As Warner Bros. and DC Comics continue to expand their cinematic universe, fans of fantasy and action are destined to be introduced to some pretty amazing stories and characters. And although the film isn’t expected to hit theaters until July 24, 2020, I see no reason not to start speculating wildly about the possibilities for GREEN LANTERN CORPS. Ah, but what if you’re new to the concepts and characters of Green Lantern – DC’s super-powered and interstellar space police? No worries. It might be a Cliff’s Notes version, but we’ve got your back.
The first Green Lantern, Alan Scott, was created by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell for All-American Publications. The character then made his inaugural appearance in the issue All-American Comics #16. Since that time, the Green Lantern series has grown exponentially, with creators like Geoff Johns, Neal Adams, Steve Englehart, Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, and many more, contributing to some of the coolest stories featuring the GREEN LANTERN CORPS – a division of superheroes who battle evil using cosmic rings that grant them a range of astonishing abilities.
Word has come in that GREEN LANTERN CORPS intends to depict the origins of both Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Jordan, created in 1959 by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane, As a rebooted version of Alan Scott, Jordan, a United States Air Force test pilot, recieved his power ring from Abin Sur – a dying alien who'd crash-landed in the California desert. Meant to serve as a replacement officer for Sur, Jordan was then thrust into the world of the Green Lanterns, with the responsibility of protectiong all who are a part of Sector 2814 being of the upmost importance. On the other hand, John Stewart, an architect from Detroit Michigan, was chosen by the Guardians of the Universe as a backup officer for Guy Gardner, who'd been gavely injured in an event. Unwelcomed at first by Jordan and several of his fellow Lanterns, Stewart earned the respect of his fellow officers over time, and went on to become (arguably) the face of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS for many years.
With the knowledge that Green Lantern has been responsible for some of the largest and most sensational battles in DC Comic’s history, it would be downright criminal not to turn our imaginations loose, and shine a light on a few things we'd like to see in GREEN LANTERN CORPS.
1, Lanterns From Every Color in the Emotional Spectrum
This one is a no brainer. The GREEN LANTERN CORPS universe is massive, and to not take full advantage of the entire Green Lantern color spectrum would certainly be a missed oppotunity. We already know that the movie will focus primarily on the origins of both Hal Jordan and John Stewart, but with any luck, members of the Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue, Indigo, Violet, Black, and White Lantern groups will also be making an appearence. While I'm aware that it would be impossible to explore each of the Lantern sectors individually, it would be great if the movie showcased the diversity and possibilities of the Green Lantern universe as a whole.
2. Better and Badass Costume Designs
We all know why this one’s going on the list. Say what you will about the 2011 Green Lantern film, but that CGI costume was the worst. For this new movie, some people are going to have to burn the midnight oil and devise a far better way of combining a sensible-looking domino mask with a bit of sleek space kevlar. In my opinion, the Lanterns don’t need a whole lot of visual bells and whistles added to their outfits in order to make them look cool – that’s what the power ring is for. The best thing to do would be to simply streamline the outfit, and allow the character’s primary visual to be the varied effects of the power ring. Trust me, the fans will thank you.
3. A Truly Terrifying Villain
In borrowing inspiration from the late and great John Candy’s Dell Griffith character, permit me to say that six bucks and my right nut says Sinestro will be the villain of this upcoming film. Now, there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, Sinestro is arguably one of the best villains to ever come out of the Green Lantern comics. However, it would be cool if writers David Goyer and Justin Rhodes went outside the box a little bit, and looked to villains like Black Hand, Larfleez, Anti-Monitor, or Scar to bring the pain. We want to encounter the unexpected, and while there are many worthy foes in the vast Lantern-verse, some have the potential to pose more of a threat than others. Let's break out a very big gun for this movie, and let the consequences of their actions ring throughout the entire DCEU. Oh, and for the sake of all that's holy, please, no cloud of evil. Like, ever again.
4. Epic and Creative Lantern-based Battles
By far, one of the coolest aspects of being a member of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS is wielding your appointed power ring. Once activated, the ring emits a light-based, weaponized manifestation of sheer emotion and imagination. Be it willpower, hope, love, or death, the power rings have been used to fight some of the most ingenious and visually spectacular cosmic battles in all of comic book science fiction; we’d like to see that! We most certainly don't need more of the lackluster imaginings from 2011's GREEN LANTERN, complete with a boxing glove punch finale. They can do better!
5. Don’t Shy Away From the Weird
One of the biggest issues I have with recent comic book origin films, is that they’re beginning to feel a little “paint-by-numbers”, if you know what I mean. It sure would be nice if GREEN LANTERN CORPS wasn’t afraid to travel to the weird and wild corners of the cosmos when delivering its “Lethal Weapon in space” adventure. If you’re going to name-drop something like LETHAL WEAPON, you had better deliver. Look, if you delve into the pages of Green Lantern, you’ll find things like Mogo the Living Planet, animal, plant and germ-based Lanterns, and a whole mess of strange-looking aliens, egotists, and antagonists waiting among the stars. Embrace the well of diversity that the Green Lantern property offers, and don’t be afraid to get weird with it.
6. Character Cameos Galore
We’ve already mentioned just how many characters and creatures hail from the Green Lantern sector of DC Comics, so wouldn’t it be nice if we got see a whole lot of them? Whether they be directly involved in the central plot or not, let’s see Lanterns like Guy Gardener, Jessica Cruz, B’dg, Kyle Raynor, Atrocitus, Bleez, and others. Think about it, some of the most fun Marvel fans had with GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY was trying to spot the Easter eggs contained within The Collector’s stash. Here's another example, you remember Joss Whedon’s CABIN IN THE WOODS, right? Do you recall that scene where the camera pans out, revealing an innumerable amounts of nightmares, trapped inside the underground facilitie's cubicle prison? We want to see lots of characters in GREEN LANTERN CORPS, even if it’s just a fleeting glimpse or walk-on part.
7. Plant Clever Seeds for Sequels
It goes without saying that, if the film is a success, we can expect to see several GREEN LANTERN CORPS sequels in the coming years. It's my opinion that Warner Bros. should start planting some major seeds for future installments of the franchise. If it’s too early to introduce villains like Black Hand, or include radical, forward-thinking lanterns like Simon Baz, at least let the audience know that you recognize the potential for those devices and characters by including a few nods to your future plans. Getting audience members excited about what's to come will have them more invested in the present. It’s just good business. Imagine if, down the line, a GREEN LANTERN CORPS: BLACKEST NIGHT film was announced. Fans would lose their collective minds.
8. Build Your Own Universe & Mythology
While it’s nice to be a part of the over-arching DCEU, it would behoove GREEN LANTERN CORPS to be remain a tad selfish by first concentrating on building its own universe and mythology. I have no doubt that both Hal and John will eventually find themselves patrolling the streets of Gotham or the skies of Metropolis, but all in good time, please. There’s nothing worse than fast-forwarding characters into a larger mix before they’ve had the opportunity to stand on their own as important individuals within the group. DC Comics has spent decades creating stories that have helped make the characters of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS a worthwhile part of their ever-expanding universe. Respect that legacy, and have the confidence that it doesn't need Batman or Superman to make it work.
Well, you now have some idea as to what we'd like to see when GREEN LANTERN CORPS shines on the big screen on July 24, 2020, but what are your hopes for the film? Let us know in the comments section below!