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Green Lantern Corps Film Said to be Hal Jordan and John Stewart Team-Up

by Desh on November 26, 2015

According to CosmicBookNews.Com, the upcoming Green Lantern Corps movie is described as:

“Hal Jordan and John Stewart in a ‘Lethal Weapon in space’ team-up.”

I have no idea whether there is any weight behind this rumor. From what I’ve heard, Cosmic Book News isn’t really the most reliable source, but I don’t really know.

I honestly think teaming John Stewart with Hal Jordan is a terrible idea. First of all, it seems like a desperate attempt by certain behind the scenes people who love Hal Jordan to find a way to still have him in the films, since John Stewart is likely inevitable at this point, given all the rumors we’ve heard about John.

Some may wonder, “Why only have John Stewart, when you can make both fanbases happy?”

In answer, team-ups between John Stewart and Hal Jordan have never worked to John’s benefit. John is typically portrayed as the Black Best Friend while Hal Jordan gets to be the glamorous star, and I’m personally not interested in watching that. One thing that DC and WB need to realize is that attempting to unite Hal Jordan and John Stewart fans is futile and pointless. I’m not saying this because I enjoy the conflict. I’m saying this because it’s realistic, and having been involved in the conflict probably about as much as anyone can be, I’m pretty confident I know where both sides are coming from.

You can’t get me to like Hal Jordan, because I just don’t care for that character, and I know many John Stewart fans who feel the same way. Teaming John up with Hal Jordan is not going to do any good, especially if–like so many of their team-ups–John is taking a backseat to Hal Jordan.

We’re essentially dealing with two completely different fanbases. They are not looking for the same things. They are not stimulated by the same things. I’d like to use the Tom King written Justice League Green Lantern: Darkseid War one-shot comic that was recently released. On the internet, the Hal Jordan fans I witnessed had nothing but glowing praise for it. When I looked over at the John Stewart fanbase, who were fooled into looking into the book due to an incredibly misleading solicitation, they hated it.

On the flipside, there’s the Green Lantern: Lost Army series, which recently concluded. I love it! I have not seen many hardcore John Stewart fans who don’t enjoy it. The Hal Jordan fandom, however? Typically, at best, it’s just okay, and from what I’ve seen, most of them don’t seem to care for it. John Stewart fans love the flashbacks that shed light on John’s time in the military, while Hal Jordan fans think they’re a waist of space.

What stimulates a Hal Jordan fan does not necessarily stimulate a John Stewart fan, and may actually repel them, and vice versa. Attempting to unite both factions is a wasted effort that may actually divide them further.

In the cinematic universe, I believe the best thing WB can do is commit to a single Earth Green Lantern, and considering Hal Jordan’s last effort bombed so horribly, that Lantern should be John Stewart, who is immortalized by the phenomenal Justice League cartoon series. The stipulation someone put in place that John Stewart cannot appear in any media unless Hal Jordan is present needs to be trashed entirely. WB needs to let John Stewart off the leash, pull him out from behind Hal Jordan’s shadow, and let him be all he can be, like Bruce Timm did in the cartoons, to great success.

Share your thoughts on this development below. I’m interested in hearing what others think of this.

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Categories: News

  • Hudson Faber

    Agreed with all of your points, Desh.

    A movie can’t have two main characters. Even at the best effort, say Star Trek (2009), one character will still be larger (Kirk) than the other (Spock). As the sequels go on, the rift only gets bigger. John has NEVER benefitted from a team up with Hal and having both characters in the film only invites people to choose to like the one the writers give the most screen time to–and you can bet Hollywood bias would lend preference to the white character. Heck, in Lethal Weapon the real main character is given away by the dang poster.

    Just look at who gets more space and who’s in the background.

    Don’t settle for a so called “team up” or a so called “partnership.” John being someone’s second fiddle would diminish his character, and he’s never had an interesting relationship with Hal anyway. If Cyborg and Black Panther can carry their own films, if Luke Cage can carry his own show, then John Stewart (who is constantly referenced by A-List stars) can carry his own film. Don’t be fooled. The only reason there’s even talk of a compromise from the other side is that they recognize John is inevitable and they’re trying to hold on to the past. It’s self preservation, not any real interest in sharing screen time.

    • Desh Derringer

      It’s naturally, organically time for John Stewart to have his time in the sun after being unceremoniously sat on the bench for a decade once he became a generation’s Green Lantern. If there is any truth to this rumor then DC just WILL NOT give John his proper due. He does not deserve to have to share his moment with Hal Jordan. He deserves his own film.

      What you said is right, Hudson. If Black Panther, and–of all characters–Cyborg can have their own films, then John definitely can. It’s not like Hal Jordan, after the 2011 disaster, would bolster sales in any substantial amount. He did not for his own movie. I don’t think that’s what this is really about. I believe it’s certain people at DC trying their damnedest to shoehorn Hal Jordan into the picture.

      • Hudson Faber

        Excellent point. Hal Jordan is clearly not a box office draw.

        The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result.

  • Will Pray

    There may be some truth to the rumor; but on IMDb it says that it’s a movie with Hal,Guy, and John and that it could be more of a passing the torch movie where john becomes the main Green lantern

  • Steve Rogers

    I am very upset if this is true. What really pisses me off is the fact that John Stewart is the most talked about lantern character in the DCU films and actors are displaying interests in playing the John Stewart role. I don’t see popular actors talk about any other black characters (like Cyborg) that they’ll play; other than John Stewart. So these actors are willing to go out of their way to play the most popular black DC comics hero just to be second to Hal Jordan!? That’s complete bull.

  • Evan

    We need to have faith. The masses has been voting with their dollars and on social media. As long as guys like this keep John Stewart in the public consciousness, he will not only appear in the big time feature film, but he will not take a back seat to Hal. We live in a society where people get offended from anything. We cannot discriminate against gays/lesbians, we cannot discriminate against trans-gender, we cannot discriminate against the handicap, we cannot discriminate against gender equality, we cannot discriminate against race, and lastly WB/DC doesn’t want to run the risk of a backlash by discrimination in favor of Hal over John. So we need to have faith. Because John Stewart as you can see by this pic, has arrived.

  • Neil Ganti

    Interesting argument. On one hand, it seems like DC is trying to as you say appease both fanbases. It doesn’t help that the MCU has gotten so much traction and attention(To be fair, they had a headstart and it was new territory). Look at how Black Panther is being received in Civil War.

    With that said, as much as I love Lethal Weapon(and most buddy cop movies), I don’t think it will work out. The basis being the mainstream audience. Marvel has somehow been able to court most hardcore comic fans and mainstream audiences. That’s a feat in itself. Considering that Comic Books, let’s be honest is a very niche market.

    DC it seems like is trying to pander to both Stewart and Jordan fans. This is a mistake. Aside from the dichotomy between both fandoms, Hal Jordan is simply a toxic asset. I know of the backstory and troubles of the 2011 Green Lantern movie(for instance WB executivies insisted that it be solely on earth, not in space), but the reality is that not a lot of people liked that movie.

    Hal Jordan is baggage to the mainstream audience and most simply will not accept it. I know some may argue that Daredevil was the same thing, but here’s the thing. Marvel was smart in placing Daredevil in a relatively, less riskier medium(TV series). That on top of clever writing, characters etc, made Daredevil who we’ve come to know today.

    So, overall; forget Hal Jordan. DC could use Kyle Rayner; who I also like. But at the same time, mainstream audiences might perceive DC as trying to copy Hal. Even though, comic fans know the difference. Though to be fair, most mainstream audiences usually are more receptive to comic book fans nowadays.

    Overall, I think it is smart that DC just focus on John Stewart. A soldier isn’t necessarily anything new, but if they follow JL template, the character could be very successful.

    But that’s just me from an economic perspective.

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