Written By Mikey Sutton • Editor-in-Chief • Owner
Zack Snyder’s dark vision and Ryan Reynolds’ goofy Green Lantern are in contrast to one another. However, Zack Snyder nearly directed Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern in his Justice League.
Out of all DC Films’ missed opportunities, this will haunt fans forever. Well, it probably won’t. In fact, many might think they dodged a bullet. I’m not among them, though.
Critics and comic-book readers bashed 2011’s Green Lantern.
Director Martin Campbell previously made the terrific The Mask of Zorro and Casino Royale. Daniel Craig made his James Bond debut in Casino Royale. 007 purists praise Casino Royale as among the best Bond adventures. With Campbell at the steering wheel, what could go wrong?
Zack Snyder Nearly Included Ryan Reynolds In Justice League
Image: Warner Bros.
Campbell later admitted he wasn’t right for the job. He said:
The film did not work, really. That’s the point, and I’m partly responsible for that. I shouldn’t have done it. Because with something like Bond – I love Bond, and I watched every Bond film before I ever directed it. Superhero movies are not my cup of tea, and for that reason, I shouldn’t have done it. But directors always have to carry the can for the failures. What do they say? Success has many fathers, failure has one. And that’s me.
Warner Bros. also trashed original screenwriter and director Greg Berlanti’s script. Berlanti later co-created DC’s Arrowverse for the CW.
Because of the poor reviews, Green Lantern tanked at the box office. Consequently, there hasn’t been a Green Lantern movie since. On the other hand, Ryan Reynolds became a superstar with the Deadpool movies.
Fast forward. Zack Snyder wanted to include Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern in his Justice League. Zack Snyder revealed:
Well, the truth is I didn’t really get… [Ryan Reynolds and I] never really talked. So, my idea was there was going to be, if possible, there was going to be a Green Lantern in the movie. We started to kick around this idea, like, maybe if we brought Ryan in there could be two Green Lanterns in the movie. We could suggest a little more of the [Green Lantern] Corps kind of concept. So that’s the reality.
Zack Snyder Nearly Included Ryan Reynolds In Justice League
Image: Warner Bros.
In spite of its damaged reputation, Green Lantern is engaging popcorn fare. Moreover, they nailed the origin with Abin Sur. Certainly, Sinestro (Mark Strong) should’ve been the main foe. However, Warner Bros. hoped for a sequel.
But the financial loss killed those chances.
In spite of that, Zack Snyder wanted Ryan Reynolds back as Green Lantern. Without a doubt, he’d have a more serious tone.