Warner Bros. recognizes Green Lantern misfire in light of Deadpool 2 gags

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for DEADPOOL 2. Read at your own peril.

On Friday, Warner Bros. bowed their heads in shame while admitting that their 2011 GREEN LANTERN film starring Ryan Reynolds was less than a success. The studio poked fun at their own effort to represent DC's Hal Jordan character by tweeting out the following image: 

As the story goes, the above posted tweet was the WB's way of responding to the release of DEADPOOL 2, and the gags featured in the film at GREEN LANTERN's expense. At the time of GREEN LANTERN's release, many critics and fans alike felt as if the Martin Campbell-directed superhero flick lacked imagination, and failed to take advantage of the vast library of source material upon which the property is based. Today, GREEN LANTERN holds a 26% score on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 4.6/10. Woof!

Okay, here's where the article gets super spoilery. If you've yet to see DEADPOOL 2, what the hell are you doing here? Go get your ass to the theater and have a great time! Alright, for those of you who already know how awesome the movie is, take yourselves back to that sweet mid-credits sequence. Are you there? Nice. Now think on the part where Deadpool goes back in time and kills Ryan Reynolds after he reads and approves the script for the film, while saying, “You’re welcome, Canada.” Do you think that had a little something to do with Warner Bros. tweet? I'll bet you a life supply of chimichangas that it did. After all, it wouldn't be the first time Deadpool ragged on Reynold's GREEN LANTERN. Remember that part in Tim Miller's DEADPOOL when Wade pleaded for his superhero costume to not be green or animated? Oh yeah, the burns just keep on rollin'.

I'll say this much. It's nice to see Warner Bros. not only cop to the failure, but to also take the playful ribbing in stride. Far too often can a jab at another studio's expense go south, and bring about a conversation that no one wants to have. Good on you, WB, and better luck next time.

After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry’s hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor – finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World’s Best Lover.

DEADPOOL 2 stars Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth, Morena Baccarin as Vanessa, T.J. Miller as Weasel, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Stefan Kapičić as Colossus, Zazie Beetz as Domino, Julian Dennison as Russell and Josh Brolin as Cable.

The David Leitch-directed sequel is now slicing and dicing through box office records at a theater near you. Go see it!