Hal Jordan and John Stewart Set to Join the DCEU in Green Lantern Corps Movie

"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might beware my power, Green Lantern's light!"

It's been quite some time since we heard those words on the big screen. Back in 2011, Warner Bros released Green Lantern, a movie they hoped would be the foundation of the #DCEU. Unfortunately, the movie didn't get a particularly positive reception and the DCEU wound up delayed for a few years.

Now, with the DCEU firmly established, fans have been eagerly wondering just when we'd see Green Lantern return. We now know that day is getting ever closer.

A Script is in the Works

Deadline recently broke the news that Justin Rhodes is working on a script with none other than David Goyer from a story that was originally conceived by Goyer and Geoff Johns. Goyer has a rich pedigree when it comes to superhero films; he's the man who wrote classics like Blade, Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight. Goyer's already playing a major role in the DCEU as he wrote Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The film is titled Green Lantern Corps and it's envisioned as Lethal Weapon in space. It's an origin story that features not one but two Green Lanterns - Hal Jordan and John Stewart. By all accounts, Stewart is the focal character, with Jordan an experienced mentor figure. Deadline describes John Stewart like this:

"The latter is an African American Marine sniper before he joined the Lantern Corps and the story very much focuses on his relationship with Jordan and the Corps."

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this account, though, is that it suggests people of Earth have already made contact with the Green Lanterns and that we've already got a human Green Lantern. Many fans are already wondering whether or not this means Ryan Reynolds will reprise his role as Hal Jordan.

While 2011's Green Lantern wasn't exactly a tremendous success story, Deadpool's incredible box office performance has turned Reynolds into superhero-gold. If DC has any opportunity to bring him back, they're sure to jump at the chance.

That said, it's safe to say that Reynolds would be very, very wary. Green Lantern may well be a chapter of Reynolds's history that he simply wants to forget! He told The Independent:

"I represented the death of the superhero for a while. After Green Lantern, I was pretty much unhireable."

He's repeatedly blamed that experience on the fact he didn't read the script before signing up for the film, so if Warner Bros. plans to tempt him once again, Goyer and Rhodes will have to make sure they produce a seriously strong script. They'll also have to make sure they do the costume better.

Who is John Stewart?

One of the most popular Green Lanterns, John Stewart acted as a second for Jordan as Green Lantern way back in 1971. He's one of DC's most popular superheroes and is a welcome example of diversity in DC Comics. A former US Marine, Stewart didn't take kindly to authority figures, and that led to some entertaining conflict between the two men.

In the 1980s, Jordan briefly resigned and the mantle of Green Lantern officially passed on to Stewart. He proved a firm fan-favorite, training alongside female Green Lantern Katma Tui and the two eventually married. However, these are superhero comics and there certainly wasn't a 'happily ever after' for John Stewart.

It's pretty clear that the script Goyer is working on envisions John Stewart as a new recruit to the Green Lantern Corps, and that it centers on his relationship with Hal. This sounds to be 100 percent comic-book-accurate and will leave Green Lantern fans seriously excited.

Embedding the Green Lantern Corps in the DCEU

DC has already introduced us to one member of Green Lantern's supporting cast; Major Carrie Farris, played by Christina Wren. She made a minor appearance in Man of Steel, where she considered Superman "kind of hot". It's pretty certain that this is the DCEU version of Carol Ferris, Hal Jordan's greatest love and a sometimes-hero-sometimes-villain who goes by the codename Star Sapphire.

Meanwhile, rumors abound that the Green Lantern Corps will actually be introduced in this year's Justice League. In late 2016, The Wrap reported:

"A member of the Green Lantern Corps. will be seen in 'Justice League' in a key sequence."

Given the cosmic nature of Justice League (We're talking an alien invasion!) that shouldn't really come as a surprise. It could well be that Justice League sets the scene for the Green Lantern Corps movie, which would be a smart move.

It's exciting to hear that work on Green Lantern Corps is progressing. We don't yet have any real details, or even a scheduled release date, but it's great to see that the disappointing performance of 2011's Green Lantern hasn't shut this franchise out of the DCEU.

Whether we see Ryan Reynolds or not, this adds a new cosmic branch to the DCEU and provides welcome variety in a cinematic universe that's seemingly ever-more-focused around #Batman.

This is definitely great news for DC fans!