Credit: Inside the MagicRyan Reynolds has pretty much run the superhero gauntlet.
Related: Everything We Know About DCU’s New ‘Batman’ Reboot, ‘The Brave and the Bold’
With Kang the Conqueror actor Jonathan Majors no longer with the Marvel studio and Marvel President Kevin Feige considering a shift from the Multiverse Saga to a new (likely) Mutant Saga featuring X-Men characters, Avengers 5, or Avengers: Doomsday (formerly titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty) is currently in development, set to lead to Avengers: Secret Wars with Robert Downey Jr. as big bad Doctor Doom/Victor von Doom.
The exits of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man/Tony Stark, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, and Chris Evans’ Captain America/ have embarked the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) on a new era called the Multiverse Saga.
Longtime Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds actually began his superhero journey over at DC, however — specifically, at the much-maligned Green Lantern (2011), where he played the role of Hal Jordan/Green Lantern himself — to rather abysmal (or impressive) 25% on Rotten Tomatoes.
On the other side of the superhero spectrum in terms of general popularity and critical reception to Marvel Studios’ MCU, there is DC’s 2000s and 2010s entries before the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) — Green Lantern a prime example.
Following the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) merger, the studio experienced significant restructuring, leading to the departure of Walter Hamada, the former head of WB’s DC film division, and the elimination of director Zack Snyder’s Justice League or “Snyderverse”.
James Gunn, renowned for directing the Guardians of the Galaxy series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for The Walt Disney Company and The Suicide Squad (2021)—distinct from the 2016 film featuring Jared Leto as the Joker—has succeeded Hamada, alongside co-CEO Peter Safran.
Now, according to Nexus Point News, DC Studios has a chance not to fumble the bag this time, with the original IP of a movie that Reynolds himself disparages and openly deems “bad.”
As Peacemaker Season 2 is in production and Superman wraps filming, the DCU is looking towards broadening its future. Alongside movies Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and Batman franchise entry The Brave and the Bold directed by The Flash (2022) director Andy Muschietti, the DC Universe will expand into the realm of television as well.
In a bid to counter Disney+’s (Disney Plus) multiple Marvel Television series, DC Studios will reportedly release a Green Lantern reboot called Lanterns, a new HBO Original series. This time, Lanterns will explore the DC Comics Lantern Corps storyline, to allegedly “begin filming sometime in the first quarter of 2025” — specifically, in January.
Nexus Point News shares on the upcoming Lanterns plot, set to span across eight episodes:
The True Detective-inspired series will follow veteran Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, and rookie, John Stewart, as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
Interestingly, Ryan Reynolds’ character (and arguably most well-known) character to take on the mantle of Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, will seemingly be played by an older actor in their forties, acting in a mentor role as an older Green Lantern to younger John Stewart (likely to be a star in their thirties). Allegedly:
… The role of Hal Jordan is intended to go to a noteworthy name. Casting on Hal Jordan is currently the priority with casting for John, following it.
Additionally, filming will reportedly take place in Atlanta, which will “hopefully allow for more opportunities to shoot on location, as Atlanta is part of the American heartland.”
Are you excited for a new Green Lantern series, and franchise reboot from DC? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
More on Green Lantern (2011)
“In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil’s might beware my power — Green Lantern’s light!”
Green Lantern (2011) is a superhero film directed by Martin Campbell and based on the DC comic book character of the same name. The movie features Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, a test pilot who becomes a member of the Green Lantern Corps. He is chosen to protect the universe using his newfound powers to manifest whatever he imagines physically.
The film also stars Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, Hal Jordan’s love interest and a fellow pilot; Peter Sarsgaard as Hector Hammond, a scientist who becomes a villain; and Mark Strong as Sinestro (of the Sinestro Corps). Additionally, Geoffrey Rush provides the voice for Tomar-Re, a Green Lantern who mentors Hal, and Clancy Brown voices the menacing Parallax.
The Lantern Corps in the DC Comics universe are diverse organizations each powered by a different emotional spectrum. The Green Lantern Corps, wielding the green light of willpower, are universe protectors, while the Sinestro Corps harness the yellow light of fear. The Red Lantern Corps draws on the red light of rage, and the Blue Lantern Corps uses the blue light of hope.
The Orange Lantern Corps embodies the light of avarice, the Indigo Tribe represents compassion, and the Star Sapphire Corps channel the light of love. The Black Lantern Corps, driven by death, and the White Lantern Corps, powered by life, complete the spectrum, each contributing uniquely to the DC Universe’s rich lore.