14 DAY TRIAL // “Green Lantern” was supposed to be Ryan Reynolds’ debut in the superhero genre but it turned out to be a dud. Warner Bros. is equally disappointed that it didn’t launch a new franchise, but it’s not willing to give up on it just yet.
Despite very poor critical reception and almost as poor performance at the box office (compared to initial expectations, of course), the studio still wants a “Green Lantern” sequel.
Not only does it want one, but it’s also working to make it happen. The LA Times reports that a first draft for the script is completed, and a new director has been found.
According to inside sources who, the publication says, are not at liberty to speak on the record about the film, studio bosses believe that it was the approach and not the idea that backfired with “Green Lantern.”
In other words, Warners is willing to spend the big bucks once more on another film about the green superhero – more likely a reboot than a sequel per se.
“We had a decent opening so we learned there is an audience,” Warner Bros. film group President Jeff Robinov says. “Green Lantern” opened to $53 million, but barely made it past the $110 million threshold domestically.
“To go forward we need to make it a little edgier and darker with more emphasis on action…. And we have to find a way to balance the time the movie spends in space versus on Earth,” Robinov says.
In other words, they aim to make the film grittier, because that’s what Chris Nolan did with Batman in “Batman Begins,” turning a new leaf in the character’s history and, at the same time, making billions at the box office.
“Warner Bros. already has an outline for a sequel on hand written by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim, who all worked on the script for the original,” LA Times writes.
However, there is the belief that Warner Bros. will make drastic changes to the story, which makes sense given that they want the second film to be a hit.
“One change the executives are quite certain of, however: They would like a new director. Warner Bros. was not thrilled with the work of ‘Green Lantern’ director Martin Campbell, the people said, and would likely seek a new director for a sequel should one go into production,” the aforementioned media outlet says, citing the unnamed but very reliable inside sources.