Make ‘Green Lantern’ DCEU Canon, You Cowards!
2011’s Green Lantern movie is one of the most hated live-action superhero movies ever – but should it be? Hal deserves a shot at the DCEU.
Alright, everyone, I woke up today and I chose chaos. Do you know who else appears to be choosing chaos every morning? Warner Bros. Discovery. Near-finished projects have been canceled, including Batgirl, the HBO Max feature that was supposed to crack the DCEU multiverse wide open. With yet another promise of a “10-year plan” for the DCEU, I’m inclined to go full mischief on the dumpster fire and suggest something spicy. Just like the MCU shrugged and said “okay, that Edward Norton Hulk movie is canon and we’re making Abomination funny,” so too should the DCEU make 2011’s Green Lantern movie DCEU canon. And I’ve got five good reasons why. Let’s go, haters!
5. We Need More of Mark Strong’s Sinestro
Listen, I just want to start by saying that I love me some Hard Stanley Tucci doing a mean DC villain. Sinestro is one of the biggest, baddest, and most compelling super villains in the DC universe. He was an excellent Sinestro; he was sharp, observant, and a little patronizing. A+, no notes. And for all the goofy CGI crimes committed by this movie, Strong’s Sinestro looked pretty good.
Strong recently said in 2019 that he was pretty bummed that Lantern didn’t take off because he really liked playing Sinestro. So give this guy a yellow ring. I’m ready for Mark Strong to bring the fear to the DCEU.
4. We’re All Desperate for a Green Lantern Makeover
This was not the look. Sure, the CGI is rough. What in the actual hell was the thinking behind a mask that formed over his eyelids? It was bothersome. And those suits look like LED-green versions of the weird mind-travel suits from The Cell. The musculature-like pattern is bizarre, and it has been rightfully dragged all across the internet and back.
It would be great to just, you know, see a live-action Green Lantern suit that looks good. For whatever reasons, the CGI in the 2011 movie failed to meet our expectations. But it wouldn’t create any continuity conflicts to update the CGI used for various character designs and, of course, those atrocious suits.
3. The 2020s are the Era of the Military Flight Sequence
Hal Jordan is a hell of a pilot, and 2011’s Green Lantern did its best to capture that. Thanks to Top Gun: Maverick, we all have a new incredibly high standard for just how entertaining a military flight sequence can be. But if we reintroduce Reynolds’ Hal Jordan into the DCEU, we could get some really stellar flight sequences. The script and tone of the Green Lantern movie couldn’t quite connect the in-action flight stunts to drive home Hal’s fearlessness. A new take on the character and a net attitude could turn out an incredible flight scene, and I, for one, need to see it.
2. The Return of Taika Waititi as Hal’s American BFF
Except he’s not American, he’s actually been from New Zealand all along. Because one of the things that sent me into uncontrollable giggle fits while watching Green Lantern was Taika Waititi trying to do an American accent. It’s really not good, and therefore it’s great.
Since this movie, Waititi has become well-beloved for several roles, many of which highlight his silliness and general brand of wholesomely soft masculinity. Imagine if they let him just do that, but as Hal Jordan’s best friend. My only request is that he ditch the accent and just insist he’s been speaking that way the entire time.
1. Ryan Reynolds Could be a Great Hal Jordan
For all of its flaws, Green Lantern was a really well-cast movie. Good casting makes for a great foundation for reintroducing a superhero into a new universe. With scripting that doesn’t take itself so damn seriously, Reynolds’ sense of humor and charm could have really shone. In fact, DC should be doing all the butt-kissing it can to capitalize on Reynold’s positive image – something DC wasn’t really equipped to do in 2011. Someone WBD who still has a head on their shoulders, please acknowledge Ryan Reynolds’ status as a precious, foul-mouthed little jellybean. Write a Hal Jordan that’s good and let Reynolds make it great.
Actually, I forgot, that can’t happen. It’s a real shame Reynolds is no longer around to play the role since Deadpool unalived him at the end of the second movie. Rest in peace, my guy.
