Green Lantern: The Animated Series launched in 2012 from an impressive creative team made up of names like Bruce Timm, Giancarlo Volpe, Jim Krieg, Sam Liu, and Rick Morales. Unfortunately, being released in the wake of the critically panned live-action movie did the series no favours, and despite positive reviews, it was cancelled amidst poor toy sales after just one season made up of 26 episodes.
DC Showcase - Blue Beetle writer Jennifer Keene was among those who penned episodes of the show, and when we had her on the phone this week, we asked if she was disappointed by the cancellation.
"Oh, yes, we were all so disappointed. Oh my Gosh. [The series] got such great reviews and was so well-received, I didn’t see that cancellation coming," the writer admitted to us. "When it did, it was such a bummer. I would love for it to come back and would love them to revive it."
"That was such a fun show, too, because I got to go to the recording sessions. A lot of the times, the actors will record their lines individually, but that one we did like a radio show where all the actors were together at once," Keene continued. "We got to pitch jokes on the floor and see how they were landing in the recording session. That was really fun and would love to see it come back."
Green Lantern is a character who has remained on the shelf pretty much ever since, though he will take centre stage in an animated movie later this year titled Green Lantern: Beware My Power.
We had to ask Keene if she believes the movie starring Ryan Reynolds might have been detrimental to this animated series, and while she chose her words carefully, it's clear that its failings hurt the show. "I do think it was the shadow of the film. The film just didn’t do well. I blame the movie! [Laughs]"
Hopefully, Green Lantern can find redemption, even if there hasn't been much movement on any of the live-action projects we know to be in the works. It's probably too late for this series to be revived, but it would be no bad thing to enlist some of the same creatives if another is produced.
Be sure to check back here on Monday for our full Blue Beetle interview with Jennifer!
DC Showcase: Constantine - The House of Mystery arrives on Digital & Blu-ray on May 3.