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Friday
10Jul2009

Ryan Reynolds Wins 'Green Lantern' Role

DateFriday, July 10, 2009 at 7:00PM
After a long search and many candidates being rumored for the role, Ryan Reynolds is your new Green Lantern. Variety reports that Reynolds outgunned a short list of actors including Bradley Cooper, Jared Leto, and Justin Timberlake for the role.

Based purely on nothing but their histories, Reynolds is the clear choice. I think when you factor the budget for DC Comics and Warner Bros, believed to be on the high end of the $150 - $200 million range, Reynolds or Cooper are the best options. Of the four, Timberlake may have the most potential unseen upside, but movie audiences have not embraced him much if at all.

The film is scheduled to begin production in January under director Martin Campbell.

Two questions arise: How did this happen and what becomes of Deadpool? The second question is easier to answer. Nothing happens. The Wolverine spin-off will proceed as planned, although you have to wonder if Fox wanted that Marvel comic to become its own little franchise. It's doubtful Reynolds will or would juggle two superhero roles for several years. So my guess is Deadpool is not a three-picture deal for Reynolds, but just a one-off, and then Fox would have measured its success after the fact.

We know, on the other hand, that Green Lantern is a huge part of the plan going forward for DC, so Reynolds now has his franchise.

As for how it happened, Warner Bros. had options on all the actors in question, and each option expired in the past week or so, meaning they were free to take other roles during the allotted production window. Reynolds was the only actor who had his option renewed, perhaps because he's already attracting a lot more roles than he could have before The Proposal. So it was one of those situations where the studio kind of had to jump on their guy to avoid him getting away.

He'll make a great Hal Jordan, I believe, whether it's just in Green Lantern movies or if they broaden the reach for some Justice League stuff.

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , , , , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | Comment7 Comments |

Reader Comments (7)

hahah could you imagine Justin Timerblake as the green lantern? no one would take it seriously except 12 year olds.

Friday, July 10, 2009 | Unregistered Commenterlisa

JT's actually been pretty good. I hesitate to call him an actor at this point, and his movies haven't done much of anything, but in limited duty he's never been that bad in anything I've seen. But this probably isn't the right breakout role for him.

Friday, July 10, 2009 | Registered CommenterColin Boyd

$150-200 million! And they put Ryan Reynolds as the lead? What has been this guys biggest hit? There is a reason he hasn't made it big yet, he plays the same smart ass role every time. So does that mean Hal Jordan is going to be a smart ass? Well that would be just like the comic character. That last line was sarcasm.
His five minute role in Wolverine didn't prove to me that Deadpool should have his own movie. Actually, they fucked that character up so much, that now I think that there should be no Deadpool movie. He lost his head and had every mutants power by the end. DUMB!
Now get Shia Lebaou (or however you spell his name) for Flash, Megan Fox for Wonder Woman, the littlest Jonas Brother for Robin and some brand new douche bag for Superman. Then DC/Warner Bros. will have a shit load of good franchises. Again, last line... sarcasm.

Friday, July 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterCharcole

what he's done on snl is pretty funny and even though alpha dog and southland tales sucked he was pretty good in both of them.

Friday, July 10, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterZack Solomon

CRAP! REYNOLDS is a sellout! He is THE FLASH an if he cared so much for that character he'd drop GL! Like if....

Damn sellout! An he'll play himself not HAL! GL is gonna be a FLOP if he's HAL! If anyone = GUY GARDNER!? SAM WORTHINGTON FOR GREEN LANTERN!!! ; )

Saturday, July 11, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterLEEE777

I have to agree with Leee777, Reynolds doesn't make me think of Hal Jordan...especially not any kind of Hal that Geoff Johns has been writing for the past couple of years.

Saturday, July 11, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterAdam

Ryan Reynolds is such a great actor. But I like him as Deadpool and Im a Deadpool fan..I can't have my man be Green Lantern also. Ugh.

Saturday, July 11, 2009 | Unregistered CommenterScott

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