As the DC Extended Universe continues to expand, Warner Bros. is planning its next wave of superheroes to bring to the big screen and John Stewart is among them. With films like Wonder Woman, and the first Justice League movie in the can, filmmakers are now starting production and pre-production for their upcoming films. We still have The Flash, Aquaman, Shazam, and Cyborg on the horizon through 2020. Warner Bros. is also bringing back the wielder of the Power Ring, the Green Lantern.
Fans are in for a treat as we will not only get to see one Green Lantern, but at least two different Green Lanterns in 2020’s Green Lantern Corps. The film already has DC mastermind Geoff Johns and Jon Berg as executive producers, and will also have David S. Goyer and Justin Rhoades as screenwriters. Depending on your age, your Green Lantern was either Hal Jordan or John Stewart. Hal Jordan was previously played by Ryan Reynolds in 2011’s Green Lantern film, which even he will confirm was not a great film as it was panned by both critics and fans.
Many fans are eager to see John Stewart on the big screen and there has been a great deal of speculation as to who in Hollywood would fill in the role for everyone’s favorite Green Lantern from the DC Animated Universe. Some actors have actively campaigned for the role already, including Tyrese Gibson, DB Woodside, and recently Black Panther actor Sterling K Brown expressed interest in playing the role as well.
Idris Elba
In addition to Tyrese, another name that has constantly been floating around has been Idris Elba. Currently, he plays Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), particularly in the Thor movies. However, the actor did express frustration with the character when he was filming Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Elba on more than one occasion has also mentioned interest in playing the character. Although he plays a role in the MCU, he potentially could be another actor who “walks between worlds.” In addition to Sterling K. Brown, actress Florence Kasumba, who was already in Captain America: Civil War and will reprise her role of Ayo in the upcoming Black Panther movie, will also appear in this year’s DCEU film, Wonder Woman as Senator Acantha. If selected, Elba would fit perfectly into the role (barring his MCU contract doesn’t prevent him).
Common
Rapper/actor Common has already been lighting up the charts for his music with more than 11 albums, as well as winning Academy and Golden Globes for his music as well. The rapper has also been dipping his toes in the TV/film world for quite some time as well. Appearing in more than 20 films, TV shows, and even done voice work for video game and television commercials, Common is no stranger to the big screen. It helps that he was previously attached to play the character in George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal before that film got cancelled by the writer’s strike.
He has done a few lead roles in a few films as well, so Common could be able to handle the role of Green Lantern John Stewart. The only problematic aspect of casting him for the role is that he already has been a character in the DCEU. In last year’s Suicide Squad, Common played the role of “Monster T” in a “blink-and-you-miss-it scene where he said the wrong thing about Harley Quinn and The Joker killed him. However, this wouldn’t be the first time an actor played multiple roles within a cinematic universe. Actor, Kenneth Choi was in Captain America: The First Avenger as Jim Morita, one of the Howling Commandos and will appear in Spider-Man: Homecoming as the high school principal.
Nate Parker
Actor/writer/director Nate Parker has had a very interesting year, to say the least. First, he had The Birth of the Nation, a film about Nat Turner and his slave rebellion in 1831, which received raved reviews. However, Parker’s personal history of a rape allegation in college came forward and he quickly disappeared from the public limelight (along with any award considerations for the film).
Personal controversies aside, Parker has been a successful actor since the 1990s, appearing is such films as Pride, The Great Debaters, Red Tails, and Beyond the Lights. His work in The Birth of the Nation is his portrayal of Nat Turner was exceptional and he would be able to carry a film as one of the co-leads. His being considered for Green Lantern Corps’ John Stewart would only be considered if his public image is improved and he can get out of “Hollywood Jail” like other troubled stars have in the past.
Omari Hardwick
Actor Omari Hardwick has been killing it as James “Ghost” St. Patrick in Starz’s Power for a few years. Being the lead on the show, he has displayed a wide range of emotions: from being the business man trying to be legit and run a clean business, to the ruthless drug dealer trying to maintain his empire he wants out of as the same time. He also plays a family man, as well as a guy in “puppy love” with his high school crush who he must keep his drug dealing life a secret from her as she is a US Attorney.
He’s also not sore on the eyes for the ladies. Look on Twitter any Sunday night after Power and you’ll see women (and some men) literally drooling on social media. If anyone has the physical build of a “comic book character,” it’s Hardwick.
He also has a pretty good acting resume as well. Hardwick has appeared Beauty Shop, Gridiron Gang, Miracle at St. Anna, The A-Team, For Colored Girls, and many other films as well as other TV shows including Being Mary Jane.
Mahershala Ali
Mahershala Ali is having one hell of a year. The actor is no stranger to the superhero world, having portrayed Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes on Luke Cage (the show that literally “broke” Netflix) and was one of the best parts of the show as the gangster who sparred with Luke Cage. Without superpowers, he had to use his wits against the bulletproof superhero. In addition to Luke Cage, Ali is one of the frontrunners for Best Supporting Actor for this year’s Academy Awards for his role in Moonlight as Juan, the drug dealer who befriends and mentors the lead character. He also appeared in the number one movie for the last 2 weeks, Hidden Figures.
Many are hearing of him for the first time this past year, but Ali has been knocking it out of the park for quite some time. He has appeared on The 4400 as Richard Tyler, House of Cards as Remy Danton (and nominated for an Emmy award), and appeared in such films as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Predators, and The Hunger Games films. Ali would absolutely own the role of Green Lantern if given the chance.
Speaking of Moonlight….
Trevante Rhodes
Actor Trevante Rhodes is somewhat of a newcomer to Hollywood, but is already blowing up in a big way. Before Moonlight he appeared in a few small roles here and there. He played on the TV show If Loving You Is Wrong and had a guest appearance on Westworld. However, since his breakout role as “Black” on Moonlight, the sky’s been the limit for the young actor. He is will appear in Horse Soldiers, Burning Sands, Song to Song, and was recently cast in Shane Black’s upcoming film, The Predator.
Like Omari Hardwick, Trevante Rhodes has the physical prowess for a comic book movie. Before he got into acting, Rhodes was a track and field sprinter at the University of Texas at Austin. Rhoades is a gold medal sprinter who helped the US win the gold medal at the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships in the 4×100 relay race.
Lance Gross
Actor Lance Gross is famous for those who watch anything Tyler Perry related. The actor has appeared in Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns, Tyler Perry’s Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor, as well as Our Family Wedding where he has had lead roles on all of the films/TV shows. Gross has also branched out to other roles as well. Gross appeared in the short-lived NBC show Crisis as Secret Service Agent Marcus Finley where he functioned as a Jack Bauer-type and appeared in Fox’s Sleepy Hallow as an FBI agent.
Before Mike Colter was cast as the bulletproof superhero on Luke Cage, Gross was one of the top contenders for the role when it was being cast for Jessica Jones. He most certainly should get his own superhero role, and would make an excellent Green Lantern.
Derek Luke
Actor Derek Luke’s career started his career as the lead in Denzel Washington’s directorial debut, Antwone Fisher and received rave reviews. Since then, he has hand numerous supporting roles in such films as Friday Night Lights, Glory Road, Miracle at St. Anna, and Captain America: The First Avenger as one of the Howling Commandos. We know that from his breakout role, he can most certainly carry a movie. If anyone could use their own lead superhero role, it’s Derek Luke.
David Oyelowo
Actor David Oyelowo’s breakout role was playing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 2014’s Selma. However, the actor has appeared in numerous films, TV shows, theater productions, and voice work since 1998. Appearing in such films as Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Help, The Butler, Jack Reacher, Queen of Katwe, The Good Wife, Star Wars Rebels, Nightingale and will soon appear in the Cloverfield sequel God Particle.
While he had not appeared in big Hollywood blockbusters, playing John Stewart would be a perfect way for him to truly break out and he would completely own the role of Green Lantern.
John Boyega
There was a rumor a long time ago that actor John Boyega was going to be in the MCU as Black Panther. However, that did not come to fruition. That doesn’t mean that the newcomer hasn’t been busy. Already playing Finn in the new Star Wars Trilogy and will soon appear in director Kathryn Bigelow’s Untitled Detroit Project and the Pacific Rim sequel, Pacific Rim: Uprising.
Boyega’s name has been floated around across message boards and social media as a possible Green Lantern as well. We already know he can carry a movie based on his breakout role in Attack The Block as well as his Star Wars work. If he can find the time in his busy schedule, he would be perfect for the role.
