Ranking Each Actor On The Green Lantern Shortlist

Green Lantern Corps is officially moving forward, and the casting of Hal Jordan and John Stewart will be one of the priorities in getting the franchise off the ground.

With Hal Jordan rumored to appear in the upcoming Justice League film, he’s the first character fans are expecting to see cast. Last week, a list of six actors was revealed to be on DC’s radar for the role.

According to the report, Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds, Tom Cruise, Armie Hammer, Joel McHale, and Jake Gyllenhaal are all on the minds of the producers at DC. Since that list has been released, Jason Marsden has also been brought up as a heavy contender.

The studio still needs to narrow the list down to one, and we thought we’d breakdown the chances of each actor nabbing the role. So, we’ve ranked all seven of these actors – not by performance or talent, but by how likely they are to receive the role.

Click through the slideshow to see who we think should get the coveted role of Hal Jordan.

7. Ryan Reynolds

Let’s just take this one off the table right now – Ryan Reynolds isn’t going to play the Green Lantern again.

Since Reynolds played the character in 2011, he’s gone on to lead the most popular superhero in the world – Deadpool. Now that he’s found his passion in the character, there’s no way he returns to Green Lantern.

Too many variables, too much animosity – there’s no amount of money Warner Bros. could offer Ryan Reynolds to have him don the green suit once again.

 

6. Tom Cruise

While Tom Cruise is a legendary actor, he’s just not right for the role. The only chance here is if the producers decide to cast older, as they did with Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne.

Cruise’s action training has prepared him to helm a franchise, but he’s already doing that with Mission Impossible, Jack Reacher, and The Mummy. If the Universal Monster Universe takes off like they’re hoping, Cruise will be too busy for DC.

The DCEU needs a young, vigorous actor who can shoulder the load of years of filming, and Cruise just isn’t that guy anymore.

 

5. Joel McHale

Joel McHale is hilarious, and he would make a great Hal Jordan is he was given the opportunity, but there are just some better names on the list.

Who knows, McHale could impress DC with an audition, but it’s tough to think the studio would pass on a proven name like Bradley Cooper or Jake Gylenhaal.

McHale isn’t a recognizable face to many average viewers, and that will hurt his chances here. Everyone else has either been given the spotlight in the past, or has appeared in enough major films to be known well by millions.

If you take money out of the equation, McHale could really pull off the role. It’s just a matter of the guy being given a chance.

 

4. James Marsden

While Marsden wasn’t on the initial shortlist, his name has been brought up since then. It’s not crazy to think the guy could slide in here and make a serious run for the role.

Marsden has superhero experience, as he starred in three X-Men films as Cyclops. Since the role has now been recast, he’s no longer tied to that franchise.

If you add that to his recent turn as Teddy in Westworld, Marsden has quite the resume to present to DC. He’s hot right now, and the studio could ride that streak.

 

3. Bradley Cooper

With the exception of Tom Cruise, Bradley Cooper is definitely the most bankable name on this list.

Having starred in multiple blockbuster films, Cooper is a man who audiences will flock to see. He’s also had experience in a connected Universe, having voiced Rocket Raccoon in Guardians Of The Galaxy.

There’s the problem though – his contract could keep him away from DC.

He does have a role in Marvel films, but it’s only a voice. Unlike Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., his face doesn’t make the company money. 

There could be a loophole in there somewhere that could allow Cooper to take on the Green Lantern, and his inclusion would help DC sell a ton of tickets.

 

2. Jake Gyllenhaal

Just like Bradley Cooper, Jake Gyllenhaal can definitely put butts in theater seats. If this guy takes the Green Lantern role, audiences are going to flock to the theater.

Where Gyllenhaal excels – aside from his familiar face – is his talented diversity as an actor. The guy has played such a wide range of characters over the years, and he has been recognized with multiple award nominations.

Gyllenhaal as also made it clear that he is a fan of comic movies, so he’d likely be interested in helming a franchise.

The only question here is the actor’s availability.

 

1. Armie Hammer

Armie Hammer is the best blend of what it’s going to take to get cast in the role of Hal Jordan. He’s got credibility in Hollywood, a face that people have seen at the theater before, an age that could give a big franchise longevity, and a reasonable schedule that could worked around.

No matter how you slice it, Hammer is a fit for Hal Jordan.

More importantly however, is that Hammer has the talent to portray the character. He’s witty when he chooses to be, but can be a dependable action lead based on his experience.

Possibly the biggest strength for Armie Hammer here is the failure that was The Lone Ranger. Some would consider the film a failure, and it could make some folks question Hammer’s ability to lead a franchise.

The same thing was said of Ryan Reynolds with Green Lantern in 2011. He knows what it’s like to fail, and doesn’t want that to happen again. He will only take the role if he knows it can be done well, and that’s a very positive sign.

Who do you think should play Hal Jordan in Green Lantern Corps? Let us know in the comments below!