffled)
What can I say? I have a way with women.
TOM
(Radio)
So I've been told.
INT. EXPERIMENTAL JET
Out the cockpit, a beautiful panoramic view of perfect blue skies. The pilot under the helmet is in his element here.
HAL
(Muffled)
You should see the view from up here, Tom. It's incredible.
TOM
(Radio)
I'll take your word for it.
Another series of gutwrenching BARREL ROLLS. The plane accelerates, sweeping through the clouds with a ROAR.
HAL
All right. I'm going to make one or two more passes and bring her in.
TOM
(Radio)
I'll take your word for it.
Hal chuckles and banks the plane upward. The jet climbs.
EXT. SKIES -- DAY
The jet's afterburners FIRE and the jet CLIMBS upward, trailing smoke as it twists up through the blue skies.

 

[OA blaster]

you have alot of time on your hands

but the only way to do a descent GL film is to do a 3d animation like Final Fanasty, that way you can push the bondaries of the power ring constucts

COLIM MEANY voicing KILOWOG
PAUL NEWMAN voicing the GAURDIANS
DENNIS LEARY voicing SINESTRO

 

[ShadowBoxing]

I started writing a plot summary a while back and wasn't too pleased, so I need time to rewrite. However the basic premise is that Hal Jordan is a drunk/loser because of his father's death -- which causes him to slip into a lifelong depression. He lives with his brother and works for Ferris Industries and one day while revisiting the site where his father died, Abin Sur's ship crashed.

Abin Sur and Hal would be the only two Green Lanterns featured in the film. The Legion and Manhunters would be the villians.

I think the idea of bringing in Jon Stewart, Guy or others as GLs makes no sense. The idea of the first film is a)to be made on a smaller budget -- because you are not getting oodles of money to do a GL flick and b) to establish Hal as THE Green Lantern. Saying there are other (living) Green Lanterns only distracts from this.

The movie would be a cross between "Signs" and "ID4". Hal would find himself trying to figure out what the ring is and why it makes him face images of his own father in the night and in his dreams. Through these visions Hal faces his fears.

Then when the Manhunters (who grounded Abin Sur's ship) come to earth they threaten an invasion if Abin Sur (who is abscent from the wreckage) does not present himself. Hal finds himself in the middle of a human - manhunter war, and realizes only he can save humanity.

Carol Ferris would also be present, she would be captured by the Manhunters.

 

[OA blaster]

you don't need a big budget if you go with an 3D animation

 

[begbie1]

nah we need a live-action movie. Hell, if GHOST RIDER gets one, certainly GL deserves one.

my casting? Aaron Eckhart as Hal Jordan.

 

[IKnowSomeJudo]

A Neil Gaiman script directed by David Lynch. Basically I want it to be the most ****ed up, psychedelic thing ever filmed, while being quite faithful to the comic at the same time. Something like Dune on acid.

 

[Disclaimer]

I'd love to see it as stripped back and "real" as possible...

A mix of 'Top Gun' and 'Superman'.

Start with Hal Jordan, the loss of his father, his hotshot-pilot attitude... then his encounter with Abin Sur.

I don't think the first film should include other Green Lanterns, since it would complicate it for non-fans and come off a bit goofy. Hints of the galactic scope of the Corp should be enough...

As for sequels, I imagine a second part that sees Hal overcome by the ring's power (kind of like what they appear to be doing with 'Spider-Man 3') and possessed by Parallax. The third - and final - part could introduce Kyle as a last hope to defeat a released Parallax alongside Hal and the rest of the Corp.

I actually chatted with Geoff Johns about this a few months ago and got the impression that's the way he'd take it if he had the opportunity... but who knows? This damn Jack Black crap doesn't seem to wanna go away, does it?

*Sigh*

I keep looking at the 'Batman Begins' and 'Superman Returns' posters and thinking "please, Warner Bros, keep these franchises classy and uniform". The success of cheap films like 'X3' threatens this idea, though, I think.



Oh... and by the way... I'm not some fanboy who stood in line badgering Geoff Johns at a con. I'm friends with a booth owner who was hosting him. It was a genuine, sit down, wasting-time-while-bored chat while the line up was gone...

 

[OA blaster]

you need to have at least one lantern to show up and train him, KILOWOG i would pay to see him on the big screen

 

[dnno1]

...I think the idea of bringing in Jon Stewart, Guy or others as GLs makes no sense. The idea of the first film is a)to be made on a smaller budget -- because you are not getting oodles of money to do a GL flick and b) to establish Hal as THE Green Lantern. Saying there are other (living) Green Lanterns only distracts from this...

Are you trying to tell us that films with an ensemble cast won't work on a low budget? Here are some examples of films that did.

Star Wars (1977)
Estimated Budget: $13 million
$192 million (in 1977)
% profit: 137

XMen (2000)
Estimated Budget: $75 million
US Gross: $157 million
% profit: 109

The Fast and the Furious
Estimated Budget: $38 million
US Gross: $145 million
% profit: 282

Resident Evil (2002)
Estimated Budget: $32 million
US Gross: $40 million
% profit: 25

And there are many more. Using an ensemble cast can work if you capture the right market with your script. In each of the examples that I have presented the target market was either Sci-Fi/Fantasy fans or the teen to young adult demographic which are very large markets. Write a script for an ensemble cast that will attract these markets and you've got yourself an instant blocbuster film.

 

[Spider - Man]

I started writing a plot summary a while back and wasn't too pleased, so I need time to rewrite. However the basic premise is that Hal Jordan is a drunk/loser because of his father's death -- which causes him to slip into a lifelong depression. He lives with his brother and works for Ferris Industries and one day while revisiting the site where his father died, Abin Sur's ship crashed.

Abin Sur and Hal would be the only two Green Lanterns featured in the film. The Legion and Manhunters would be the villians.

I think the idea of bringing in Jon Stewart, Guy or others as GLs makes no sense. The idea of the first film is a)to be made on a smaller budget -- because you are not getting oodles of money to do a GL flick and b) to establish Hal as THE Green Lantern. Saying there are other (living) Green Lanterns only distracts from this.

The movie would be a cross between "Signs" and "ID4". Hal would find himself trying to figure out what the ring is and why it makes him face images of his own father in the night and in his dreams. Through these visions Hal faces his fears.

Then when the Manhunters (who grounded Abin Sur's ship) come to earth they threaten an invasion if Abin Sur (who is abscent from the wreckage) does not present himself. Hal finds himself in the middle of a human - manhunter war, and realizes only he can save humanity.

Carol Ferris would also be present, she would be captured by the Manhunters.

Off the subject, but what's with your sig?

 

[Sun_Down]

*Sigh*

I keep looking at the 'Batman Begins' and 'Superman Returns' posters and thinking "please, Warner Bros, keep these franchises classy and uniform". The success of cheap films like 'X3' threatens this idea, though, I think.

I'm with you. I love how both BB and SR have really been serious and classy in tone. They've captured the dignity and reverence of those two characters, and I hope they don't compromise that at any point.

 

[Hellstormer]

Well I think a GL film would be cool and I think Kyle would be cooler to use then anyone else but if they had to use Hal i would be fine with it and the ccostume should look like this

Now doesn't taht just scream Galactic Police Force?

 

[HR-PUFF&STUFF]

the first movie would be like training day. Hal is trained by Sinestro but Hal sees that he is not all that of a good guy. in the end we find out that Hal was being tested by the guardans to see if he would do whats right or side with Sinestro.

 

[GL1]

Hal and John Partnership movie... Sci-Fi style (which is what made GL popular origionally), delve into all the fantastical elements. Budget it at around $100 M (which is a LOT for a sci fi movie). Market is as a sci-fi superhero based on a popular longrunning comic book...

Show Hal as interpid, indominable and brilliant in the clutch, also as the most popular and most honored Green Lantern in the Universe, with Sinestro as his friendly rival. Intro John as a young angry guy who asks a lot of cynical questions... those are the main characters. Also important are Kilowogg, head trainer for junior partners like John, Katma, Tomar Re and Ch'p.

The Manhunters reawaken for the first time and the GLs have to deal with these guys, their plots, only to find out that Sinestro is the one who reawakened him, and by the time Sinestro is revealed, he's got the Yellow Ring from the Green Lantern Armory and Hal and John have to take him out while an army of Manhunters attacks Oa. John and Katma get together. Hal and Sinestro have it out. The Green Lantern Corps gets shown off.

I would do this over the more predictable Emerald Dawn because this is cheaper (and thus more likely to be made) and it spins off into a trilogy better. An Earth-based Hal-only movie will make a space-based multicast sequel feel odd. If you start on Earth with only Hal, you're basically nixing or hurting the rest of the GL Mythos... obviously, a bad idea.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Off the subject, but what's with your sig?

A poster made that prediction, and I am holding him to it.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Are you trying to tell us that films with an ensemble cast won't work on a low budget? Here are some examples of films that did.

Star Wars (1977)
Estimated Budget: $13 million
$192 million (in 1977)
% profit: 137

XMen (2000)
Estimated Budget: $75 million
US Gross: $157 million
% profit: 109

The Fast and the Furious
Estimated Budget: $38 million
US Gross: $145 million
% profit: 282

Resident Evil (2002)
Estimated Budget: $32 million
US Gross: $40 million
% profit: 25

And there are many more. Using an ensemble cast can work if you capture the right market with your script. In each of the examples that I have presented the target market was either Sci-Fi/Fantasy fans or the teen to young adult demographic which are very large markets. Write a script for an ensemble cast that will attract these markets and you've got yourself an instant blocbuster film.

All of those films are incredibly dated and or very very bad.

 

[G-Hammer]

Given that Green Lantern isn't as high-profile a licese as say Superman or Batman, if we're being honest, the first movie would probably be made on a fairly conservative budget(unless GL has some high-profile fans in Hollywood willing to throw their weight behind it), so I think making a fairly simple movie with regards to special-effects laden characters would be a good idea, although I think a good trilogy could be formed out of the story.

For example, start with a movie that could work as a stand-alone, but introduces concepts to be picked up by potential sequels. Hal Jordan is a natural for the main character, as he's probably the best known GL, and the movie could focus on a basic concept of his origin, and a battle with Sinestro. Having Kyle Rayner as a regular character in some form of supporting role could be good idea, and maybe a rough idea of the GL corps.

A second movie could focus on the corps more, and you could have some uber-powerful villain(can't really think of one at the moment that would fit, any suggestions?), who in the end destroys Coast City.

Either at the end of the 2nd or the early doors of the 3rd, you could have this lead to Hal becoming Parallax and Kyle becoming GL to defeat him.

As for actors, I liked the suggestion of Hugo Weaving for Sinestro, but I'm fairly stumped for Hal or Kyle.

 

[Hellstormer]

Hal Jordan is a natural for the main character, as he's probably the best known GL, and the movie could focus on a basic concept of his origin, and a battle with Sinestro.
.

I disagree ask anyone on the street who Green Lantern is and their answer will probaly be "The black guy form the cartoon."

 

[G-Hammer]

I disagree ask anyone on the street who Green Lantern is and their answer will probaly be "The black guy form the cartoon."

True, I forgot all about the cartoon. Still, Hal is the 'classic' GL, I think most comic fans would be unhappy if he wasn't the main man. It'd be like making a Batman movie where it's the Azrael guy or Spiderman with Ben Reilly.

 

[Hellstormer]

True, I forgot all about the cartoon. Still, Hal is the 'classic' GL, I think most comic fans would be unhappy if he wasn't the main man. It'd be like making a Batman movie where it's the Azrael guy or Spiderman with Ben Reilly.

I'd watch a Batman movie with the greatest member of the Bat family ever.up:

 

[ShadowBoxing]

I disagree ask anyone on the street who Green Lantern is and their answer will probaly be "The black guy form the cartoon."

Most people you'd find on the street unless they are five do not watch cartoons.