The DC Comics film universe is at a crossroads. Sure, Wonder Woman was a huge hit and a cultural touchstone, but Justice League faltered, leaving the future of the franchise in flux. Now DC is under new management, and are doing their best to course correct. Part of that course correction is said to involve a Green Lantern Corps movie, to possibly be written and directed by David S. Goyer, who wrote Man of Steel and Batman v Superman. But is a movie really the best way to go with this property right now?
Yes, Green Lantern has potential, and deserves another chance. But right now, figuring out just what the heck is going on with their Batman and Superman properties should be DC’s highest priority. At least on the big screen. So where does that leave Green Lantern? TV.
Just as Daredevil transformed from a poorly regarded film to a small screen hit for Marvel, so could Green Lantern for DC. A few years ago, a space opera like Green Lantern Corps could not have been done properly on a TV budget; the recent success of Star Trek: Discovery has proved you can do space based shows that are movie-worthy in their execution.
Thanks to producer Greg Berlanti, DC Comics characters have found a true home on TV, and Green Lantern Corps should be next, either on the CW or on DC’s upcoming streaming service. (Personally, I’m leaning for the streaming service as they are going to need another high profile live-action series besides Titans to get fans to pay for it.) But if you’re still not convinced, here are seven reasons Green Lantern Corps could be the biggest DC television event since Oliver Queen left the island.
1. TV Has Room for More Characters
The great thing about Green Lantern Corps as a concept is all the different characters who get to wear the ring. Unfortunately, in a movie, you’d only really be able to focus on one or two at best, probably Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Everyone else would have to be relegated to minor roles that don’t really do justice to those characters or their fandoms. With a TV series, even if you start with Hal and John, over the course of several seasons you can introduce Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner, and all the rest, and really flesh them out over a long period of time.
2. TV Allows for Classic Comic Book Storylines
Over the past several years, the Green Lantern series has produced some true comic book epics, stories like Hal Jordan’s fall from grace in “Emerald Twilight,” his return in “Rebirth,” “Sinestro Corps Wars,” and “Blackest Night.” All of these stories would be much better served over several years of television seasons than a handful of films that would truncate all these classics and reduce them to a Cliff’s Notes version.
3. The Multi Colored Lanterns Could Appear
One of the great things that writer Geoff Johns has added to the Green Lantern mythos over the past 15 years is the idea of the Emotional Spectrum, and how there are several other Lantern Corps in the universe based on different colors in that spectrum. While we might get cameos from some of those other Corps in a film, truth is, in a television series you would be able to explore them in far greater depth.
4. Crossover Potential with Flash, Arrow, and the Rest
Although you wouldn’t necessarily need to air this show on the CW, tying a Green Lantern series into the network’s “Arrowverse” would allow for a great opportunity: the union of Hal Jordan with his two best friends from the comics, Green Arrow/Oliver Queen and The Flash/Barry Allen. It’s not like these series are at all averse to crossovers!
5. Proper Character Development for Sinestro
Sinestro is considered one of the great villains because we got to see him transform from Hal Jordan’s stern but successful trainer into an evil megalomaniac, best exemplified in the pages of Green Lantern: Secret Origin. Although actor Mark Strong was well cast in the movie version, his character’s transformation from good veteran Lantern to villain to leader of his own Corp is a storyline which should be spread out over several seasons.
6. TV Gives Greg Berlanti a Chance for a Do-Over
Although DC TV guru Greg Berlanti was credited as the screenwriter for the 2011 Green Lantern movie, the project was all but totally taken away from him. Warner Bros. heavily rewrote his script, and handed the directorial reigns over to Martin Campbell. After the movie tanked, as a “sorry, we screwed up,” WB gave Berlanti the chance to make a DC TV series, and the result was Arrow. Five DC shows later, maybe it’s time to give Greg Berlanti a chance to do the Green Lantern mythos justice the way we now know he can.
7. A TV Series Would Give DC a Truly Diverse Ensemble
While the DC TV shows have been great when it comes to casting diversity, the main characters, until Black Lightning, have all be white people. Green Lantern Corps’Â ensemble would entail leading roles for a black character (John Stewart), two Mexican-American characters (Kyle Rayner and Jessica Cruz), and a Muslim character (Simon Baz). If we’re roping Earth-2 canon into the mix, we’d have that realm’s gay Lantern Alan Scott. The best part: none of these individuals would be relegated to a “sidekick” position. They’re all Lanterns in their own right.
How do you want to see Green Lantern come back to live-action, in movies or television? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.
Images: DC Comics/Warner Bros.
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