Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern Bombing isn’t Why One of the Best DC Animated Shows Was Canceled

SUMMARY

• Green Lantern has been the butt of DC's jokes when it comes to on-screen adaptations.
• Even a pretty on-point animated adaptation failed to move past one season.
• Hopes are high with DCU's upcoming Lanterns series.

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With James Gunn’s DCU in the making, fans have a lot of questions about their favorite characters making it to the DC Universe. However, there’s one big hitter from the comics that has often been sidelined by both live-action and animated adaptations. Yes, we are talking about Green Lantern.

Ryan Reynolds as the Green Lantern| Warner Bros.

Green Lantern did get a chance at revival as a successful animation in 2011. However, the reputation that preceded the IP due to Ryan Reynolds’ failed movie left a big scar on its legacy.

Lack of a toyline caused the cancellation of Green Lantern: The Animated Series

Green Lantern: The Animated Series| Warner Bros

When it comes to superhero IPs, adaptations and merchandise go hand in hand. When Ryan Reynolds‘ Green Lantern film fumbled hard, the toy sales went down the drain.

Josh Keaton, who voiced Hal Jordan in the animated show, recalled in an interview with IGN:

From what I’ve heard, the performance of the [Green Lantern] movie made it so there was a lot of movie toys still in stores. And so the stores didn’t necessarily differentiate between one being movie toys and others being animated series toys.

They just said, ‘Green Lantern? We already have those.’ And so because of that, a toyline wasn’t even made. And because a toyline wasn’t made, we really didn’t have the funding to go on in that sense, because a lot of funding is tied to that.

Seeing the disinterest in Green Lantern toy sales, storekeepers refused to keep any more stock of the character’s figurines. This affected Green Lantern: The Animated Series, which followed the film and was actually pretty good, very negatively.

Josh Brolin might be DCU’s new Hal Jordan

Josh Brolin as Cable in Deadpool 2| 20th Century Fox

The DC Universe is developing a new series titled Lanterns, set to spotlight the Green Lantern Corps. HBO’s synopsis reveals that the series will feature John Stewart and Hal Jordan as lead characters.

The studio is reportedly seeking a prominent actor to portray the iconic Lantern, Hal Jordan. According to recent updates, Josh Brolin is currently in discussions to take on the legendary superhero role.

Josh Brolin could be a suitable choice to portray Hal Jordan in the series. Given that Nathan Fillion, the only Green Lantern cast in the DCU thus far, is set to play Guy Gardner in Superman, Brolin could seamlessly step into the role of Hal. Considering that Guy Gardner is meant to be slightly younger than Hal Jordan, and Fillion is three years Brolin’s junior, the casting could align well with the characters’ ages.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series is streaming on Max

Written by Sayantan Choudhary

Articles Published: 95

Sayantan is an editor for FandomWire/Animated Times. He has previously worked with reputed websites like Wiki Of Thrones and Collider over the past 4 years, and is deeply passionate about TV shows, films, anime, gaming, and everything pop culture.