New Info on Sinestro and Green Lantern Rumors

Published by Jeff Leins on: October 18th, 2009

This weekend, rumors started circulating that casting is moving forward on Martin Campbell’s The Green Lantern for a key role and a certain Man of Steel might make an appearance.  I thought I’d provide an update with what others have found and what I know so far.

The Warner Bros production was recently struck with a bit of a dilemma on shooting locations due to the falling U.S. dollar.  If the studio’s going to sink $150 million into this they want to find the place where it’ll mean something, so the planned start next month in Australia will be reassessed.  Maybe a Mexican or Canadian destination for Ryan Reynolds and friends?

Any way, I said new info and I’m writing about old garbage.  The big news now is that a front runner has emerged for Sinestro.  According to a source tip to Harry Knowles at Ain’t It Cool News, Jackie Earle Haley is leading the list.

This has not been confirmed, and in fact Collider spoke to him the very next day on the red carpet of Spike TV’s Scream Awards.  (Haley is nominated for playing Rorschach in Watchmen.)  When asked about playing Sinestro, Haley seemed shocked, if not a bit honored, but said this was the first he’s hearing the rumor  He said he hadn’t even screen tested for it.  At the end of the interview, he said, “You guys are out in front of it and I don’t know anything about it yet. If something comes up I’ll let you know.” (Be sure to check out Collider’s video for more from Haley.)

I agree with Harry that he would be perfect casting (though Sinestro and John Waters looks eerily similar) and hopefully Haley will eventually win the role, but for now this one’s murky at best.

In the script, the studio and screenwriters Greg Berlanti, Michael Green, and Marc Guggenheim were careful when introducing Sinestro.  He’s a supporting role — even a mentor — to the Reynolds character, but he is not the main villain.  The key to his own special powers are suggested though and will set up a Sinestro versus Lantern face-off if the series continues.

The other rumor from the website is Superman will be making a cameo appearance in the Green Lantern film.  Though it makes sense for DC Comics to be thinking crossovers to compete with Marvel’s mounting Avengers movie, the possibility of Superman popping up for anything exciting, like discussing a Justice League, is simply contradictory to what Warner Bros has been saying recently (especially since they already tried and failed at a League movie).

Plus the cameo isn’t what you think when you read their article.  The Green Lantern and Superman aren’t patting each other on the back for jobs well done or striking a superhero pose together after the credits roll.

Instead, the power ring that gives a Lantern his abilities flies around the world searching for a suitable candidate before choosing Hal Jordon (Reynolds).  In its unseen flight, the ring hesitates briefly on a “glasses-wearing reporter from the Daily Planet.”  Clark Kent.  This is likely the cameo their source is referring to, and it’s nothing more than a sight gag for the audience.  I doubt WB will excite fans by casting a name — like the rumored Jon Hamm — since he’d only be on screen for mere seconds, but I don’t know at this point.

However, a detail that should get a reaction from comic book readers, is that the ring will circle and re-circle a character identified as Guy Gardner.  For those of you who didn’t read Green Lantern #59, Gardner is the second choice after Jordan and ultimately serves as a backup Green Lantern on Earth.  In the comics, Jordan later learns of Gardner and the two become friends.

On top of that, a note in the early script draft reads “a hero we’ll meet in the second film” in reference to Gardner.  If the June 2008 draft is to be believed, Campbell and an optimistic WB will be looking for a suitable actor to take on the speaking role should this movie’s success warrant a second in the series.