Giving the Green Light to Green Lantern?
This scares me a little. I like Jack Black, actually. Nacho Libre looks stupid, but I thought he actually gave the most complex and nuanced performance in King Kong. He brought a self-deprecating humanity to that character that really really worked. I don't know of a lot of actors who could do that.
But as *Green Lantern*?!
He definitely wouldn't suit Hal. Hal's actually the antithesis of the characters Black tends to play. He's a traditional hero with traditional heroic flaws (arrogance, control-freak-dom) lying beneath. Besides, no offence intended to Mr. Black, but he's not really...old-movie star looking enough to play Hal. Hal's whole Cary Grant-esque appearance feeds into his whole personality. He just wouldn't work as someone like Jack Black.
I don't think he'd suit Kyle much either. He's got an "everyman" sort of appeal that works, but honestly, he's too old. Kyle's whole thing centers around his potential. He's young and inexperienced and has the whole world ahead of him. He could become *anything* and that's the whole point. Being in his early-mid twenties, college age or just past, is all a part of that. The theme wouldn't work nearly as well with an older guy.
And, no way, no how could the man ever play Alan or John.
As for Guy...
...
Actually, that could work. Jack Black doesn't *look* anything like Guy, but he tends to be really good at playing the endearing asshole sort of character. I've used the King Kong character as an example up top, but I really do think that's Black at his best. He's very good at giving his characters a bit of sympathetic humanity, even in the stupidest films.
He'd be a bit of a quieter type of asshole than Denis Leary (the ideal Guy, IMO, though he's a bit old for it now), but I really think Jack Black as Guy Gardner could actually work.
It has the added advantage of being the one Green Lantern costume that's in layers. Jack Black's not really built for spandex.
...
Ack, I suddenly realized which role he'd be perfect for. *Kilowog*! It'd require a lot of makeup or CG, but he'd kick *ass* at portraying 'Wog's personality. It'd be *perfect*! I could really go for that casting choice!
Kilowog in the GL movie would automatically make it the Best Movie Ever.
...I just hope the script doesn't suck.
But as *Green Lantern*?!
He definitely wouldn't suit Hal. Hal's actually the antithesis of the characters Black tends to play. He's a traditional hero with traditional heroic flaws (arrogance, control-freak-dom) lying beneath. Besides, no offence intended to Mr. Black, but he's not really...old-movie star looking enough to play Hal. Hal's whole Cary Grant-esque appearance feeds into his whole personality. He just wouldn't work as someone like Jack Black.
I don't think he'd suit Kyle much either. He's got an "everyman" sort of appeal that works, but honestly, he's too old. Kyle's whole thing centers around his potential. He's young and inexperienced and has the whole world ahead of him. He could become *anything* and that's the whole point. Being in his early-mid twenties, college age or just past, is all a part of that. The theme wouldn't work nearly as well with an older guy.
And, no way, no how could the man ever play Alan or John.
As for Guy...
...
Actually, that could work. Jack Black doesn't *look* anything like Guy, but he tends to be really good at playing the endearing asshole sort of character. I've used the King Kong character as an example up top, but I really do think that's Black at his best. He's very good at giving his characters a bit of sympathetic humanity, even in the stupidest films.
He'd be a bit of a quieter type of asshole than Denis Leary (the ideal Guy, IMO, though he's a bit old for it now), but I really think Jack Black as Guy Gardner could actually work.
It has the added advantage of being the one Green Lantern costume that's in layers. Jack Black's not really built for spandex.
...
Ack, I suddenly realized which role he'd be perfect for. *Kilowog*! It'd require a lot of makeup or CG, but he'd kick *ass* at portraying 'Wog's personality. It'd be *perfect*! I could really go for that casting choice!
Kilowog in the GL movie would automatically make it the Best Movie Ever.
...I just hope the script doesn't suck.
posted by kalinara @ 2:50 AM
14 Comments:
At June 16, 2006 7:46 AM,
Centurion said…
They could always get Ben Afleck to play Rayner. Maybe Vin Desil to play Stewart...
seriously though, Kilowog would really work for him, and that opens the movie up to an intergalactic drama/action movie ripe for a summer release.
At June 16, 2006 8:17 AM,
Anonymous said…
This was a while ago, but I heard something about them wanting to make a goofy comedy in the style of The Mask. I do not have a good feeling about this project.
I was thinking about what I would want to see in a Green Lantern movie, and I doubt any of it would actually see the light of day. The most fascinating aspect of the mythos is the concept of the Corps, and any movie would probably shift the Corps firmly to the background (or even off-screen entirely, with just a few mentions of it), to give focus to the main Green Lantern. Superhero movies generally shy away from any kind of legacy.
At June 16, 2006 11:45 AM,
Anonymous said…
Jack Black debunked this rumor in Entertainment Weekly some time ago. http://www.comicbookmovie.com/news/articles/1374.asp
But you're right. He would be good for Kilowog.
At June 16, 2006 11:46 AM,
Anonymous said…
Wait, that's a new article. Crap. I don't understand any of this.
At June 16, 2006 12:48 PM,
Brandon Bragg said…
I've always thought the GL Corps would be much cooler as an animated series. Jack Black might have made a pretty good cartoon version of Guy.
Did anybody get to see the Green Lantern episode of Duck Dodgers?
At June 16, 2006 1:31 PM,
kalinara said…
centurion: Ow. :-)
anon: I agree. The Corps is the most fascinating part. The best I think they could do is design it like a cop movie in space.
On the plus side, sorta, as none of the pre-existing Lanterns suit Mask style comedy, it'd almost have to be a new guy.
anthonyf: I don't understand either. Maybe he's joking.
brandon: Me too, I can't imagine that the ring effects, even as good as the CG is now, would look terribly good in a live action movie.
It kind of worked in the JLA pilot, but that was because they stuck with small effects. A movie would need to be grand.
At June 16, 2006 1:57 PM,
Anonymous said…
I always thought Scott Bakula ("Enterprise") would make a great Hal Jordan. Either him or Ben Browder of "Farscape" and "Stargate SG-1" fame.
I keep seeing Chris Klein ("American Pie") as Kyle Rayner.
Sean Bean ("Goldeneye") would be a pretty solid Guy Gardner if he could do an American accent.
Andre Brauer ("Homicide") has an undeniable presence that would serve him well as John Stewart.
At June 16, 2006 5:07 PM,
kalinara said…
Hmm, I think Bakula now would be a little old...but Quantum Leap era...definitely.
Browder's good though, if still not quite Cary Grant ish enough for my tastes. :-P
Chris Klein? I could see it. Though amusingly, my first choice for Kyle would probably be Will Friedle. He actually looks the part to me. :-)
Ooo, Bean's a good choice for the complex asshole too! I'd be wiling to turn Guy British for him. London instead of Baltimore could work. :-)
Andre Brauer would be a great John. He's a little short, but the presence is to die for!
For Alan, I'd want one of the distinguished older stars. Like an American Michael York or Richard Chamberlain a few years back.
:-) This is too much fun.
At June 17, 2006 10:25 AM,
notintheface said…
Browder is a terrific pick, but for Guy, not Hal. Think about it. He has the perfect build and smartass demeanor for the role, and he's about the right age.
Klein seems like as good a choice for Kyle as anyone. I was originally thinking Jake Gyllenhal.
My original pick to play Hal was Bruce Greenwood, but he may also be too old for the role now. I can see Jim Caviezel in the role today.
Stewart is tougher to pick, because there are many different directions for him to go. Terrence Howard, maybe?
I'm stealing this from Aint It Cool News, but Jon Voight would make the perfect Alan.
But we're leaving something out here: Who would play the women in the movie?
Katma Tui?
Carol?
Kari Limbo?
(Just yanking your chain on the last one, Kalinara!)
At June 17, 2006 5:27 PM,
kalinara said…
You know, you're right. Browder would make a better Hal. He also has a bad habit of playing characters that get incredibly fucked up stuff happen to them. And that fits Guy to a tee.
Ooo Gyllenhal could be good for Kyle.
Heh, I can only imagine the reaction of the anti-Hal people at casting the guy who played Jesus as him. But I can see it.
I hate to go mainstream, but I'd always liked the thought of Denzel Washington as John. He's handsome, intelligent and with a similar gravity/maturity...and it'd get the adoring females in droves.
Jon Voight! Brilliant!
As for the women...I admit, I'm shakier with female actors. For Katma, I'd kind of like the woman who played Zhaan from Farscape in red paint this time. She always managed to have an alien but recognizable dignity.
Not sure about Carol. Ooo, Ice! We could cast Ice!
At June 21, 2006 1:39 PM,
Hate Filled Poster said…
The perfect part for Black would be G'nort.
At June 21, 2006 2:47 PM,
kalinara said…
Shane: Hee. :-)
At July 26, 2006 11:36 PM,
Anonymous said…
Bottom line I can't buy Black as an Air Force pilot. I see him passing out at ten Gs.
The DC role that best suits Black in build and personality is a well known imp that pesters Kal-El.
At July 26, 2006 11:38 PM,
kalinara said…
Heh, that'd be interesting. :-) Not all Lanterns are pilots though. Might like to see him as one of the aliens.
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