With everyone from Common to Mary Elizabeth Winstead to Jessica Biel funneling through the “Justice League of America” rumor mill almost daily, we have a new name to throw into the mix: Columbus Short.
“I was up for that,” revealed the choreographer-turned-”Stomp the Yard” star, confirming that he has been approached for the part of The Green Lantern. The actor joins a long list of auditioners including T.I., Common and Tyrese Gibson, all of whom have been considered to slip on the most powerful ring in all of comic-dom.
“‘Justice League’ is going to be dope, it’s going to be huge,” grinned the fast-rising star, before dropping a second bomb: “But it’s not the movie for me.”
That’s right - Columbus Short has not only been considered for “Justice League,” but has already turned the filmmakers (including director George Miller) down cold. In joining the ranks of Biel and who knows how many others, Short said that he ultimately decided the script was too much popcorn for his taste.
“I think there comes a point in an actor’s career when he decides what type of actor you want to be,” explained the 25-year-old, who appears in “This Christmas” next month alongside Chris Brown. “[Each actor] decides: I want to do commercial movies, but do I want to go this way? Or do I want to go that way?”
For some time, Short remembered, he was intent on becoming the first major African-American superhero on-screen; these days, however, he’s content to watch somebody else grab the “Justice League” role. “I have a production company, and there was a while there when I was diligently pillaging old comic books, and going online to try and find black comics - and there’s not that many,” he explained. “Green Lantern is about John Stewart; he was one of the only [prominent black heroes].”
Would you have paid to see Short pledging: “In brightest day, in blackest night/No evil shall escape my sight?” If not, who’s your choice for the newest member of the Guardians of the Universe? With only a few months left before filming begins, you can bet that the studio is keeping an eye on the message boards!
If they want to cast the version of John Stewart that I feel can stand toe to toe with Superman and not flinch. The hard-nosed ex-Marine solider, the tactical leader of the JL that teaches them to fight as a unit(just watch the Justice League cartoon that was on Cartoon Network, you'll be a fan too); the ONLY actor that comes to mind is
HENRY SIMMONS!
Just look at his imdb.com profile, this dude is built like a superhero! He's 6' 4", strong jaw, awesome voice and he played a tough cop on NYPD Blue! What better choice is there for the most powerful police officer in the universe. I can see this actor standing in Superman's face barking orders on the right plan of attack and Kal-El listening to him.
The reason John Stewart GL is being used is because he's black. That's why he was used in JL and that's why he is in JLA. That is how Hollywood works.
I liked John Stewart from JL, but they changed him into an ex-Marine instead of him being an architect like in the comics. JL made him interesting. Before that he wasn't that special.
IMO if they needed a black guy they should put in Black Lightning. He's cool, and we could have had Hal Jordan GL.
Btw, Henry Simmons for GL John Stewart.
I would have to say Leonard Roberts would be the best choice for the movie. I see him in the part more than anybody at this time. Michael Jai White is a little long in the tooth for the part.
And one last point in your back and forth over Hal Jordan and John Stewart you seem to have forgotten another GL. Kyle Rayner.
I mean come on you fighting over two average Green Lanterns. Kyle Rayner is the most powerful GL ever. Hello an artist with the power to create anything, limited only by the imagination.
Besides Batman said he was and that is good enought for me.
The Dark Knight rules.
Not true. Bruce Timm put John Stewart in the show because he liked him more, what that character brings to the table! But I love the changes and updates that they made to him, it finally gives Stewart some credit and shows he is a real leader and one of the most respected Lanterns. DC knows this, he was one of the most popular characters from the show and the comics prove that. Just read "Green Lantern Rebirth", for all you people that think Hal Jordan is greatest, he says himself in that comic that Stewart "is the best flyer in the Corps." and "everything that John builds (with his ring) is solid". Don't make me go comic geek on somebody. Just know the movie will have a nice balance of personalities and actors with this choice, and it's not some affirmative action bull.
You buddy need to watch some episodes of Justice League again. Such as "Tabula Rasa" (#29,30) where Stewart starts teaching the JL to work as a team like a military unit, and instructs some of the team's bruisers like Superman to fight smart and use his team to fight foes he can't just beat on himself, like Amazo in this story arc.
Also look at "Hearts and Minds" (#35,36), first of all this is one a my favorite story lines and in it Stewart leads the resistance movement and without his power ring is a shown as a excellent battlefield commander and true solider.
When I say tactical leader I mean in fighting and battle plans (remember in this universe he has been a Lantern and a Marine for years), when it comes to organizing the team for rescue missions and such you are right.
PS I included the episode #s in case you get lost or shocker; you've never seen these episodes before!
You buddy need to watch some episodes of Justice League again. Such as "Tabula Rasa" (#29,30) where Stewart starts teaching the JL to work as a team like a military unit, and instructs some of the team's bruisers like Superman to fight smart and use his team to fight foes he can't just beat on himself, like Amazo in this story arc.
Also look at "Hearts and Minds" (#35,36), first of all this is one a my favorite story lines and in it Stewart leads the resistance movement and without his power ring is a shown as a excellent battlefield commander and true solider.
When I say tactical leader I mean in fighting and battle plans (remember in this universe he has been a Lantern and a Marine for years), when it comes to organizing the team for rescue missions and such you are right.
PS I included the episode #s in case you get lost or shocker; you've never seen these episodes before!
We'll hear the "token black guy" argument from now til Kingdom Come, but for the sake of reason, can we maybe accept that they'll do a black Green Lantern?
And as far as movies go, Blade is the first major black super-hero who made it to the big screen. Blade was made into a movie even before X-MEN, which is credited as what started the boom of comic-based movies.
Yeah, it was probably a mistake that Short turned down this role.
I think the obvious choices of Michael Jai White and Tyrese Gibson are too....obvious. Come on, Spawn AND Green Lantern? We saw what playing 2 major heroes did to Halle Berry (sorry fellas, its true).
Justice League is an ENSEMBLE story, meaning that it's not about ONE character. That said, it can't be such a huge actor in really ANY of the roles.
My thoughts on who could take on the role of John Stewart? Brian J. White. He was great as part of the Strike Team on the 3rd season of THE SHIELD, and was also on Stomp The Yard, Daddy's Little Girls, and most recently The Game Plan.
I think they should keep out rappers and singers who can't act, as well.
I'd like to also say that I hope that Batman and Superman are not in this movie. The original Justice League was Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Aquaman, Flash (Barry Allen), and Black Canary. Superman and Batman originally turned down membership, inclining to have "reserve status" at first.
And if they were to make GL into a white guy (Hal Jordan, Guy Gardener, etc.) I'd say Cole Hauser (Pitch Black, The Cave, The Break Up).
So for all of you that are reading these blogs and don't know who John Stewart is and want to see just how awesome the character is, watch these following episodes of the Justice League cartoon:
In Blackest Night #4,5
Hearts and Minds #35,36
Secret Society #45,46
So for all of you that are reading these blogs and don't know who John Stewart is and want to see just how awesome the character is, watch these following episodes of the Justice League cartoon:
In Blackest Night #4,5
Hearts and Minds #35,36
Secret Society #45,46
Also to Dave what do you think about Mr. Terrific, you probably think Superman is a better strategist!
Hal Jordan is the most popular "Green Lantern." Therefore, Hal Jordan has to be in "Justice League." I grew to like Jon Stewart in the Justice League" animated series but that grew out of his relationship w/ Shyera Hol.
We have to have "Hal Jordan" because that works better if "Sinestro" is the villain in a "Green Lantern" movie. If they decide to introduce Jon Stewart + Kyle Rayner in the upcoming "Green Lantern" movie, that's fine. For movie purposes they have to do "Hal Jordan for Green Lantern." That way they can delve into Coast City, Sinestro, Carol Ferris, + Parallax. I can't think of his name right now but the guy who play "Cyclops" in the "X-MEN" movies would be a perfect "Hal Jordan," in my opinion.
While I'm aware that John Stewart played the role of strategist on a few episodes of the Justice League, so did The Question: are you considering him the Justice League strategist as well? The diegetic (that's story, sir) structure driving the Justice League animated series, especially the Unlimited run, focused on placing a variety of different characters in leadership roles, but overall, the monitor and coordinating duties were given to Martian Manhunter or Mr. Terrific (Batman served a similar role in the field more often than not). Furthermore, from the perspective of character depth (you know, the thing that makes a story compelling), Kyle Rayner is the ideal Lantern as his background is not heroic, therefore, he's even less cookie cutter than John Stewart, whose military background echoes that of Hal Jordan.
I believe the conversation began with reference to the Justice League cartoon. Therefore I have been focusing on that aspect of the mythos. Every version of a character has a changes made by the author at the time. Over the years Batman has gone through changes. This is a reflection of societal climate, which affects tastes of the people and the author.
It boils down to this, weather the origin is an architect or a marine I feel John Stewart is a cookie cutter hero. His aproach to all things is a very simplistic one. There just seems to be no creativity present.
Kyle Rayner is hands down a more interesting Green Lantern. A person with no hero background thrust into a situation where he has to make decisions of life and death. Then to aid him along with these decisions he is gvien the ability to create. A scenario like that allows me as the reader to think not what would the character do, but infact what I would do in that situation.
One last thing I completley agree with you on your Batman point.
P.S. Morpheus
I neglected to include one additional point. Superman is a hood ornament, a figure head, the break glass incase of emergency. The one thing you never do is have Clark engage in diplomatic negotiations. As fans we have all seen him impliment Kryptonian Diplomacy and that would be to hit things before thinking them through. With powers like his he can afford to be sloppy.
Whatever, I'm straying. The point is, it really annoys me to think Hal Jordan won't be in the movie, since he is one of my favorite DC characters. Enough of John Stewart, please.
Oh, and it would actually be cool to have Barry Allen as the Flash making the ultimate sacrifice...
You know Hollywood you need to expand your talent search there are really good true honest to the bone actors out here in the world. Stop settling for musicians please. they cannot act!
I'll say again that I don't think Michael Jai White should be Jon Stewart GL. He was Spawn. Leave it at that. Playing two major superheroes is a bad idea. Just look what it did to Halle Barry.
I stick with Brian White who was on the 3rd season of THE SHIELD, along with roles on Stomp The Yard, Daddy's Little Girls, etc.
On THE SHIELD, he was a great (if only short-lived) member of the Strike Team and showed he's got some acting chops.
If they go with Hal Jordan or some other caucasian Green Lantern, they should cast Cole Hauser. He went toe-to-toe with Vin Diesal in Pitch Black, and kicked ass in Papparazzi (even though no one saw that movie).
As for the team of Justice League, stick with the ORIGINAL team, and there won't be a problem of re-casting Superman and Batman.
Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, and Aquaman. The original 5, since Supes and Bats opted for "reserve" status at first.
Just my opinion...
Spawn?
Storm?
But I'm slightly concerned actors are turning down this movie? What do they know I don't?
If...
Hal Jordan - Ewan McGregor
John Stewart - Omar Epps
Guy Gardner - Carmine Giovinazzo
Kyle Rayner - David Krumholtz
All of my choices have nothing what to do with their acting more on they're on my favorite TV shows and Movies.
=)
Peace & Love
Will be disappointed that I won't get to see his sexy behind in some tight spandex though...