2011’s Green Lantern movie was terrible. Its star, Ryan Reynolds, has openly mocked it – even going as far as having Deadpool shoot him before he could read the script for it at the climax of Deadpool 2. Rather excitingly, however, the Green Lantern Corps is set to be reintroduced to cinema audiences in James Gunn’s upcoming DC Universe.
Regular Gunn collaborator Nathan Fillion will play one of the Corps’ angriest members, Guy Gardner, in 2025’s Superman: Legacy, and a television series called Lanterns will be part of the franchise.
The door is, therefore, open to every Green Lantern ever seen in DC’s comic books to appear in live-action. Movie audiences have met characters like Hal Jordan, Kilowog, Abin Sur, and Tomar-Re. Still, countless other great characters in the intergalactic law enforcement organization deserve a chance to wow live-action superhero fans. This piece will look at six of them.
6. Bzzd
Every James Gunn project needs quirky characters. The Suicide Squad was teeming with them, and Guardians of the Galaxy had Groot and Rocket Racoon. One character who would bring quirkiness in abundance to Gunn’s DC Universe is Bzzd. Bzzd is a tiny fly-like Green Lantern from Apiaton, and he, somewhat humorously, tends to partner with the planet-sized Lantern Mogo (whom it would also be great to see) in battle. He briefly appeared in a non-speaking cameo in Green Lantern, but a more prominent role going forward would be superb. Bzzd is fiercely determined to fight evil and often says humorous things that would entertain movie fans enormously.
5. Jessica Cruz
There was a distinct lack of notable female Green Lanterns in the 2011 movie, which James Gunn’s DC Universe must rectify – and Gunn’s use of strong female characters makes her perfect for his franchise. Jessica Cruz is arguably the most prominent female Green Lantern in DC’s comic books, and her unconventional recruitment into the core would make for exciting live-action viewing. After a horrifying experience, Cruz attracts the Ring of Volthoom, which belonged to the evil Power Ring of the Crime Syndicate of America when they crossed dimensions into DC’s prime Earth. A talented survivalist before becoming a superhero, Cruz can find ways out of the most challenging scenarios and would be a handy addition to a live-action team.
4. Simon Baz
Simon Baz is one of the more recent Green Lantern creations in DC’s comic books, debuting on-panel in 2012. Hollywood severely lacks Muslim superheroes, and Baz would go a long way to rectifying that. He’s a practicing Muslim and a Lebanese immigrant, and his inclusion in James Gunn’s DC Universe would do wonders for diversity, equality, and inclusivity in Hollywood. Even for a Green Lantern, Baz’s willpower is considerably strong – he even achieved what many thought was impossible and awakened his brother from a coma using will alone. Demonstrating feats like that in live-action would be a treat for audiences.
3. Kyle Rayner
Kyle Rayner is one of only a few Green Lanterns whose popularity is equal to Hal Jordan, whom Ryan Reynolds played in the 2011 movie. He’s a particularly great contender for live-action portrayal, as Rayner is a gifted artist who made his living drawing comic books before he became a Green Lantern, meaning his constructs are among the most creative and imaginative in the Corps – and they’d look fantastic with the CGI in Hollywood. Truthfully, it’s a mystery why he hasn’t already made his live-action debut. On a fun note, some recent fan art imagined Tom Cruise as Rayner – now, that would be an intriguing casting.
2. Alan Scott
The first Green Lantern in DC’s comic books was Alan Scott, who made his first appearance way back in 1940. He originally wore a mystical ring, different from the Power Rings most readers are familiar with, but has been reinvented in various ways. He’s a superhero archetype in that he’s brave, handsome, dynamic, creative, and intelligent, making him ideal for live-action portrayal. His inclusion in the DC Universe would be a lovely homage to the Golden and Silver Ages of DC Comics, and he’d perhaps attract a different generation of fans to James Gunn’s new franchise, which would be terrific.
1. John Stewart
John Stewart was DC Comics’ first African-American superhero, paving the way for many others and making him an essential part of DC history. His original appearance was modeled on iconic actor Sidney Poitier, suggesting it’s his destiny to appear in a Hollywood movie. Wayne T. Carr played the character in Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 2021. However, his scenes were removed from the final film, frustrating Stewart’s fans. A belligerent character with a reluctance to conform and a disdain for authority figures, Stewart would be enormously entertaining in live-action. Moreover, Sterling K. Brown has openly stated his willingness to play him, which would be awesome.
