Green Lantern, starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular character, was a critical disaster for DC. The film was panned by fans and critics alike, and even Reynolds refused to suit up to play Hal Jordan again.
Unfortunately, the film’s failure was not just limited to the box office. It had far-reaching effects, and one of the victims of the catastrophe was DC’s animated show. Green Lantern: The Animated Series could not evade the chopping block either, and its cancellation was tied to Reynold’s forgettable outing as the superhero.
Ryan Reynold’s Green Lantern spelled disaster for the animated series
DC has always produced exceptionally good animated shows, and the series about the intergalactic corps was one of them. With Bruce Timm as the producer, the series revolved around the iconic Hal Jordan.
Jordan, played by Josh Keaton, and the rest of the Green Lantern Corps took on Aya, an AI set on wreaking havoc. The plot was very compelling, particularly in light of the issues that the creative industry is facing. Unfortunately, the show lasted just one season, before it was axed.
The live-action film bombing at the box office played a huge part in it. In an interview with IGN, Keaton revealed that due to the film performing so poorly, stores could not sell the toys and other merchandise. He added that it did not make a difference to the stores that the film and animated series were different, so money became an issue.
“They just said, ‘Green Lantern? We already have those.’ And so because of that, a toyline wasn’t even made. And because a toyline wasn’t made, we really didn’t have the funding to go on in that sense, because a lot of funding is tied to that,” said the actor.
Keaton further elaborated that they had written the show with several more seasons in mind. Unfortunately, the film did not help with sales, and the network had to pull the plug on it.
The new show about the Green Lantern Corp might rectify the film’s mistakes
James Gunn took over the reins of the DCU, and he has been steadily reviving the franchise, one film or a TV show at a time. One of the biggest projects in the pipeline is the new show called Lanterns.
One of the biggest complaints about Ryan Reynold‘s film was the CGI suit. Gunn took to Threads to confirm that the actors would wear real suits on Lanterns this time. The show will see Hal Jordan team up with John Stewart to investigate a mystery on Earth, possibly connecting with what Gunn has planned for the DCU.
Not much is known about the show, but it is part of DCU Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters. Moreover, the show will be set after the Superman reboot, titled Superman: Legacy. The series will likely premiere sometime in 2025 and will possibly see a few other Green Lanterns.
These are exciting times for fans of DC, and hopefully, past mistakes will not be repeated. As for the Corps, it is about time they got their due.