EDITORIAL: Why the Rock as JOHN STEWART Makes Sense

EDITORIAL: Why the Rock as JOHN STEWART Makes Sense

Dwayne Johnson--the guy who's prick-teasing everyone about playing John Stewart. While such a casting would prove to be controversial, could it be for the better?

Editorial Opinion
By GliderMan - Feb 05, 2014 05:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Green Lantern



It started with a tweet.



Since said tweet everyone's wondering who the role could possibly be. Lobo, Black Adam, Lex Luthor--all potential candidates. But then we look back a few months ago, and he posts a picture with the hashtag #JohnStewartCanStillWhupSupermansAss.
While nothing is confirmed, the casting of the Rock as John Stewart would be highly controversial. John Stewart in the comics is not only black, but he's one of DC's first black superheroes. And, well.. the Rock is only half black.

I'm probably only telling you things that you already know, so let's get to the meat of this article, shall we? I've come with two good reasons why Johnson would make a good John Stewart.

This dudes a phenomenal actor



As of this writing, Dwayne Johnson has been in almost 30 movies, not to mention television cameos and his time on WWE. He usually likes to portray the badasses, but he's even played the Tooth Fairy for crying out loud. C'mon, he can be very diverse.

Not only that, but he's also a very recognizable actor. You say "the Rock," people know who you're talking about.

"Franchise Saver"



The Rock has appeared in sequels for the following franchises: The Mummy, G.I. Joe, Fast and Furious, and Journey to the Center of the Earth. And guess what--in EVERY sequel, the movie always makes more money than the first. Such a feat has earned Dwayne Johnson the online adjective of being a "franchise saver."

While none of those franchises was necessarily on a decline, let's face the fact: If there's any franchise that needs saving, it's the Green Lantern franchise.

So what do you guys think? Let me know in the comment section below!

Also, if you'd like, check out my article on the Flash TV series. You won't regret it!
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/the_flash/news/?a=93941

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Pasto
Pasto - 2/5/2014, 5:44 AM
Yes, yes, yes, and.....yes.
GoldSlayer1
GoldSlayer1 - 2/5/2014, 5:50 AM
He'd make a great John Stewart.

Green Lantern did terrible, and personally, Ryan Reynolds wasn't my first choice for Hal Jordan.

theres 2 options here. Reboot Green lantern or keep going with movie 2 in the same universe but featuring John Stewart instead.

A Green Lantern 2 movie could be focused on John Stewart with his origin and the war on the Yellow lanterns.

maybe include a cameo for reynolds, and if he doesn't want the role, then give the Hal Jordan role to someone else like Jensen Ackles.
GoldSlayer1
GoldSlayer1 - 2/5/2014, 5:53 AM
If they do make Green Lantern 2,
get rid of the AWFUL CGI costumes.

It looks terrible, doesn't follow the comics, and requires a higher budget to pull off.

Imagine The Rock fighting kilowog.
AC1
AC1 - 2/5/2014, 6:27 AM
'Phenomenal' is a bit of a stretch. He's pretty good. Don't really see him as John Stewart though. I think someone like Jamie Foxx or Idris Elba... from what I hear, John's quite a boring character personality wise, so you need an actor with a lot of presence in the role to compensate. If the Rock played the role, combined with the character's lack of personality, it's be like we were just watching the Rock, rather than watching John Stewart. We need an actor who can bring something interesting to the role, but who also has enough talent to disappear into the role.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Rock as someone else though, like Kilowog if he was set on a Green Lantern role, or some other hero. I still really want him to play Luke Cage too, so maybe if this whole DC thing falls though that might have a better chance of happening.
AC1
AC1 - 2/5/2014, 6:30 AM
Also, I kind of think, especially considering the previous attempt at bringing Green Lantern to the big screen, Hal Jordan should appear before John. I think Hal needs to be done justice to make up for the last attempt before we move on to John, rather than replacing Hal altogether. Hal has a rich history in the comics and it'd be a shame not to explore it on screen, especially in a way that distances it from the last attempt - so a full reboot, recast, etc. Jake Gyllenhaal would be my pick to play him.
MrDonut
MrDonut - 2/5/2014, 6:40 AM
Wouldn't mind him in the role but I think he's too physically imposing for it; he deserves to be a bigger/more physical character and... I kinda wanna see him as a bad guy...
Pedrito
Pedrito - 2/5/2014, 7:20 AM
@yoss
It's ok. They'll use low lighting, dark color schemes and an intense score. That was enough to make some fans believe MOS was one of the greatest CBMs ever.

But honestly, they need to at least announce a title. Rumors are getting out of hand.
Peel
Peel - 2/5/2014, 7:20 AM
Good article, you should have also mentioned that as a former member of the Marines, it should be a given that John Stewart is pretty big and muscular, but even with that aside, I just can't understand why some people don't want him because he is 'too big'.
GoldSlayer1
GoldSlayer1 - 2/5/2014, 7:29 AM
@TheGoddamPeel
IKR!
this "He's too big" argument is so stupid.

John Stewart was a former marine so its not far fetched that he could actually be that big.

and most movie characters (Heroes and villains) dont always reflect like their comic book counterparts, Thor for example is portrayed as a HUGE nearly 6'8-7'0 body builder (in comparison to a regular human, he's supposed to be huge that's what im trying to get at) yet in the movies he's about the same size as a regular human.

So ill be glad if they could cast Dwayne Johnson as John Stewart.
kong
kong - 2/5/2014, 7:52 AM
Your heading was "He's a phenomenal actor", but you said nothing about his acting skills.

Honestly I'd hate to see him as John Stewart and this is terrible casting. Does everyone forget that this doesn't have to be a movie role? WB owns DC Comics itself! They could be teaming up for a comic!
feedonatreefrog
feedonatreefrog - 2/5/2014, 8:06 AM
I can dig it.

feedonatreefrog
feedonatreefrog - 2/5/2014, 8:15 AM
Yes, but not all of it. Some of it's from other people's manips.

And I agree with your article.

John Stewart + Dwayne Johnson + Snyder's Action = Green Lantern brand redeemed in the public eye.
GoldSlayer1
GoldSlayer1 - 2/5/2014, 8:18 AM
Green Lantern gets glowing eyes, I hope batman finally gets his white eyes in live action.
Lhornbk
Lhornbk - 2/5/2014, 11:16 AM
Phenomenal actor? Really? You really believe that?

No, it's not a good idea. John Stewart should not be a muscle-bound guy who is bigger than Superman.
Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon - 2/5/2014, 1:17 PM
Considering the weird-ass casting job they've done so far, I wouldn't be surprised if he turned out to the Flash instead. :p
CeltiC527
CeltiC527 - 2/5/2014, 7:38 PM
I disagree, I like the Rock but I wouldn't call him a "phenomenal" actor. He pretty much played the same exact character in Fast & Furious and G.I. Joe. That being said, maybe he could pull off a decent Stewart but WB should do Hal again first before brining him in.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/justice_league/news/?a=93169
MightyZeus
MightyZeus - 2/5/2014, 8:14 PM
I agree 100% with this article.

Great article and good work.
GoldSlayer1
GoldSlayer1 - 2/5/2014, 9:38 PM
@Celtic
they did a Hal Jordan movie, and it flopped hard.
CeltiC527
CeltiC527 - 2/6/2014, 12:19 AM
^So you blame the character for that? Read my article again before you make a statement that I already touched upon.
GoldSlayer1
GoldSlayer1 - 2/6/2014, 3:37 PM
@Celtic
I did read your article and i commented on it.

I still prefer John Stewart, and the rock has enough star power to turn the GL franchise around.

I did mention in the comments that they shouldn't reboot it, but continue in the same continuity, but go with John Stewart and keep Hal in the background.

IMO Hal jordan is better off being alone instead of being in the JL.
CeltiC527
CeltiC527 - 2/6/2014, 7:33 PM
As cool as that would be, that will never happen.
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