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James Gunn revealed a funny exchange he had with Ryan Reynolds. As one of his first moves as DC Studios Co-CEO, he gave the actor a call.
Did you know Ryan Reynolds had hoped Green Lantern would flop? (Photo Credits: Instagram)
The 2011 Green Lantern movie might not have been DC’s shining moment, but it seems the character is gearing up for a fresh start in the DC Universe (DCU). With James Gunn at the helm of DC Studios, fans have reason to believe a redemption arc could be in the works. Despite the buzz, when it comes to Ryan Reynolds, who famously portrayed Hal Jordan in the 2011 film, his feelings about the role remain as clear and blunt as ever.
Filmmaker Gunn recently revealed a funny exchange he had with Reynolds. As one of his first moves as DC Studios Co-CEO, Gunn decided to give the actor a call. The subject? Whether Reynolds would consider returning to the world of superheroes as Green Lantern. Given the actor’s well-documented disdain for the movie, his response was predictably hilarious.
“Ryan doesn’t give a sh*t,” Gunn shared during an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, when the topic of the Lanterns series came up. “One of the first people I talked to after I got the job was Ryan Reynolds. I was like, ‘You coming back?!’ He’s like, ‘Get the f-ck out of here,” he shared.
Reynolds has never minced words when discussing his feelings about Green Lantern. Not only did he admit to disliking the movie, but he also confessed that he had hoped it would flop to avoid the possibility of doing a sequel. For those who’ve followed his career, his disdain for the role became something of an inside joke. Case in point: the hilarious post-credit scene in Deadpool 2, where Deadpool shoots Reynolds in the head as he’s holding the Green Lantern script.
Even in 2021, Reynolds poked fun at the movie by giving it another chance—this time, while drunk. In his typical witty style, he shared his thoughts on Twitter, saying the film was “nothing to fear!” He gave a shoutout to the “hundreds of incredible crew and cast members” but still concluded that while it wasn’t great, “it ain’t a tragedy.”
Maybe it’s the Aviation Gin talking, but #GreenLantern was nothing to fear! Hundreds of incredible crew and cast members did amazing work — and while it’s not perfect, it ain’t a tragedy. Next time I won’t wait a decade to watch.— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) March 17, 2021
Part of Reynolds’ distaste for Green Lantern stems from the filming experience itself, which he’s described as less than ideal. Yet, the role wasn’t a total loss. It’s where he met his now-wife, Blake Lively and perhaps, indirectly, it set him on the path to becoming Deadpool—a character that redefined his career and cemented his place as a Hollywood A-lister, reports Comicbook.
Fast forward to today, James Gunn and DC Studios are determined to rehabilitate Green Lantern’s image. The new HBO series, officially confirmed in June, has generated considerable buzz among fans. Screenwriter Tom King has raised expectations by teasing the casting, and the lineup looks promising. Kyle Chandler will play Hal Jordan, while Aaron Pierre takes on the role of John Stewart. Kelly Macdonald and Garret Dillahunt round out the cast, promising a fresh take on a hero that’s long overdue for a win.
Whether or not Reynolds tunes in, fans are excited to see what the DCU has in store for Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps.
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