The One They Call Unusual: Green Lantern Actors

THE GREEN LANTERN FILM IS COMING SOON. But who should be playing the main role?

Welcome to a shameless plug for my blog that is coming up (more details after the jump). I might periodically appear in these hallowed comic halls when something film (or television) related in the comic world appears, but for the meantime, read and enjoy my mind dribble.

(Note to y’all: I BARELY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT COMIC BOOKS. Seriously. What I DO know is film and television. And some sports.)

Green Lantern, one of DCs most famous comic book heroes. With the use of his power ring, he defeats villains, be they domestic, foreign or even out of this world (in the literal sense and dimensionally speaking of course) with a great control on the physical as long as he has the willpower.

Ok, this film could have its challenges; Green Lantern is also a glorified policeman, belonging to the Green Lantern Corps (so... Green Lantern isn't even a hero name but a job title?), and at times, depending when he was written, he is defeated by the colour yellow or anything wooden. Right... they're not all that scary or life threatening.

When the Dark Knight came out (as well as Iron Man) Hollywood, specifically DC's sister company Warner Bros., came to a realisation. Warner decided after the Dark Knight, they wanted to actually make comic book films that don't have heroes with the word man in their names. So here we are, wondering when or where this film will appear and with what tone.

-2011 is the date this mother will be whipped out.

-Tone? Yeah, Dark Knight = $. Dark means to Warner = $. So, it can be dark or light (Iron Man light, not Spider-man emo angst). So we don’t even know who this is even aimed at, as the character doesn't shout out DARK as much as goofy and cocky. So it could be good, it could be bad in this respect.

This is where the casting begins. They can choose the actor, then they'll find the aim of the story and the vision. The reason this is important is that it could judge how the film is going to be and how it is going to be seen by viewers. I haven’t read the script so all we have is a date and a probable budget of $150 million, easily.

Let's get started.




Bradley Cooper as... Hal Jordan.


Should I just say it? He is one of the main attractions of The Hangover, the alcoholic comedy about a stag night gone wrong. While he is not the main star of the actual storyline, his presence means that he could well become the next thing in Hollywood: Funny Pretty Boy. Ryan Reynolds counts as well. But comedy will not be the main attraction to star in this beast; it's action packed manic goodness with comedy added in. His role in ‘He’s Not That Into You’ does not inspire hope. However, Robert Downey Jr. was an interesting choice.

Now that he is starring in the A-Team film (Ed-note: AS FACE?! HELL'S YEAH! *ahem* sorry I won't interrupt...), we cannot say if he will star in this or even be able to, but if we did it would be okay casting, not brilliant, not interesting. Why not? Well, if we look at his Filmography and his television work we find that in his roles he's the cocky guy that entertains us, much like Vince Vaughn, but action wise? Can he look kick-ass? We may never know.

Verdict (Out of Four Stars): **


Common as... John Stewart.



He at least has screen presence for a rapper. I cannot say he is a great actor or even a bad one because in his roles I find him mostly silent. He mysteriously refrains from taking on dialogue heavy roles in films so we can't determine his talent, but his presence in the role of John Stewart (sorry but I just keep on imagining Common in a biopic about Jon Stewart, it makes me laugh) could mean a fun action film is present in the role he'd take.

However, what we could find is with Common, lacking in range at present, is that comic elements will probably be absent from his skill set. While it is okay to have just action and ‘pathos’, a lot of people enjoyed Iron Man for the combination of the comic to the dramatic. Without this it might be a betrayal of the character, but then this is Hollywood and they do this for the money. The Dark Knight made a heck load with big themes and dark atmosphere, but does not mean it will work with the Green Lantern. As well as this, this is only one version of the Green Lantern, and the script supposedly uses Hal Jordan, a white guy.

You never know, but I am interested, so let’s see if he can do a bit more light-hearted stuff than Terminator Salvation.


Verdict (Out of Four Stars): ***


Chris Pine as… Hal Jordan



Well, Captain Kirk wants to set sail on another franchise (if this doesn’t die the same death as Daredevil), so they might give him this one (this is the strongest candidate). Pine proved that he can fulfil the cocky/dramatic quota to the tee, however we get into another problem (Ed-note: "Yeah we do!" AHAHAHAHA *is punched* Sorry, sorry).

With two very similar characters we might say that Pine might get into trouble with this; while Robert Downey Jr. actually could change his range to fit the mold of the character, Pine will have to contend with the fact that with these two heroes, we will have a case of the mild but deadly déjà vu (just ask Christian ‘SHOUTOUTINGRUFFVOICE’ Bale). If Pine succeeds, it will be because the public enjoy the way he acts but it will become tiresome in the near future, but heck that is what the future can worry about!

Verdict (out of Four Stars): ***1/4


Sam Rockwell as… Guy Gardner



Just look at the guy’s work. He’s brilliant. But then he isn’t a star and a bit older though. That sucks.

Verdict: ***3/4











Matthew McConaughey as… anyone but John Stewart



Well well well, he has the charm, I'll give him that but it would be a bad decision to go with the orange man (just look at that tan!). Also his charm might be good but too laid back for the role. As well as this, in Sahara (one of his action films I've seen), he fails to prove that he could actually be serious (the less we talk about the rom-coms, the better humanity will be for it)
(Picture of something horrific but funny possibly)

SQUIDS IN NEW YORK! DESTORYING YOUR MINDS AND EATING YOUR SOULS!

Verdict: *... bitch.

One more to add to the list of likely Lantern heads


Jack O’Lantern as… The Green Lantern.



Perfect for Halloween, not for much else.

No, this is the real final pick:

Nathan Fillion as… Hal Jordan.

You've seen the videos, you've seen Firefly (or at least Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place), you know he can handle action, cockiness, fanboy frenzy as well as being handsome for the ladies. You have seen the fake trailer, and it just feels right. If Sam Rockwell was younger, I would have chosen him, but Fillion is the natural choice.


Here’s the link to those of you who didn’t see it.

Verdict: ****.


You got an idea? Write them down before you explode into a furious rampage of fire in the comment box.

This is The One They Call Unusual (Milan).