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Those Who Worship Evil's Might

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (19)

strong-stardust.jpeg

Casting news about the movie based on the DC Comics hero Green Lantern is coming out of the woodwork these days. So far, director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, Edge of Darkness) and company have been hitting it out of the park, grabbing Ryan Reynolds for the lead, Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, the love interest, Tim Robbins as Senator Hammond and Peter Sarsgaard as Hamond’s son, Hector. Sarsgaard was noted to be the bad guy, but now the part of Sinestro, who is Green Lantern’s archnemesis in the books, has been cast.

The part is going to Mark Strong, and I couldn’t be happier. He’s been in talks for a while, but now it’s confirmed. Not only is he one seriously menacing-looking motherfucker, but Strong has consistently impressed me in everything I’ve seen him in (and he spends a lot of time playing bad guys). Whether it was as Septimus in Stardust, Lord Blackwood in Sherlocke Holmes or Hani in Body of Lies, he’s just nailing every role he takes on.

Green Lantern is actually a pretty great hero in the DC universe, with a lot of dense history and some great possibilities. It’ll need some kickass special effects, but everything I’m reading about it is promising. The concept art has been pretty damn impressive as well — a number of designs for other members of the Lantern Corps were released last month:

lantern_line_up-550x309.jpg

kilowog.jpg

Pretty sweet, if you ask me.

(h/t to Slashfilm for the pics)









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Comments

CHEEKBONES!

Posted by: BWeaves at February 22, 2010 12:04 PM

wait... they cast Ryan Reynolds and then decide that they want to make him look like some sort of fish / amphibian / romulo-vulcan type thing?

or maybe i have no idea what the hell the green lantern is but if one of those concept art thingys showed up, i'd probably start blasting it with mace real quick.

Posted by: marcusarilius777 at February 22, 2010 12:16 PM

Just watched Body Of Lies, & while it didn't totally rule the school, once I realized it was Mark Strong as the Jordanian head of security, it got better.

Posted by: the new transported man at February 22, 2010 12:17 PM

That is some good casting. I'm now actually looking forward to the movie. I assume Michael Duncan Clark will get cast as the behemoth up there? Or perhaps Ving Rhames?

Posted by: admin at February 22, 2010 12:22 PM

I'm was starting to wonder if they'd actually get into the whole Green Lantern Corp. That's what it needs to be. Light on origin story, heavy on Intergalactic Police.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at February 22, 2010 12:28 PM

I gotta say, he was the best Mister Knightley in the old BBC version of Emma. I think that's the only time I've ever seen him playing a non-villainous character. But he's still good even when he's not a villain, I guess was my point.

Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at February 22, 2010 1:08 PM

Not at all up on my comic book (I'm sorry geekers, I really meant
*Graphic Novel*) lore.
Dat up dere though? Be the hawtness. Wow. I must hasten to the
NetFlix and get busy. I mean, queue up some movies to view.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at February 22, 2010 1:25 PM

YAY, YAY, YAY!!! Mark Strong is the best villain ever. The other day, we were driving behind a black SUV with a sticker that read "Blackwood" on the back and my sister was like, "Don't you think that's scary?"

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it's all black and it says "Blackwood," just like Lord Blackwood from Sherlock Holmes!"

Also, Anne, I've always been partial to Jeremy Northam's Knightley. He played Knightley a little sweeter and jokier, which I liked.

Posted by: Jelinas at February 22, 2010 1:57 PM

Yes not so glowery and priggish and condescending and "badly done Emma." Ugh Knightley is NOT my favorite, not at all.

Posted by: coveredinbees at February 22, 2010 2:03 PM

Yum!

Now if only Blake Lively would come down with a harmless but incredibly protracted disease, or a scheduling conflict, which would force her to back the fuck outta this movie and get replaced with, um, an actress...

Posted by: Nat Kittyface at February 22, 2010 2:15 PM

If you passed over Body of Lies for whatever reason, reconsider.

Not directed at TK.

Posted by: Recondite at February 22, 2010 2:45 PM

Amon Sur and Kilowog look awesome. Tomar Re looks creepy.

Posted by: superasente at February 22, 2010 2:52 PM

I love Mark Strong in everything. Even when he was just a walking third-degree burn in Sunshine

Posted by: Claire at February 22, 2010 5:04 PM

Everyone in this movie has permission to do me six ways from Tuesday.

Posted by: esme at February 22, 2010 5:59 PM

Yeah can't say that I'm thrilled to hear about blake lively being in anything.... much less a comic book movie. and imho any actress would be an improvement. I know they won't, but I wish they wouldn't rush the sinestro part of the plot. They should have him, build the whole new guy/mentor (like training day in space) thing while hal jordan goes about saving the universe from what the fuck ever threatens to destroy it or what have you, and along the way find out bits and pieces of what sinestro is up to, until dun dun DUNH!!! wtf he's the bad guy? hal totally feels betrayed... what where did these credits come from? I was just taking this thing seriously, it completely blew me away like iron man in space and when i finally get a chance to catch my breath its in a gasplike manner that the movie ended and now i can't wait for the next movie to come out to see what happens with sinestro! (imagine that "sentence" if you will to have been said as fast and in one breath for full effect, hell why not the whole damn post) because i'd totally love for there to be a great green lantern movie that consists for a well constructed gripping epic knockout drag down space battle galore green constructs vs yellow constructs flying around beat em up with a compelling build up and great story hooks of hal jordan vs sinestro... i just don't want it to take place in the 45 minutes they have left after they tell their whole orgin story, hal/carol ferris gosh wouldn't it be great if these crazy kids got together buildup, how do these hammond people factor into everything plotline, meet the other members of the green lantern corps, oh here's your archnemesis 1 2 3 go fight. Thats the kind of movie i expect to receive but not really the one i want to get all wrapped up and dropped in my lap. It doesn't matter, all they had to do was say green lantern movie in theaters this friday on 15 second tv ads, banner ads on the net saying the same thing and i'd still be there. but if they give me a movie that captures a geoff johns green lantern storyline it will guarantee i'm back in the seat several times before it leaves theaters and i'm preordering the dvd.

Posted by: protoformX at February 22, 2010 6:12 PM

Jelinas and coveredinbees, I think that's fair, to each her own Knightley. I thought that Jeremy Northam was the best part of that version of Emma. I just liked the BBC one better in general, I didn't think Emma was such a lightweight so I didn't mind Knightley being harder on her (he expects better!).

Posted by: Anne (in Reno) at February 22, 2010 8:22 PM

Oh Anne, don't get me wrong, I think Strong did a better interpretation of Austen's Mr. Knightley, that probably has a lot to do with the BBC script, but I'll still give Strong credit. I just meant I don't like Knightley in general, be he sternly reprimanding or jovially condescending. Mr. Knightley as a character is one of my least favorite Austen heros. But, CERTAINLY, to each his own Mr. Knightley. I'll take Captain Wentworth, thankyouverymuch!

Posted by: coveredinbees at February 22, 2010 8:30 PM

coveredinbees - I'll fight you for him...

Mark Strong is the best villain ever. But has Hollywood really come back to the age of 'all villains must be British'? I thought we'd gotten past that.

Posted by: redfeather at February 23, 2010 3:42 AM

Oh redfeather, and I say this with love, go jump off a step in Lyme.

Without British villians, where would Jason Isaacs be?

Posted by: coveredinbees at February 23, 2010 6:53 PM