Kyle Chandler might play the Green Lantern in HBO series (Why he would be the perfect fit)

As a lifelong fan of both Kyle Chandler’s captivating performances and the Green Lantern Corps, I am thrilled at the prospect of seeing him bring Hal Jordan to life on screen. With his exceptional acting chops demonstrated through iconic roles like Coach Eric Taylor and John Rayburn in “Bloodline,” Chandler has proven time and again that he can embody complex characters with depth and nuance.

It’s possible that Kyle Chandler could portray a renowned DC Comics hero! Let me explain why he seems perfect for the role of Green Lantern Hal Jordan!

Most commonly, Green Lantern is linked to the 2011 movie featuring Ryan Reynolds, which unfortunately turned out to be both critically panned and a commercial flop. Consequently, it influenced the direction of the DC Extended Universe for years, with Reynolds often joking about its failures. Regrettably, given the character’s potential, it deserves a better portrayal on screen.

1959 saw the introduction of Hal Jordan, who was then a skilled test pilot. His aircraft was mysteriously drawn into the desert by an extraterrestrial spacecraft. The alien aboard was none other than Abin Sur, a member of the Green Lantern Corps – an interstellar law enforcement unit. Mortally wounded, Sur passed on his ring to Jordan, bestowing upon him abilities that enabled flight and the creation of sturdy green structures, mimicking almost any concept that crossed Jordan’s mind.

Hal skillfully utilized his abilities, establishing the Justice League and providing assistance to other Earth-based Green Lanterns John Stewart and Guy Gardner. However, a debatable 1994 storyline depicted him losing his sanity and transforming into the malevolent Parallax. Later on, he gave up his life to rekindle Earth’s sun, only to be resurrected as the mighty Spectre and subsequently brought back to life again as Green Lantern.

Following numerous scheduled revivals, the property is set to return as “Lanterns“, an upcoming HBO series from Damon Lindelof and comic book writer Tom King. The narrative unfolds similar to a timeless buddy cop film, where novice Lantern Stewart partners with legendary Lantern Hal to investigate a murder that could potentially trigger a cosmic catastrophe.

In relation to the upcoming “Superman: Legacy” film, where Nathan Fillion was previously speculated to play Guy Gardner based on fan preferences, there’s now a suggestion that Kyle Chandler might take on the role of Hal instead, according to Deadline.

The actor broke out with the popular CBS series Early Edition before landing his iconic Emmy-winning turn as Coach Eric Taylor in the hit NBC series Friday Night Lights. He’s added more TV and movie work since then, and seeing him in this role would be great.

Why Chandler works as Hal Jordan

Some might find it surprising that Chandler, known for his brash fighter pilot character with a wit, differs greatly from the serious Eric Taylor. However, Chandler has demonstrated a comedic flair in his diverse roles, allowing him to convey Hal’s ingenuity through his unique style of performance.

Chandler is a convincing pick for the veteran character, Hal, who’s been handling his power for a long time and can guide the newcomer, Stewart, in being a Green Lantern. His southern accent would suit Hal well, adding weight to his words and strengthening the bond between them. While Chandler may not have extensive experience with high-budget special effects films beyond the Godzilla series, there’s no denying his ability to bring Hal to life convincingly.

This works for the series, as they don’t need a huge, flashy, action-oriented star to be Hal. They can use someone with an ego yet tempered by his duties and believable as a guy who knows what he’s talking about regarding the pressures of the job. Chandler pulled that off well on FNL and his mentorship of Stewart should be a backbone of the series. There’s also how he still looks young enough to be a believable figure in the fights, more than Josh Brolin, who had been considered for the role.

There are further casting decisions to be made, including Stewart and others, before production starts. However, having Chandler in the iconic role is an excellent initial move towards Lanterns rectifying the errors of the 2011 film and offering fans another fantastic DC Comics character on-screen.

2024-09-25 19:27