Green Lantern

ScreenCrush’s Comic Strip is a weekly roundup of the hottest superhero movie/TV news items. From Marvel to DC and points in between, if it pertains to costumed comic book heroes, we’re covering it here, bringing you our expert analysis. This week, learn a little more about the Doctor Strange movie, ponder that newly rumored Green Lantern casting, and see what odd gifts Jared Leto bought his Suicide Squad co-stars.

Rumors have been circulating for some time now (even as recent as the past week) that Warner Bros.’ new Green Lantern movie will focus on not one, but multiple Green Lanterns, in keeping with the comics. Chris Pine has been rumored for the role of Hal Jordan since last year, but Fast and Furious star Tyrese Gibson has been lobbying for a role in WB’s reboot as well. It looks like he may have gotten it.

As one of their first attempts to compete with Marvel Studios and their growing Cinematic Universe, DC and Warner Bros. released Green Lantern, a 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds as test-pilot-turned-super-powered-space-cop Hal Jordan. The movie, which was fairly faithful to the DC comics, introduced Hal and the entire Green Lantern Corps, a whole force of space cops from all over the universe, including popular Green Lantern characters like Sinestro (Mark Strong) and Kilowog (Michael Clarke Duncan). The movie was designed to launch a new franchise of Green Lantern adventures (it even ended on a cliffhanger teasing Sinestro’s turn from hero to villain). This was going to be the start of a brave new era of DC films!

A great movie villain can elevate the hero and his journey. A great villain is the key to conflict, and conflict fuels an effective story, and an effective story is what allows a movie to linger on long after a movie has finished screening. This is all especially true in the realm of the superhero movie, where characters who can do impossible things need a bad guy who can realistically threaten them. All of the truly great superhero movies have a villain who balances the heroes, a sinister force who gives them something to fight. This list is not about those guys. It’s about the other guys. The ones that suck.

We’re a little over a week away from the biggest movie of the summer, Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. In less than ten years, Marvel has built a powerful brand in Hollywood thanks to their great casting, sharp writing, and an ability to distill decades of comic books down to fun, accessible adventures. A big part of that translation process is the look of their movies, and particularly the look of their characters. And that’s all about costumes, which is a particular specialty of Marvel’s. Between Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the rest, they’ve got some sharp-dressed heroes.

As with all rumors, we should remember to take this with the recommended dose of salt, but that doesn’t necessarily make it any less interesting. We already know that WB is planning a new Green Lantern movie—sans Ryan Reynolds, hashtag blessed—for 2020, but that’s one piece of casting that hasn’t fallen into place just yet. Rumor has it that WB is eyeing another franchise star to wear Hal Jordan’s ring, and that person is Chris Pine

There’s something you don’t see every day. That astounding image comes from the funeral of one Renato Garcia, a Puerto Rican resident who was so fond of dressing as the DC Comics superhero Green Lantern that his relatives embalmed him, put him in the costume, and propped him up at his wake. Even in death, no evil shall escape his sight.

Not to be outdone by the big 'Captain America 3'/Civil War announcement from earlier this week, Warner Bros. dropped some superhero news of their own. They've confirmed their 2017, 2018 and 2019 superhero movies as well as announced some new casting for members of the new Justice League.

The trailer premiere for the animated movie 'Justice League: Throne of Atlantis' has emerged, and with it comes our first look at the sequel to DC's 'Justice League: War.' Hey, it's no 'Batman vs. Superman' or the live-action 'Justice League' trailer, but Warner Bros...

Comic-Con 2014 is just around the corner, which means lots of big announcements are on the way. While Marvel has certainly been on top of their game as far as carefully planning the phases of their superhero properties, we've wondered exactly what DC and Warner Bros.' game plan was for the next few years, now that they've got 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' in motion. Now, new reports have emerged regarding WB's upcoming slate of comic book movies, including 'Justice League,' a 'Wonder Woman' solo movie, and a Green Lantern and Flash team-up.