Back in 2023, more than a decade after the release of Ryan Reynolds’ infamous Green Lantern movie, James Gunn announced his plans for a Max series, Lanterns, focusing on the Emerald Knights. Although not much has been revealed about the potential show, rumors have floated around regarding the casting choice.
In a surprising turn of events, DC fans are rallying behind one actor from Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern to appear in James Gunn’s upcoming Lanterns show. And it’s none other than Mark Strong, who previously played the iconic villain Sinestro in the 2011 movie.
James Gunn’s Lanterns Can Deliver Sinestro as the Villain
Alongside his upcoming Superman movie starring David Corenswet, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn revealed the official creative team is working simultaneously for one of the big DC Universe TV shows that is currently in development. As the announcement from Gunn’s official Instagram account hit social media about the potential Lanterns show, it sparked rumors about casting and characters.
While it was previously announced that Lanterns would focus on John Stewart and Hal Jordan as the leading characters, netizens are now curious about the potential villain in the show. That’s when ScreenRant teased the idea of delivering Sinestro as the main antagonist in James Gunn’s upcoming TV series.
Previously, in Ryan Reynolds‘ 2011 movie, Sinestro was a major character portrayed by Mark Strong, who acted as the commanding officer of the Green Lantern Corps. However, in a turn of events, while initially persuading the Guardians of the Universe to forge a yellow ring wielding the energy of fear to combat the rampaging Parallax, Sinestro was later seen putting on the yellow ring during Green Lantern‘s end-credits scene.
Fans Campaign for Mark Strong’s Sinestro in DC’s Lanterns
The cliffhanger end-credit scene from Ryan Reynolds’ infamous 2011 movie thus left Sinestro up as the villain for a potential Green Lantern sequel. But since DC never released a second installment after Reynolds’ standalone film turned into a major disaster, fans now believe Lanterns could be the remedy for that.
Considering Green Lantern left an opening for Mark Strong’s Sinestro to complete his story, fans are now campaigning for the actor to appear in James Gunn’s potential Lanterns. Strong’s performance as the complex and nuanced Sinestro left a lasting impression on fans, who are now eager to see him reprise the role.
I can’t imagine them finding someone better than Mark Strong as Sinestro for James Gunn’s Green Lantern show pic.twitter.com/LEcY7KZ6e0
— BLURAYANGEL 🦇 (@blurayangel) May 25, 2024
They wasted him in Shazam! He can play so so many characters from DC roaster
— See the Good Shri (@shrispy24) May 25, 2024
Yes. Mark Strong was a perfect Sinestro
— bob jones (@bob123bj) May 26, 2024
He was FANTASTIC!
— Bundy Is Just A Nickname (@TheBundyWasHere) May 26, 2024
Fly it back.
— Bowman (@jBowmancouver) May 26, 2024
With James Gunn’s reputation for breathing new life into beloved characters, fans believe Mark Strong’s Sinestro would be a perfect addition to the show. Additionally, since fans believe Strong’s portrayal of Sinestro in the 2011 film was underutilized, they rally behind the actor to offer him a second chance. Further, with Strong’s proven talent, his casting could be a game-changer for the upcoming Lanterns.
