Co-CEO of DC Studios James Gunn tells a story about how formerGreen Lanternstar Ryan Reynolds was the first person he contacted after getting the job as the creative overseer of the newDC Universe. After Ryan Reynolds' ill-fated turn as Wade Wilson inX-Men Origins: Wolverine, the actor jumped ship from Marvel and went over to DC for the 2011 movie,Green Lantern. However,Green Lanternmet an even worse fate, garnering widely negative reviews from critics and moviegoers alike, and ultimately became a box office bomb with a worldwide haul of only $220 million.
In the years since, Reynolds' superhero career has made an epic comeback. The actor returned to the role of Wade Wilson for 2016’sDeadpoolmovie, which was so well-received and financially successful, it earned a sequel - 2018’sDeadpool 2. More recently, Reynolds' Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine were brought back for this summer’s massive blockbuster,Deadpool & Wolverine, which has earned a whopping $1.3 billion. Although Reynolds seemed to putGreen Lanternjokes to bed with theDeadpool 2post-credits scene, it seems he can’t ever escape, even from friends in the industry like James Gunn.
On the latest episode of Josh Horowitz’sHappy Sad Confusedpodcast, Gunn chatted about everything DC, including the upcoming HBO series titledLanterns. As Horowitz was setting up his question for the co-CEO of DC Studios, the interviewer was careful not to say anything too negative about the 2011Green Lanternmovie starring Reynolds. Gunn, however, had no such qualms - and even shared a hilarious exchange he had with Reynolds after he signed on for his current role at DC (at the 32:56 mark in the video below):
No one’s getting shocked by that statement. […] Ryan doesn’t give a sh-t. One of the first people I talked to after I got the [DC] job was Ryan Reynolds.I’m like, ‘You coming back?’ He’s like, ‘Get the f-ck outta here.’
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It’s clear from the way Gunn tells the story that he was never really asking Reynolds to return asGreen Lantern in the new DC Universe.This wasn’t an exchange between a studio executive and an actor, but between two friends. That also means Reynolds' refusal isn’t a real refusal, since the question wasn’t real to begin with. Still, it seems unlikely that the Deadpool actor would ever return to the Green Lantern role.
Over the years, Reynolds has been one of theGreen Lanternmovie’s biggest detractors, making it clear what he thought of his CGI superhero suit and other aspects of the film that didn’t work. Frankly, it’s admirable how good-natured he’s been, especially considering how many people mockedGreen Lanternand his role in it. But instead of getting defensive, he joined in on the fun, which has made it easier for fans and his friends to laugh about it. The result is, apparently, getting joking messages from the new co-CEO of DC Studios, but Reynolds took it in stride.
Our Take On James Gunn’s Ryan Reynolds Story
It’s A Fun Anecdote, But Nothing More
While there might be someone out there who wants to see Reynolds back as Green Lantern, even if only to give him a chance to redeem the 2011 movie, it’s probably for the best if DC moves on. DC is set to launch a newGreen Lantern TV show calledLanternsas part of the DCU slate, and it looks much more promising than a return to the world of the previous movie. Besides, Kyle Chandler has already been cast as the DCU’s Hal Jordan, with the actor set to star inLanternsalongside Aaron Pierre as John Stewart.
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Although it’s certainly possible that Reynolds could return by way of the multiverse, the DCU is probably better off sticking to building out the new franchise. After all, there haven’t been any adaptations of Green Lantern since the 2011 movie, and it’s important for the DCU to get their version right. Thankfully, Gunn has indicated he’s confident in the direction ofLanterns, and with the show set to begin filming in early 2025, it’s looking like a new take onGreen Lanternwill be joining theDC Universesooner rather than later.
