From the first time Clark Kent walked into a phone booth mild mannered and walked out able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, the concept of superheroes having dual identities has been almost as important to the genre as the superpowers themselves. Not so for John Stewart, Earth’s fourth Green Lantern and sometimes member of the “Justice League of America” — one of the more prominent heroes to choose not to wear a mask.
Now the actor who was cast to play him is pulling back his.
Long rumored to be in contention for the role, Common confirmed to MTV News for the first time publically that he was cast in the now dormant film, calling being picked for the role “an honor.”
“It’s a blessing really, to know that I could potentially be this superhero,” he enthused. “Justice League itself is an honor, and Green Lantern is an incredible character to play. It’s a blessing to be associated with it.”
In particular, Common felt it was a special privilege to be the cast’s only black super.
“Just being a black person, a black man, playing a superhero is an honor in itself,” he smiled.
Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice: Last month the superhero tag team fell to a foe even greater than Lex Luther or Darkseid, the villainous organization known simply as the WGA. But while the film may have been momentarily shelved, Common still sees it moving forward relatively soon, declining to discuss plot details since it was still “in progress.”
But that won’t stop us from speculating. Common’s your guy. How do you think he’ll perform in the role? Sound off below.
February 8th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
So he’s definitely playing the role in the movie that’s not happening? Weird….
February 8th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I was happy with his casting. It was Superman and Batman’s casting that I hated. Never cared for the skinny guy in Superman Returns, so never cared if he was replaced, but that doesn’t mean they can just dump anybody in the role. Loved Bale, and if he is replaced, it better be with somebody worthy.
February 8th, 2008 at 10:37 pm
When do they start shooting the movie can you let us know please?
February 10th, 2008 at 2:19 am
Well, cool and all…but the WGA an evil villain?
Shame on you Shawn, shame on you.
February 10th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I think it was a joke, Kevin. I thought it was funny. Would a laugh track help you?
February 10th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
The only Green Lantern is Hal Jordan. In the cartoon the Green Lantern always sounded like “I’m a black man with a power ring an’ I’ma gonna kick yer ass!”
February 10th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Green Lantern should have been Hal Jordan, he is the main GL in the comics and is the fan fav. WB doesn’t have to make GL a second string John Stewart just to have a black super hero. There are plenty of black super heroes they could have used and still kept to the comic lore. Shave his face and Common would be a bad ass Black Lightning which is a current member of the Justice League.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Hal Jordan is THE Green Lantern
Not Jhon is the film, please!! =(
February 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Should real Green Lantern fans be punished by not having Hal Jordan (I bet we’d even accept Guy or Kyle) as the Justice League Green Lantern just because DC is awful at making racially diverse super heroes? It’s one thing to do it this way and reference the other FOUR Earth Green Lanterns, but I bet just like the cartoon they’ll just combine Hal’s story into John’s.
How much do you want to bet they don’t even represent his powers right?
February 11th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I dunno. I’m actually kinda happy with using John Stewart. I just hope he can live up to Phil Lamar’s version.
(voice acting only or not, i think that was an amazing green lantern.)
February 11th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I teach comic book history to high school students, and today we started talking about the Justice League. Honestly, because of the animated series, most non-comics readers know John Stewart as Green Lantern, which may have had some influence on the decision.
If he can act, God bless him!
February 11th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
-in Justice League of America (Filmation, 1966) GREEN LANTERN IS HAL JORDAN!
-in the all seasons of Superfriends GREEN LANTERN IS HAL JORDAN!!
-in JLU episode “Once and future thing Part.2″ the -alternative- Green Lantern IS HAL JORDAN!
-In Duck Doogers THE GREEN LANTERN IS HAL JORDAN!
-in New Frontier GREEN LANTERN IS HAL JORDAN! (2008)
-in The Batman episodes “The Joing Part.2″ “Ring Toss” and “Power Lost Part 1 & 2″ GREEN LANTERN IS HAL JORDAN!! (2007-2008)
The greatest HAL JORDAN enemy SINESTRO APPEARS IN:
-SUPERFRIENDS
-SUPERMAN ANIMATED
-JL/JLU
-DUCK DOGERS
-THE BATMAN
February 11th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
picture caption:
“I ARE ANGRY GREEN LANTERN FEAR MY PERFECTLY TRIMMED GOATEE”
February 11th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Personally I don’t see it. And by “it” I mean Common as GL. I mean please tell me this is a joke right? And it’s not that I don’t like Common, I just don’t see it.
The G.I Joe cast is bad enough, so I don’t hold high hope for this flick either.
February 12th, 2008 at 10:17 am
With the tens of thousands pages of JLA comics,
a two movie means nothing……
Thomas
February 12th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Yeah, he sounds cool, tell me he’s gonna sound Hal Jordan-ish like in the JL(U) cartoons. I think I’m gonna hate the Superman and Batman casting… That Porter guy or something? Nah. TOM WELLING FOR THE ROLE! Even though in Superman Returns, Routh’s script wasn’t amazing with his 10 lines, him would be better than a recast. but then again, Tom Welling is our generation’s Superman!
February 12th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Most of you sound like bumbling fools. If anyone knows the history of the Book of Oa and the Order of the Green Lantern knows that there are many who have the Power Ring that Hal Jordan had, there a friggin intergalactic police force for christ’s sake. Although Hal was Sick, Can’t take anything away from John Stewart or fault him for being picked as Earth’s 4th Green Lantern. Bottom LINE is John Stewart is the most recent GL there is on earth. Most people almost sound mad because GL isn’t the white Hal Jordan that people knew. Stewart’s no knockoff, he’s just new and improved.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:55 am
For the uneducated out there John Stewart was a substitute GL for Hal originally, and he was the third Earth GL. The newest and “most improved” GL would be Kyle Rayner and not John Stewart. Stewart is a poor choice for the JL movie and most people will agree. Oh and for those other bumbling idiots out there, the four GL’s of earth each have their own power ring, they are not all the same one that Hal had.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:49 am
John Stewart’s the 2nd coolest GL there is. Former Marine badass who comes from a world none of you spoiled little shits will ever know.
Have you “uneducated” idiots not read the whole Hal Jordan/John Stewart socially (and racially) charged issues which challenged within Jordan the very same notions you secretely hold? Doesn’t look like it.
I applaud the choice of John Stewart; though am unsure of Common’s acting skills…which are for the most part unproven. If he brings the energy he does to a live show though..to the ring; we should be good to go.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Well I am excited that they are using John Stewart. I love the relationship between him and HawkGirl on Justice of America (Animated). I hope the movie happens - and if it does I hope that Hawkgirl is cast as his love interest.
February 16th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Stewart Was the 5th Green Lantern, Alan Scott (1st) Hal Jordan (2nd) Charlie Vickers (3rd) Guy Gardner (4th) John Stewart (5th) Kyle Rayner (6th). My bet is they use Hals Secret Origin because like everything that John Stewart has done on TV they simply took it from Hal. Stewart is a guy who let a planet blow up because he is just too dumb. If they kept his stories then I wouldn’t have a problem, he is on there because he is black…. my question is this…why not keep GL as Hal and make Batman or Superman black?
February 18th, 2008 at 4:04 am
I’m So glad they’re going with John Stewart instead of Hal or Kyle. I wouldn’t mind if they chose Kyle thought. It is becasue of John Stewart that the GL makes my top 5 superhero fav list. A one time U.S. marine now superhero. A spinoff movie of his own will be cool. If he loses his powers, he could always resort back to his Marine training, like in the JL episode “The Savage Time”.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I hope Common has some acting skills because it would be a shame to have the Lantern looking bad. I feel that there is such a vast amount of information in regards to the GL storyline that we should not have to single out just one of the lanterns, can you imagine a movie that features the origins of these guys and how they use their rings differently, if the main earth GLs are featured then everybody can enjoy their favorite instead of bashing John Stewart all the time
February 21st, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I think beating Sinestro and Star Saffire to a pulp is way more important than crying about which lantern gets to do it. Can’t we all get along???????????
February 29th, 2008 at 1:04 am
You can’t count alan scott in this convo as he never was part of the corps, I can’t beleive hopeful brings up the destruction of a planet when with all the death and destruction Hal did and even attempted to undo all of creation. i think because of the popularity of the animated show they went w/Stewart. Oh yeah and check out common in Smokin Aces
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I don’t have a problem with GL being Common except that I hope they keep it real and make him an architect/ex marine with the complex storyline from the comic and not just the ex marine from the hood, from the cartoon. Plus, Guy Gardner (the coolest GL) gets no love anywhere! I’d love to see a modern portrayal of him!
March 7th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I think the only way Jordan should be the GL, is if there is a spinoff involving his transformation into Parallax…Common, in my humble opinion, is the only black actor other than Taye Diggs, or perhaps the son (don’t know his name) from House of Payne, that will be able to portray GL in a manner consistent with the comic…Stewart has become the more recognizable GL because of the series, and video games…so he is simultaneously the logical, and more diverse choice…
April 11th, 2008 at 7:25 am
stop hatingon john stewart hate on Common being casted besides hal jordan will be appearing as the main dude in the solo green lantern film.
It’s not fair really that some of you say that you’d rather have Guy over John. I mean Kyle is the newest so it’s understandable, Hal is the most famous.
All I’m saying don’t hate on John Stewart, hate on the casting of common. Hal will appear eventually. I also agree with the Black Lightning part but then they’ll have to take someone away causing an uproar with some of the fans.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
nerds lol
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:03 am
Well I may be just a little old lady but think Common is a great choice for John Stewart.
I remember when Hal Jordan was the new lantern on the block. I didn’t much like him at first. I always thought he was a bit bland.
I took to John Stewart MUCH quicker, he has charisma. Stewart is the ‘cool’ lantern. And i hope Common does him justice.