EDITORIAL: Six Directors Who Should Be Considered For The Next GREEN LANTERN Movie

EDITORIAL: Six Directors Who Should Be Considered For The Next GREEN LANTERN Movie

With Warner Bros. pondering the Emerald Knight's big screen future, I've compiled a list of six directors who I think are qualified to properly adapt the Green Lantern Corps in the near future (whether it's a sequel to last year's Green Lantern or a complete reboot).

Editorial Opinion
By PaulRom - Sep 01, 2012 05:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Green Lantern



After Warner Bros. Pictures released their underwhelming (though arguably underrated) Green Lantern movie last year, many have been wondering when and if Hal Jordan will get another big screen outing in the near future. A sequel hasn't been ruled out yet, but a reboot is certainly possible. Last we heard, WB were wondering whether or not to bring back Ryan Reynolds' Lantern or to relaunch the character. Personally, I want to see a sequel so we can see the Sinestro Corps War played out properly. Also,I believe that any flaws within the first film (lack of a proper villain, messy script, average directing, etc.) can easily be fixed in a sequel. However, I'm also open to a potential reboot. Whatever WB decide to do, they'll need to hire a proper director to bring the Emerald Knight back to the big screen.

One of the biggest mistakes while making Green Lantern was hiring Martin Campbell to direct. Campbell is far from a director (Casino Royale shows that he can direct action films excellently), but he obviously wasn't used to the sci-fi/fantasy setting of Green Lantern. To avoid this mistake, I listed six directors who are able to properly direct CGI/space heavy films, and also do a solid job at developing characters.



Joseph Kosinski
TRON: Legacy


Kosinski is no stranger to science fiction, as he directed the solid TRON sequel a couple years ago. He's also currently working on Oblivion, an adaptation of his sci-fi graphic novel starring Tom Cruise. The special effects for TRON: Legacy are incredible, and if Kosinski can provide CGI of similar quality to a Green Lantern film, it could be a visual masterpiece. Just give him the right script, and Kosinski is perhaps the ideal choice to direct the next Green Lantern movie.




Barry Sonnenfeld
Men In Black Trilogy


If Warner Bros. want the next Green Lantern film to be light hearted/comedy oriented, then Sonnenfeld is the right man for the job. He has plenty of sci-fi comedy experience with the Men In Black trilogy, and he's even reportedly attached to helm a movie based on DC Comics' Metal Men. As long as his Green Lantern isn't too comedy centered (IMO, it should be a solid mix of seriousness and comedy), Sonnenfeld would do a bang up job directing.



Brad Bird
The Incredibles


Bird is one of those directors who NEEDS to helm a comic book movie in the near future. After directing a couple of excellent films for Pixar, he recently made his stunning live action directorial debut with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. So clearly, comic book fans would want him to direct any Marvel or DC film soon. I almost included him on my list for possible directors for The Flash, but I figured that he would do just as well (if not better) with Green Lantern. Bird develops his characters properly, and never fails to direct his films in some sort of epic scale. The CBM genre could always use some of that formula.



Bryan Singer
First Two X-Men Movies


I'll probably be considered a heathen for including Singer, mostly because he previously did a mediocre job handling another DC Comics project, Superman Returns. As glad as I am that Singer didn't direct a sequel to that film, I recently realized that he could be a good fit for Green Lantern. He works rather well with ensemble casts/multiple characters (X-Men), and he's also a science fiction fan (he's made no secret about his love for Star Trek). Add in his prior experience with comic book movies, and you have a director who could make a decent Green Lantern movie.



Francis Lawrence
I Am Legend


Lawrence is probably the most unusual choice on the list. Even I wasn't sure about his directing a Green Lantern film when I first heard the suggestion. But after a while, the idea makes sense. Lawrence has worked with Warner Bros. before, he previously directed the comic book movie Constantine, and he's used to directing CGI-heavy movies. These would make him an ideal candidate for the Emerald Knight's next big screen outing. Lawrence will probably have much more mainstream exposure next year, as he's set to direct Lionsgate's sequel The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.



Gore Verbinski
Pirates Of The Caribbean Trilogy


If Warner Bros. want to go full on epic in their next Green Lantern movie, then Verbinski would be a solid choice. He certainly knows how to make an visually appealing epic blockbuster (the Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy proves that), and he also works well with large casts. As long as he doesn't make a Green Lantern movie's budget sky rocket (like what he recently did for Disney's The Lone Ranger, which currently has a $250M budget), then Verbinski should do a fine job crafting the space epic that the Emerald Knight needs.



Well, that's my list for who I think Warner Bros. should consider for the next Green Lantern movie when and if they decide to move forward with it. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and to vote on the poll below.



Prior Installments In My "Directors" Editorial:
Nine Directors Who Should Be Considered For JUSTICE LEAGUE
Six Directors Who Should Be Considered For WONDER WOMAN
Six Directors Who Should Be Considered For THE FLASH







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PaulRom
PaulRom - 9/1/2012, 6:00 AM
Yeah, the budget should be lower next time. Both GL and John Carter made the mistake of having massive budgets for a lesser known property. I think $150-175M would be an ideal budget for the next GL.
TheManWithBigEars
TheManWithBigEars - 9/1/2012, 6:04 AM
''Tron'' guy or 'I Am Legend' guy
The next take needs 2 b more serious last 1 was too jokey/borderline camp
Viltrumite
Viltrumite - 9/1/2012, 6:04 AM
The next movie should be a semi-sequel.Have it follow from plot-threads set up in the first movie, but makes changes where necessary. Just set most of it in space (which removes Blake Lively), tone down the comedy (besides the constant jokes Reynolds was good as Hal), and get rid of the CGI costumes. Mix that with a good script and you're good to go.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 9/1/2012, 6:06 AM
IF YOU GOT AN AWESOME STORY AND GREAT ACTION WITH AN EPIC FEEL TO IT AND THE PERFECT DIRECTOR, JUST MAKE IT REGARDLESS OF COST GO FOR REALIZING VISION.
Boekelaar
Boekelaar - 9/1/2012, 6:09 AM
Bird wouldn't do it, he's already got two films in the pipeline. But regardless I'm sure this film won't be made unless JL is a huge success and response for GL is similar to response for Hulk (which didn't even create a new solo film).
But I wouldn't blame the last director for the films poor performance, I wouldn't put it past WB putting their two cents in every few seconds. Afterall it was a big budget tent pole movie but the problem is that to make a great movie everyone needs to be heading in the same direction.
I'm just looking forward to JL because it should launch a whole bunch of new DC franchises.
MJPETTY7
MJPETTY7 - 9/1/2012, 6:10 AM
Hell no to Brian Singer...
Seven23
Seven23 - 9/1/2012, 6:13 AM
JJ abrams.
jazzman
jazzman - 9/1/2012, 6:14 AM
@PaulRom

also they need a better Special FX team why didnt WB hire ILM or Weta to help Green Lantern.

also i feel Neill Blomkamp would do a alright job in doing Green Lantern movie.
Boekelaar
Boekelaar - 9/1/2012, 6:15 AM
don't say snigering @Tea, only we can use that word :P
jazzman
jazzman - 9/1/2012, 6:31 AM
@teabag

even tho its funny but its so true Green Lantern powers is silly anything you can imagine lol
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 9/1/2012, 6:35 AM
THE GREEN LANTERN MOVIE..

RING CHOSE YOU DEAL WITH IT

"WHAT DO I GOT HERE? SELF DOUBT WHEN I EXUDE NO SELF DOUBT SHOOTING DOWN ROBOT JETS."

"HEY EVERYONE SINGLE OUT THE HUMAN, HE'S A FRIGG'N LOSER."

"IT APPEARS THAT IV'E BEEN TAKING DUMPS IN MY HEAD BECAUSE I LOOK LIKE SH!% BUT I AM SAYING I'M TOTALLY FINE, KILL YOU DAD."

"HELP ME SAFE MY PLANET." "WHY YOUR GONNA DO IT ALL BY YOURSELF ANYWAY AND RIENFORCMENTS WILL COME WHEN YOU FINISH."


"WILL IS STRONGER THAN FEAR BUT LETS JUST PUT ON THE YELLOW RING ANYWAY AND TOTALLY MISS THE POINT AFTER EVEN CONGRATULATING SOMEONE WHO PROVED IT TO YOU."
Ceejay
Ceejay - 9/1/2012, 6:37 AM
@teabag - Exactly!

GL isn't something that's ever going to win over mass audiences because he's the A-typical type f superhero they consider corny. Making silly shapes with a magic ring isn't cool unless you're a kid. Colour-coding emotions for power sources is not something the average moviegoer is gonna eat up like a fanboy, its too ridiculous! And trying to sell the whole need to say a rhyming Oath while charging up your magic ring with a "GREEN COLOURED LANTERN" kinda drives the whole ridiculous scenario home for the joe average.

GL may have his comic fans but all the greatest directors in the world will not be able to sell the concept as a hit movie unless they loose most of the corny kiddie stuff. Once you do that you no longer have GL as fanboys like him in the comic so this is one character best left in the funny pages!
marvel72
marvel72 - 9/1/2012, 6:47 AM
jj abrams or duncan jones would be my choices.
RobLiefeldFan
RobLiefeldFan - 9/1/2012, 6:53 AM
The only reason my sister and her college friends didn't see I because they grew up with the Justice League on Cartoon Network and he was black and they called him a badass character she then saw the DVD of green lantern and she said it reminded her of Adam West in space fighting a big-headed fish... -_-
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 9/1/2012, 6:58 AM
Brad Bird or Joseph Kosinski could be cool.

It needs great script too if its gonna be better than the first.
NOID
NOID - 9/1/2012, 7:10 AM
the story was awful, the cgi was awful... and don't get me started on that mask.... if there is a second film, they better switch everything up
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 9/1/2012, 7:13 AM
Underworld5454
Underworld5454 - 9/1/2012, 7:14 AM
You guys want to reduce the budget? One of the many flaws of Green Lantern is that there weren't enough space scenes. We were promised a space opera and what we got was a boring earth based movie. They need to make the next film focus on the space aspect and doing so won't come cheap. In order to go this route you can't reduce the budget.
SAT
SAT - 9/1/2012, 7:35 AM
I like the idea of Gore Verbinski, Barry Sonnenfeld, Brad Bird, or maybe Joseph Kosinski.
Ppl who dont like Ryan Reynolds have to remember that Hal is a ladies man, he's obnoxious, & impulsive.
Ryan Reynolds has a track record of playing that.
The humor in the GL movie was not great... But with better writing I think Ryan cld portray Hal as he is in the comics. And lets face it, this:



Is the only thing that will draw in crowds, not that I mind...
But really, WB will never give him up, he draws in to many ppl to switch him out for someone else. And yeah some argue that they cld just go the Hulk route in the Avengers & he just shows up being played by someone in the JLA, but only hard core Hulk fans cared for the movie. The success of Iron man out weighed the recasting of Hulk. And average movie goers will already be irriated bu the Batman recasting so recasting GL wld just make them not see/like the movie, and WB wants is MONEY, as does everyother studio (Which u canbt blame them but whatever,)


............And Sinestro was awesome so why recast if you dont have to?
Kayo
Kayo - 9/1/2012, 7:54 AM
the guy for the job is Duncan Jones or Matt Reeves
gmoney0505
gmoney0505 - 9/1/2012, 8:01 AM
GL didnt do good because of bad script and bad reviews. It made its budget back of 200 mil which means it has an audience but just wasnt good enough for more people to see it. It got bad rap from the first trailer and when people actually saw the movie, majority will say it was not as bad as people make it out to be but not as good as it could be either. Gl can do great at the BO. Needs a better script and not rush things like his training and stuff.
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 9/1/2012, 8:04 AM
I would be pretty [frick]ing scarred if Bryan Singer was hired to do Green Lantern 2 because of Superman Returns. I'd be interested in seeing Francis Lawrence do GL2 considering how much I loved Constantine.
Jolt17
Jolt17 - 9/1/2012, 8:13 AM
Yeah, remember the days when we praise Singer for his X-Men movies, people?

These are interesting picks, anyway. Not common - and not that I agree with all of 'em, either - but original enough, and I like that. Lawrence, Verbinski, or...yeah, Singer, for me. The guy can make good movies, really.

Brad Bird is my pick for a Justice League movie; but, if he REALLY ends up with that project, I really won't mind him taking the spin-off's/follow-up DC movies, too.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 9/1/2012, 8:15 AM
Reboot this shit out of this movie. I can not stress thsi enough. Why would you want a good sequel to a shitty first film? It would just ruin the whole trilogy. GL was one of the worst origin stories of all time. He trained for like 5 minutes.
AlternateNo4
AlternateNo4 - 9/1/2012, 8:15 AM
@Tea and Ceejay you guys are two of the sharpest knives on this site but i think you're selling the concept short if you don't think it can be translated to the screen. look at the early attempts at spidey, cap, even the 60s batman... ALL comics are grade-A cheese until you find the guy that figures out the way to do it right.

with this one? the cast was fine but everything about the movie was conceived wrong, from the claymation-look surface renders on the cgi characters, to the focus on hal's fear and self-doubt, to the goofy overacting Campbell squeezed out of every one of the actors because clearly he thought that's what a cbm should be. campbell DID have a good track record but right from the start it was obvious that he was going down the wrong road... every interview he talked about bright colors, light hearted humor, and hal's unwilling-hero arc. yes it's a magic ring that makes boxing gloves, but it can work if it's treated with awe, gravity, and healthy doses of science jargon AND metaphysical gobbledegook. there was no way Campbell could sell it in a movie filled with cheesy cartoon characters like "generic senator," "overexcitable science lady," and that simpering embarassing rendition of Hammond.

you may be right that not every comic can work on the screen, but spider-man, iron man, and dark knight worked because they found what worked in the comics and KEPT IT. none of them are direct translations but they DO match the tone of the books. but the GL they put on the screen was NOT the tone of the comics at ALL. hal may be a joker, but GL is a heavy story with high stakes, an epic scope and a constant theme of death, despair and betrayal. that weight would balance out the magic ring just fine.
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 9/1/2012, 8:43 AM
I have to say this is one of the rare times I will disagree with Tea. If Hollywood can make successful films that people love that deal with "The Force", light sabers, a big hairy Wookiee, Darth Vader and other strange creatures in a space setting, I don't see why Green Lantern should be such a tough sell. It just needs a better script and direction, as far as I am concerned. After seeing Ryan Reynolds in Safe House, I think he is a pretty decent actor, but didn't have the greatest script to work with, so I would like to see him remain in the role. My two pennies worth.
chopfer15
chopfer15 - 9/1/2012, 9:06 AM
Also Campbell and the writers missed the core of Hal Jordan's character. He isn't a reluctant hero, and he does not "real of fear". Hal is happiest when he is in the middle of the shit. He loves being the GL. He doesn't even recognize or admit that he is capable of fear until after he dies and comes back. Best way I can describe this is when...
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 9/1/2012, 9:26 AM
I would be okay with the Jon Stewart route with the next GL. It would add some diversity to the JL team as well.
jimpinto24
jimpinto24 - 9/1/2012, 10:00 AM
I would prefere WB/DC go with a sequel instead of a reboot. For me, I enjoyed Ryan Reynolds performance as Hal Jordon/Green Lantern. Yes the script was mediocre. Yes Ryan Reynolds needed direction. But with Brad Bird as the director, I believe the sequel will be better. Geoff Johns could have step in, and gave direction to Martin Campbell. But I understand why Geoff Johns didn't do it, because he didn't want to step on any toes. Other directors that would be good choice to helm the Green Lantern 2. JJ Abrams, Josh Tranks, or they could choose Geoff Johns to be the director. Geoff wrote the Green Lantern comics. (Before he steped down as the writer) So he would know what direction to take the Green Lantern sequel.
FOOM
FOOM - 9/1/2012, 10:11 AM
The only hope is to wipe the slate clean and reboot with an entirely new cast and an entirely new vision. The GL movie was barely better than Legends of the Superheroes.
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 9/1/2012, 10:13 AM
Other than Brad bird andFrancis lawrence al of these guys are useless. Someone get JJ abrams or Matt reeves on the phone
FOOM
FOOM - 9/1/2012, 10:14 AM
BTW, I completely agree with that teabag fella on this. GL's premise, like with so many DC characters, just don't lead themselves to effective CBMs.
lokibane2012
lokibane2012 - 9/1/2012, 10:37 AM
@gmoney0505 actually it didn't make its budget back. you're forgetting the money paid to theatres and marketing costs which add up to 100-150mil. So the movie probably was a huge loss financially.
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