Marvel Icon Passes On DC’s Hottest New Project
Josh Brolin has proven to be quite a superhero switch hitter, previously playing both Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Cable in Deadpool 2. Recently, the actor had the chance to suit up as yet another major hero, but he decided to walk away from the opportunity. The actor was recently offered the chance to star in Lanterns (the upcoming Green Lantern show on Max), but according to The Hollywood Reporter, he ended up declining the offer to star in this ambitious DCU show.
A Previous Green Lantern Candidate
He may seem like an odd choice for the show, but Josh Brolin has more of a connection to the famous DC Comics character than you might think. He was originally considered for Hal Jordan, the lead role in the doomed Green Lantern movie that ultimately went to Deadpool & Wolverine star Ryan Reynolds. The offer to star in Lanterns was his second chance to appear in this colorful comic universe, but after getting offered an unnamed role back in August, he declined.
The Quality Wasn’t A Concern
Given how ignominiously the DCEU exploded, you might think that Josh Brolin walked away from this Green Lantern series because he was worried about its quality. On paper, though, the show looks like it could be a major hit based on the specific talent involved. The man running the show is Chris Mundy, the Ozark showrunner who helped that show score a staggering 24 Primetime Emmy nominations, four of which resulted in wins.
From The Mind Behind Lost
On top of that, Mundy will be writing Lanterns, and he is joined by Damon Lindelof, the man who created Lost and, more pertinently, HBO’s surprisingly amazing Watchmen show. The final writer is Tom King, an Eisner-award-winning comic book scribe who is uniquely poised to shape the DCU from the ground up. The show could still be a flop, but if it’s nearly as good as James Gunn’s Peacemaker show, Josh Brolin would have been a real asset.
Brolin Would Have Fit Right In
That’s even clearer when you consider the enticing premise of Lanterns. The show has veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan mentoring rookie ring-slinger John Stewart, and the two must investigate a murder on Earth that has ramifications for the galaxy at large. Many have likened the basic premise to HBO’s hit show True Detective, and the gravel-voiced Josh Brolin would have been right at home in a hardboiled detective show.
Another Star Passed
While it’s not entirely clear what role he was offered, many speculated Brolin would have played an older, more seasoned version of Hal Jordan. Now, we sadly know that he won’t be suiting up as Green Lantern, and recent reports have also quashed some other persistent casting rumors. For example, Matthew McConaughey (himself a True Detective veteran) was also rumored to play Jordan, but recent sources have reported that he won’t be rocking a green uniform in James Gunn’s new universe.
Josh Brolin Has Been In A Lot Of Comic Book Movies
It’s sad to hear that Josh Brolin won’t be suiting up as a superhero a third time, but that hasn’t really dampened our spirits for Lanterns. Green Lantern has always been one of DC’s best characters in the hands of skilled writers, and we can’t help but root for this show to be a success after the spectacular failure of Ryan Reynold’s previous movie. The show certainly has all the right talent behind it…now, as with a rookie Lantern, we can only hope the creative team has the willpower to bring their vision to glorious green life.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
