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| Green Lantern – John Stewart |
The Green Lantern movie opens in 2020, but Warner Bros recently announced that it will be called Green Lantern Corp and focus on many
of the galactic guardians.
For those who don’t know, Green Lantern is a
comic book about Hal Jordan who gets a ring from a dying alien that
gives him the ability to construct anything he can imagine. He joins an
interstellar police force known as the “Green Lantern Corp.” In the
comics, many have taken on the role of the Green Lantern for Earth,
including John Stewart. He’s a Black former military specialist who has
a unique way of approaching his role as protector of Earth. Stewart’s best
known for his appearance in the Justice League animated series.
There are a lot of rumors about casting, but here is a list of amazing actors who could take the role.
1. Idris Elba
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| Idris Elba |
Idris Elba already plays the superhero Heimdell in Thor,
and he’s playing an unnamed role on Star Trek Beyond, but he could play a DC superhero too. When someone tweeted him a fan
made poster as Green Lantern he said, “Thank you baby love. I like this
idea.” If Elba likes it, that’s all it takes.
2. Lance Gross
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| Lance Gross |
Lance Darnell Gross is famous for his role on the TV dramatic sitcom
House of Payne so he can bring a sense of humor and intensity to the
role. The 34-year old actor gave up a Pro Track & Field career to
become an actor, so he’s got the physicality and his role as Secret
Service Agent Marcus Finley in NBC’s political drama Crisis shows he can play a convincing policeman.
3. Nate Parker
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| Nate Parker |
Nate Parker is both an actor and a musical performer who’s famous for
roles in The Secret Life of Bees and the action movie
Non-Stop. He’s got the physicality from being an All-American wrestler
in High School and college, so he can easily play a superhero. His performance as a military pilot in Red Tails would give John Stewart’s military background authenticity. Parker’s
also a political activist so he’s already a real-life hero.
4. Common
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| Common |
Lonnie Rashid Lynn (better known by his stage name Common) is a Grammy,
Golden Globe and Academy award winning artist and rapper. He played a
villainous Mob enforcer in Smokin Aces, so he can give John Stewart the edge he needs.
Back in 2007, the movie Justice League Mortal cast Common as John Stewart. But a writers strike and a whole host of other problems sidelined the project. He told Screen Rant
“That was one
of those things where I was so excited because we rarely see
African-American superheroes or people of color as a superhero. I think
it would be great for the world to see, and for people to see, and for
Hollywood to put that out there, too. But just for the world to see,
just for kids to be able to see, for all nationalities to see a person
of color as a superhero, too.” John Stewart is from Detroit and was
really for the community, and Common related to that.
5. Dayo Okeniyi
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| Dayo Okeniyi |
Oladayo A. “Dayo” Okeniyi was born in Lagos, Nigeria and is best known for playing the role of Thresh in The Hunger Games.
The role was very physical shows he can bring the role the power and
intensity it needs. But, he also has the ability to play complex
characters as proven by his recent performance as tech expert Danny
Dyson in Terminator Genisys. Dayo Okeniyi’s height helps too since he stands at an impressive 5’9″. All of this means he’d make an awesome Green Lantern.
6. Tequan Richmond
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| Tequila Richmond |
Tequila Richmond is only 22-years old but he’s already been nominated
for an NAACP award and an Emmy for roles on shows like General Hospital. He’s an
actor and a hip hop artist so he can give Green Lantern an urban edge.
7. Denzel Washington
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| Denzel Washington |
Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. needs no introduction as an American actor
and filmmaker who’s received (not one) but two Golden Globe awards, a
Tony Award, and two Academy Awards. He’s played everyone from Malcolm X
to a drug kingpin. At 60-years old he still rocks the box office in action movies like Training Day and Unstoppable. There was a rumor that
he’s playing John Stewart in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but it
turned out to be false. Would he be up to playing a superhero?
In 2010
he said
“I think that comic book movies now are what comics were 30 years ago.
I think now with the technology it’s like comic books on steroids and
I’m very excited about that. I’d love to be a part of something.” When
he was asked about what superpower he’d want at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival
he chuckled and said, “I dunno. You know it’s something positive. I
dunno. Something that could help us get along. You know. Like a Jedi
mind trick. Trick people to being nice to each other.” Green Lantern
don’t have Jedi mind tricks but the Green Lanterns are all about
helping people get along.
8. Brandon T. Jackson
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| Brandon T. Jackson |
Brandon Jackson is 30-years old and he’s starred in action films like Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Fast & Furious
so he’s got that down. He’s from John Stewart’s home town of Detroit
and a rapper so he can capture Green Lantern’s street smarts.
9. John Boyega
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| John Boyega |
John Boyega will play Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but his big break was in Attack the Block.
It was about a teenage street gang who have to defend themselves from
an alien attack. So he’s used to fighting aliens. He’s a Marvel fan and
hoped to play Black Panther but DC could talk him into the role.
10. Aml Ameen
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| Aml Ameen |
Aml Ameen is a British actor that appeared in the action film Maze Runner. But his best known role is in the police series The Bill where
he played headstrong Lewis Hardy who’s a former street kid turned
policeman. That’s exactly the kind of attitude John Stewart needs.
11. Tyrese Gibson
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| Tyrese Gibson |
Tyrese Gibson is a former model and singer who’s proven himself in action films like the Fast & the Furious films and Transformers
series. Fans decided he’d be the perfect Green Lantern and began making
pictures and movies of his as the superhero. It convinced him he’d be perfect for the role and he’s been campaigning hard on social media. Will he take the oath? We’ll see.
12. David Ramsey
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| David Ramsey |
David Ramsey is best known for playing as Anton Briggs on the TV series Dexter and John Diggle on Arrow. The character is a former military man and weapons expert. Plus, the dude is built
like a superhero. There have been rumors for years that he’s going to
become Green Lantern, but the producers confirmed this year that it’s not going to happen on the show, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be in the movie!
Who would you like to see play John Stewart the Green Lantern?
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10 Comments
A while back I posited that Will Smith would be good and it could help revitalize his career but then he took the role of Deadshot so I guess that would be kind of awkward. CGI can help older actors still do action movies but 60 seems like it's pushing it for Denzel.
Elba would be awesome. He so has the look. I also like Brandon Jackson. Of course, I'll watch anything is Denzel Washington.
Great list! You had me at Idris Elba!
What do you think about Roger Cross?
What a tough choice! Elba would be awesome, as I've loved him in Thor, though Lance Gross is a personal favorite as well. 2020 seems forever and a day away, but then I remember that's really only 5 years 🙂
Will Smith would be a good choice and i didn't put him in because he's already in Suicide Squad. But you never know. Denzel Washington would be a tough sell but he says he's in good shape and he still does his own stunts. Robert Downey Jr is over 50.
You're right Meradeth. 2020 feels like a lifetime away but its just around the corner.
It's a tough choice because we have many fine actors to choose from.
He is a goodp one David! I hadn't thought of him but ill add him to the list!
Mos Def. Mekhi Phifer. Derek Luke. Djimon Hounsou. Just some of my favorites. If Anthony Mack weren't currently playing Falcon, I'd include him.
Common is already in Suicide Squad and it looks like he's playing the Tattooed Man.