COREY REYNOLDS: GREEN LANTERN TO BE?

[MattBrady]

by Steve Fritz

If you were to ask Corey Reynolds, he’s having the time of his life.

Not even 30, he’s worked his way from regional theatre to Broadway and now to a key supporting role in TNT’s The Closer. Of course, this begs one highly important question for the actor who plays Sgt. David Gabriel.

Marvel or DC?

“I have my favorites on both sides, but my heart is with DC,” he replies, “because DC has the Green Lantern. Green Lantern is my favorite comic book hero.”

That begs a second critical question. So is your favorite Lantern? Hal? Guy? Kyle? Who?

“Now Hal Jordan is the ultimate Green Lantern,” Reynolds admits, “but my favorite is John Stewart. I believe that it really is about time for a black, traditional, All-American hero and Stewart represents that.

“He’s gone through everything from being paralyzed to being healed, to being placed in charge of it all, to patrolling 2814. He’s gone through everything. But when you look at his back story as far as where he comes from., how he grew up, that he’s an architect by trade, I think it’s very interesting to think that someone like him was given the ability to just about anything they want with their mind. I also think it’s interesting that he has such a creative mind to begin with. I love the whole idea that the combination of will and determination being the link to his abilities. So I think he would be a really interesting character to bring to the screen, and I’m working hard to make it happen.”

You read that right. Reynolds is currently hard at work on obtaining the rights to DC’s Green Lantern franchise. Ambitious, even for an actor who’s only truly starting to get his first true taste of national exposure. Then again, we’re also talking about one huge comic book fan here; one who is actually working for a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Stranger things have happened in Hollywood, and some have even worked out.

From the amount of thought Reynolds has put into John Stewart, he just might pull it off.

“I’d rather not discuss the business aspect as they are still very up in the air, but ultimately yes, it would be Warner Bros. I would be working with,” says Reynolds. “After all, they own the comic. Also, with the success of Batman Begins and the anticipated success of Superman Returns, there’s talk.”

There’s still one major question though, and that is what direction would Reynolds take this particular Emerald Knight? As he acknowledged, Stewart’s been through more than his share of changes since he was introduced. Also, there’s the matter of how he’s been redefined again through Bruce Timm and crew’s Justice League series.

“Story-wise the direction I’m going is more true to the comic,” says Reynolds. “What I think is interesting about this way is normally a lot of heroes are just born that way or are born knowing they have a path to travel. John always felt there was a purpose to his life, he just didn’t know what capacity it would be in. Then, all of a sudden, he is handed this tremendous gift and not everyone is prepared for that.

“I’d love for it to be a series. I think I would need about three films to tell the story that I’d want to. I’d like to use the first film to paint the picture of what he is as a man. I’d also challenge the viewer to what they would be like if they were given the same responsibility. How would they handle it? Hopefully that would be the bridge between all the versions of him.

“I think the interesting thing about bringing the big guy to the screen is finding the balance between those who see him the way Bruce Timm and Phil LaMarr made him, and the version in the comics,” says Reynolds. “If that isn’t enough, one also when doing a movie one also has to make him interesting to people who have never read the comics or seen the cartoon, especially as he doesn’t get as much hype as many other characters at DC. He’s not just what the younger kids have seen, this big brooding character from the cartoons.”

Reynolds also has a very strong idea what kind of movie his Green Lantern would be.

“Visually, I think the film could be stunning,” he said. “Bryan Singer would be the director I would salivate to have. When he worked on the X-Men movies he created this incredibly organic world that made you believe the characters that were in there. He really captured that series the way I think the fans would have wanted it to be.”

As for other Lanterns making an appearance, Stewart admits there he has to be a bit of a realist. “I think that’s something we will see happen. Some of them will be on screen while others will only be alluded to. I have to be careful to not step on other potential franchises. If possible, in the second film I want to throw a reference in to the League as a whole, and John joining.”

In the meantime, he appears to be having the time of his life playing Sgt. Gabriel.

“It has its plusses and minuses,” says Reynolds. “On the plus side I’m allowed to make mistakes. After all, it’s my first experience not only with a TV series, but with the camera altogether. Before The Closer my entire experience has been in live performance. So I’m going from stage to screen. The good news is everyone has their role both on the screen and in the family. I’m in the position that I can ask questions and not look silly.”

“Gabriel is the youngest of the characters, but he got there because he deserved to. After all, his rank is sergeant and all the characters know he’s on the accelerated path. He was also brought in because he’s one of the few who understand Kyra’s character as a person. He also knows she’s the best person he can have to mentor him and help him along on the path that’s been made for him. It’s very big sister/ little brother.

“Another thing about Gabriel, along with John Stewart for that matter,” Reynolds continues, “is both have an innate sense of seeing right from wrong. He also is compelled to insure that justice prevails. Last year was about establishing the relationships inside the squad. This season it will be about the squad going up against the LAPD as a whole. I think the viewers will really enjoy it.”

And working on a Warner Bros./Turner-produced show has its perks. For instance, Reynolds apparently has all the Justice League DVDs in his trailer for his viewing pleasure…including the unreleased stuff.

And as an admittedly huge comic book fan, the steady income of a successful TV actor has been doing wonders for the personal collection.

“I do a lot of my shopping through the Internet and especially eBay for things that are hard to find,” says Reynolds. “I recently found a mint condition 1984 Hall of Justice headquarters on there. The collection of action figures has exploded now that I have the resources to pamper myself with. I probably have a total of 600 to 700 action figures in my collection. The comic book collection itself was lost in my move from the East Coast to LA, where a lot of my good stuff got destroyed. I’ve recouped as much of it as I could but one thing I’m proud to say I have is a lithograph of John Stewart signed by Bruce Timm.”

Lord knows what will happen to that collection if the Warners does give this man the green light on the Lantern project. Then again, it probably couldn’t be in better hands.

[NeoSamurai]

An actor who knows the character in the truest sense and has a vision for where that character can go...this is good.

[IronWolf]

this is good if only becuase the idea of Jack Black making a Joke out of the Lantern is Stupid to me.

[CodeGuy]

Yes! Go, go go!

[Slave 1]

Good News -

Here's a guy who truly understands and loves this character. He has an excellent grasp of what Stewart represents and is a long time fan of his comics. He seems to have a good idea of how Hollywood works and how best to stay true to the comic by bringing it to film while also making it accessible to people who have never heard about GL. He isn't throwing in any crazy ideas that will make Stewart ultimatley unrecognizable. This is exactly the kind of guy I would like to see work on a movie like this.

Bad News -

This is exactly the kind of guy Hollywood would skip over.

[Tobey Cook]

He definitely understands what John Stewart is about. Hopefully with that knowledge he can make this into a good movie. Personally, Green Lantern's one of my favorites, and it's going to take someone with the right look and the right take on the character to do this right. John Stewart's probably my second-favorite GL (next to Kilowog of course) so I've definitely got high hopes here.

[Thor2006]

Jack Black will be the green lantern and all of you are going to watch it.

[DCindebt]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

What I think is interesting about this way is normally a lot of heroes are just born that way or are born knowing they have a path to travel.

Um... no they aren't. At least not a lot of them. Sorry. Good article. I just don't know what he is talking about here.

[Omegastorm]

Amen.

p

[Mr Wesley]

When I opened this thread, I was thinking, "Another guy from The Closer. What the heck?" But Reynolds really knows his stuff. And with an action figure collection in the hundreds, he is a certifiable geek.

Good for him! I don't know if you can have a John Stewart without Hal Jordan first, but he seems to understand the intracies of the character and the pitfalls of the different interpretations floating out there.

More power to him.

[Commander X]

This guy knows what SECTOR Earth's Green Lanterns patrol. I think that one line made me happier than anything else in this article. I think most of us are used to hearing, "Hey, I'm an actor, and I love [INSERT SUPERHERO]." A little detail like that, and just his attitude towards Stewart in general, were surprisingly authentic to me. I really hope he can make the stars align and get his vision off the ground.

... and I'm a Jordan fan, usually...

[Jeremy Williams]

I wouldn`t mind a John Stewart movie with this actor. But I wonder how this would fit with GL franchise and what the plans of Warner Brothers are. If it`s a solo movie, I wouldn`t see the Studio doing that if they want to want to establish a new Green Lantern movie but if it`s GL Corps, I could see that happening.

[Mr Wesley]

Originally Posted by DCindebt

Um... no they aren't. At least not a lot of them. Sorry. Good article. I just don't know what he is talking about here.

Well, depending on the generation of heroes he is most familiar with, it makes sense. Batman was on his path from a young age. He may have been familiar with the silver age Superboy. Peter Parker started being Spider-Man when he was 15. And then you have all the sidekicks, who seem pre-destined to follow the path of the hero into adulthood; and mutants, who were literally born with their abilities, even though they usually manifest later.

It's kind of the saying, "Some men are born to greatness, some achive greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." While those above were either born into greatness or strove to achieve it from a young age, because of the military draft nature of the Corps, Lanterns often have greatness thrust upon them.

[KyleCowstar]

I'm hoping that there is never a GL movie if it can't be done amazingly. I already hate explaining that the GL isn't just "that black guy."

[Spaz_Monkey]

Originally Posted by Corey Reynolds

He’s gone through everything from being paralyzed to being healed, to being placed in charge of it all, to patrolling 2814.

That line alone made me know he's exactly the right person to do this project. If he can, off the top of his head, call up Sector 2814, then he's truly a dedicated fan.

[CodeGuy]

Originally Posted by DCindebt

Um... no they aren't. At least not a lot of them. Sorry. Good article. I just don't know what he is talking about here.

I *think* what he meant is that Hal Jordan was born with an indomitable will, Superman was born with a huge legacy, and John Stewart was born with a drafting ruler in his hand. He wasn't poured from the golden age heroic mold.

Like how Mr. Fantastic was a guy who was pushing the limits of what he could do before he got his powers and after, but Spider-Man was a guy who changed everything about his life when he became Spidey.

[Morocco_Mole]

Great idea. It moves a character into the mainstream. More into the mainstream than JL cartoons and lunchboxes. It shows someone with an affinity for the character, and respect for the history of that character. Heck, he's even acknowledged that other GLs exist, something no superhero movie has done much with, yet (admitting there are other heros, I mean).

John Stewart is already the GL for cartoons, he's the one I've seen in commercials for Six Flags theme parks (I haven't been there to see it myself), and in the comics, John Stewart is the one I respect most, for some reason.

I like it!

[Vito Delsante]

I can confirm that there is at least some interest on the pre-production side of it. A young lady came into Jim Hanley's Universe yesterday and asked a few of our employees, "What is a good John Stewart Green Lantern story." She revealed her credentials (production assistant) and the guys helped her out.

This, to me, is great news...that someone is even interested in doing GL and doing it well. Good luck to all involved.

[orestes.]

Wow I would love to see this movie with John Stewart as the Green Lantern. I really wouldn't be as interested if there were any other Green Lanterns... and you can thank DC for that and their 'Justice League'. (That show also got me interested in Hawkgirl but I have little interest in Hawkman)

[BriGuy]

Works for me. Do it up!

[Riliss]

I've never read a Green Lantern comic in my life, but I'd see this movie, for sure. Reynolds sounds like a cool guy.

[Foobster]

I truly, deeply hope that this works out ofr him.

I'm skeptical of the Hollywood process. But I really do hope Reynolds gets his way.

If he does, I'll be there opening day.

[Duncan]

This guy is dreaming if he thinks Warner Bros are going to invest a boatload of money into a Green Lantern film with him as the star. It would cost a fortune to make the film properly, and the powers that be would bound to want an established star to play the role. Still, his heart seems in the right place.

[BanMan]

Originally Posted by Thor2006

Jack Black will be the green lantern and all of you are going to watch it.

Heck no! That is one superhero movie I'd skip and I actually liked Hulk AND enjoyed X3 (both far from masterpieces).

[BanMan]

Originally Posted by Jeremy Williams

I wouldn`t mind a John Stewart movie with this actor. But I wonder how this would fit with GL franchise and what the plans of Warner Brothers are. If it`s a solo movie, I wouldn`t see the Studio doing that if they want to want to establish a new Green Lantern movie but if it`s GL Corps, I could see that happening.

I'd be down with a Corps movie.