The idea is simple. Starting from 1945, and recasting every 10 years, I pick those that I feel would make excellent Green Lanterns.
However, this one's slightly different as the men that have gone by the title have changed over the years. I've made sure to include Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner in the years befitting them.
Info from Wiki
1945
Alan Scott
A mystical "green flame" fell to Earth in ancient China. The voice of the flame prophesied that it would act three times: once to bring death, once to bring life and once to bring power. By 1940, after having already fulfilled the first two-thirds of this prophecy, the flame fell into the hands of Alan Scott. He adopts a colorful costume.
Buster Crabbe (age 37) as Alan Scott
Known at the time for... Flash Gordon; Buck Rogers
Why not add Green Lantern to his resume? I prefer Scott in his 30's as a rookie. He is a great action star who was very exciting for his time.
1955
Guy Madison (33) as Alan Scott
Known... The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
An impressive run on this show and dashing "Hollywood" looks led me to choosing him.
1965
Hal Jordan
This Green Lantern was Hal Jordan, who was given a power ring by a dying alien and who became a member of the Green Lantern Corps, an interstellar organization of police overseen by the Guardians of the Universe.
Keir Dullea (29) as Hal Jordan
Known... Bunny Lake is Missing
3 years later, he would gain major popularity in 2001: A Space Odyssey and in Bunny he became a cult phenomenon. Hal is anywhere from 27-35 for me. I prefer Hal 28-32 years old as a rookie.
1975
Timothy Dalton (29) as Hal Jordan
Known... Permission To Kill
This Fancast has taken me a very long time. I was working on Batman, Superman, Rivalries, Wonder Woman and this one simultaneously. One can plainly see the order of which I finished. The whole Lantern cast came rather easy (I'd say Rivalries was the easiest as I knew who I wanted every time, than Batman because I live and breathe the mythos and than this one) EXCEPT for this fu*k*g decade).
It was very hard too find a suitable Jordan. I had Michael Douglas who exemplified the attitude but he was not Lantern material. There had to be better. I wanted a tough guy. The only James Bond that has ever interested me are the new ones starring Craig. He is very hardened and stays away from exploding pens and crap (always dislike that about Batman too). Anyway, I've heard that Craig wanted to be less Roger Moore and more (no pun intended) Dalton.
I started reading about the Dalton-era of Bond and knew if I saw one of his I'd like them. Wow, sorry, all of that lead me to choosing him here...sorry.
1985
John Stewart
John Stewart is an architect and veteran U.S. Marine who was selected by the Guardians as Hal Jordan’s backup after Guy Gardner was seriously injured in a disaster. Although Jordan objected after seeing that Stewart had a belligerent attitude to authority figures, the Guardians stood by their selection.
Carl Weathers (37) as John Stewart
Known... Rocky movies
As an ex-marine I like Stewart in his upper 30's. Whoever I chose hade to be the most intimidating of my GL's. Weathers is physically awesome and a really great actor. As an Italian, Rocky is my movie bible and that makes Weathers untouchable to me.
1995
Guy Gardner
As Sur died, his power ring sought and found two potential successors: Guy Gardner and Hal Jordan. Jordan was nearer to the crash, so he was chosen over Gardner. Gardner was relegated to backup status should anything happen to Jordan. During an earthquake, Gardner was hit by a bus while attempting to rescue one of his students. During his recovery, the Guardians recruited John Stewart to be Jordan's new backup.
Kiefer Sutherland (29) as Guy Gardner
Known... A Few Good Men
C'mon, it's Keifer freakin' Sutherland. Whatever age he was in '95 was going to be Guy's perfect age, in other words, he was my ONLY choice.
2005
Kyle Rayner
Rayner was found by the last surviving Guardian of the Universe, Ganthet. Ganthet gave Kyle the last working Green Lantern power ring that would allow him to conjure any form of matter or energy through sheer force of will. Ganthet's reasons for choosing Kyle to bear the ring have never been made completely apparent, aside from Rayner having been in the right place at the right time: prior to bequeathing the ring upon Rayner, Ganthet simply utters, "You will have to do."
Henry Cavill (22) as Kyle Rayner
Known... The Count of Monte Crisco
You can call him Superman all day, I don't care. Rayner needed to be early 20's and not intimidating looking but, however, get the job done and, at the end of the day, be a hero we want to watch. The highly skilled actor was great at a young age and would've been great bring respect to a character that never really got it.
2015
James Lafferty (30 as of 2015) as HAL JORDAN
Known... One Tree Hill
Only at 26, It's quite possible that he would be a great Hal Jordan, who has become, once again the iconic a flagship Green Lantern.