GREG BERLANTI TO DIRECT GREEN LANTERN FILM

**MattBrady** · 10-29-2007, 10:31 AM

DC Comics’ Flash has apparently gotten some love in regards to making the leap to the big screen, and now, according to Variety, the Flash’s pal, Green Lantern is making the move as well, with Greg (Dirty Sexy Money, Brothers & Sisters) Berlanti named by the trade as the director for the film.

Berlanti will write the script for the film with Marc (Wolverine, Amazing Spider-Man under exclusive contract to Marvel, Brothers & Sisters) Guggenheim and Michael (Heroes) Green. Donald De Line will produce, with Andrew Haas named as executive producer.

For the director, this will be his second film – he directed The Broken Hearts Club in 2000.

As with many DC Comics characters, Green Lantern has had a long slog to get to this point – many attempts on the character have been rumored to be in the works over the past years, including a more comedic take with actor Jack Black in the title role.

No word was given as to which Green Lantern will be featured in the film, but, given the recent revamp and return of Hal Jordan to the role, the test pilot introduced in 1959’s Showcase #22 would be the best bet, beating out Alan Scott, John Stewart and Kyle Rayner.

Berlanti told The Hollywood Reporter: "To me, this was on the last great comic book movie that hasn’t been made. It was a comic book with a real mythology that you would see in a lot of the space operas and the sci-fi books. The best part about it, anybody can be become one of the Green Lanterns because anyone can end up with that ring.”

And the Reporter confirms that the film will be about Jordan, adding that the director originally pitched a series of GL movies to Warner Bros., the first being the origin story, showing how Jordan became a member of the Green Lantern Corps.

jlawesome · 10-29-2007, 10:42 AM

I'd still like to see Kyle Rayner, but just seeing this movie made will make me mucho happy.

Wade Wilson · 10-29-2007, 10:51 AM

Will these guys get a say in who gets cast in the Justice League movie? I assume they will be using the same actors? Or will they suck and cast different actors ala Superman?

I would like to add, use Routh for the role in Justice League! If Batman is in the movie just don't show Bruce Wayne and there will be no problem with the whole Bale thing.

JacobHensley · 10-29-2007, 10:51 AM

ive been waiting my whole life for this

Spy_Smasher · 10-29-2007, 10:55 AM

You know, I'd love to see a "sci-fi" approach to this movie rather than a "superhero" approach. It would be cool to see the Corps, Oa, the whole big shebang.

Knives122 · 10-29-2007, 10:56 AM

If they can get the main villain to be Sinestro, then it would possibly be the best movie ever.

johnny.blaze · 10-29-2007, 10:56 AM

Googs writing the story? That's DEFINITELY good news! One of THE best writers in our industry.

vbartilucci · 10-29-2007, 10:57 AM

That was about as promising as nothing can be.

Yes, I typed that properly.

Because in both this and the Flash item from over the weekend, these reports are nothing but names attached to a title. We have no idea what they plan to do, who's going to be in it, nothing.

So while the guy seems to have a fair knowledge of who GL is, there's nothing to go on.

Both this and the Flash report seem to be quickie announcements, in the vain hopes to get something rolling before the feared strike. Or even more likely, make the JLA movie seem more real; giving the impression that the characters that less people have heard of (no offense) were strong enough to support their own films.

It's an interesting question - do you do GL and Flash solo movies before or after the JLA film? Do you introdice them in their own films and then do the big teamup, or do you go the Wolverine route and use the JLA film as a spring board for several new franchises? I think doing them all at once would be a bad move, diluting the audience.

We'll see what's up next, once we have less nothing to chew on.

KentL · 10-29-2007, 11:00 AM

Warners could have an amazing franchise on their hands if they play this right. And one that can easily change lead actors since the character is not really tied to one particular person like Superman or Batman is.

Michael Heide · 10-29-2007, 11:00 AM

I really like Marc Guggenheim's work, but I'm wondering why he (a Marvel-exclusive writer) can work on a Green Lantern movie when Mark Millar can't write Superman?

KoozyK · 10-29-2007, 11:00 AM

sadly, i see them getting rid of OA. at least for the first movie. too much baggage and almost too scifi. i'm sure i'll get flamed for this, but part of me feels they'll do a more nova approach. have the rings be sentient and maybe have them be created by a dead race. then, if the movie's successful, a sequel could be hal discovering what happened to the oans and coming into conflict with manhunters maybe.

just an idea...

kennyab · 10-29-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Heide

I really like Marc Guggenheim's work, but I'm wondering why he (a Marvel-exclusive writer) can work on a Green Lantern movie when Mark Millar can't write Superman?

It probably has to do with the fact that he's already associated with Greg Berlanti through Brothers and Sisters. And while he's Marvel exclusive, he's not as high-profile as Millar is in the comics world, so his name doesn't bring up as strong an association to Marvel as Millar does.

Zabardast · 10-29-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

including a more comedic take with actor Jack Black in the title role.

Ugh. Haven't heard about that, god who's idea was that?

SyVyN11 · 10-29-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlawesome

I'd still like to see Kyle Rayner, but just seeing this movie made will make me mucho happy.

I would intro all of earth's gls in a first movie. Focusing on Hal, but there is no way you can leave out John, Guy, Kyle and Alan.

The GL mythos is too tightly contained.

Kevin T. Brown · 10-29-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Heide

I really like Marc Guggenheim's work, but I'm wondering why he (a Marvel-exclusive writer) can work on a Green Lantern movie when Mark Millar can't write Superman?

Because Guggenheim isn't exclusive.....

Anyway, as vbartilucci aleady pointed out, it's just names attached to a possible film. It shows great promise with Guggenheim and Green attached, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Though having it be Hal Jordan is the best way to go. The whole fighter/test pilot scenario amps up the excitement potential.

ejulp · 10-29-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

DC Comics’ Flash
would be the best bet, beating out Alan Scott and Kyle Rayner.

.

Why would Alan Scott be a more likely candidate than John Stewart? Who was in the JLA cartoon afterall...Alan, Kyle, or John?

i think John would make a better Lantern than Hal IF they play him as being a bit younger than in the comics.

BornToRun · 10-29-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyab

It probably has to do with the fact that he's already associated with Greg Berlanti through Brothers and Sisters. And while he's Marvel exclusive, he's not as high-profile as Millar is in the comics world, so his name doesn't bring up as strong an association to Marvel as Millar does.

Additionally, when Millar pointed out that any story about the Superman flick would necessarily raise parenthetical references to his big Marvel projects, the biggest thing Guggenheim has done in comics is killing Bart Allen.

I'm very concerned about this. I don't mind John Stewart in JLA, but am concerned that they'll feel compelled to use him as the center of this. No interest at all for me on a Stewart-centric GL movie.

ejulp · 10-29-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyab

It probably has to do with the fact that he's already associated with Greg Berlanti through Brothers and Sisters. And while he's Marvel exclusive, he's not as high-profile as Millar is in the comics world, so his name doesn't bring up as strong an association to Marvel as Millar does.

Plus he worked in film and tv before comics...so in THAT world, he'd actually be known as a media guy (I'd assume).

**MattBrady** · 10-29-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin T. Brown

Because Guggenheim isn't exclusive.....

No - he is.

MattB

BornToRun · 10-29-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajk1988

Ugh. Haven't heard about that, god who's idea was that?

Some studio exec. It was supposedly going to be loosely based on the "A Guy and His G'Nort" arc from Gerard Jones's GL run, if I remember.

Yeah, it would have hurt your head.

Zugernaut · 10-29-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KoozyK

sadly, i see them getting rid of OA. at least for the first movie. too much baggage and almost too scifi. i'm sure i'll get flamed for this, but part of me feels they'll do a more nova approach. have the rings be sentient and maybe have them be created by a dead race. then, if the movie's successful, a sequel could be hal discovering what happened to the oans and coming into conflict with manhunters maybe.

just an idea...

Might depend on the budget. With sufficient money, I certainly think the case could be made for all-out sci-fi that includes Oa.

It's exciting to see a Green Lantern movie in development, and I wish the creators all the best and would love to see this become a great movie and huge success. But if it's going to be some B-grade dreck that only vaguely resembles the character(s), I would much rather it never be made. Frankly I don't get excited about these movies like most fans do. They are almost always inferior to the source material. I realize that in our society having your favorite characters rendered on the big screen is somehow a kind of confirmation or validation, but I sure do wish the average end-result was better.

Fletcher · 10-29-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Wilson

Will these guys get a say in who gets cast in the Justice League movie? I assume they will be using the same actors? Or will they suck and cast different actors ala Superman?

I would like to add, use Routh for the role in Justice League! If Batman is in the movie just don't show Bruce Wayne and there will be no problem with the whole Bale thing.

Man Oh Man I am as happy as a fly on sheeet! After the slew of comic based movies, some bad some good, have come and gone I was wondering when GL would make the jump. My prayers have been answered! Not that it was too unlikely that a movie would be made, it was just when.
I hope the writers and the director stick with Hal Jordan. Start the thing off the right way.

ANyhoo......as far as the JLA movie goes....Bale has already said that he would not put the Batman suit on for a movie that was not directed by Christopher Nolan.

Plus I look at the whole JLA ( and as far as that goes the Avengers movie too)- 1) they're going to make the indivuals movie first 2) If they want the same actors they have to get them to sign contracts 3) After all is said and done how long would it actually take to get it to the big screen and 4) How much, with eveything included, would cost to make the movie.

I am not holding my breath. Even after and when they announce that they are going to make the movie, there are so many different ways for it to stall out and not be made.

JacobHensley · 10-29-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SyVyN11

I would intro all of earth's gls in a first movie. Focusing on Hal, but there is no way you can leave out John, Guy, Kyle and Alan.

The GL mythos is too tightly contained.

There is no possible way to do that. Everyone would be so confused. If you bring all of them in why not bring the whole dcu in, its just dumb. You can do a good story with just one lantern and if you do any more.. people that dont know the mythos would be confused... imagine having two spiermans... or two supermans..... or 5 batmans..... its absolutely retarded

newfoundma · 10-29-2007, 11:17 AM

Love Berlanti! But he is a little more into the drama and character moments. I think he would be better suited for Fantastic Four or a more down-to-Earth character. Then again, it is always good to stretch creative muscles, and this announcement hardly means that it is the movie we will see.

outride · 10-29-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

Berlanti will write the script for the film with Marc (Wolverine, Amazing Spider-Man under exclusive contract to Marvel, Brothers & Sisters) Guggenheim and Michael (Heroes) Green. Donald De Line will produce, with Andrew Haas named as executive producer.

For the director, this will be his second film – he directed The Broken Hearts Club in 2000.

"Everwood", "Jack and Bobby" and "Dawson's Creek" are projects he created and spearheaded... what in Berlanti's resumé makes him qualified to direct Green Lantern?