12 Amazing Black Actors Who Should Play Green Lantern

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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