On Wednesday, there was a collective sigh of both disappointment and confusion when Peter Saarsgard was announced as Dr. Hector Hammond, the villain in the upcoming Green Lantern film, starring opposite Ryan Reynolds. The idea of Saarsgard as a villain was definitely a fun one, but the fans of the franchise wanted Sinestro, and we didn’t understand why we weren’t getting him.
It seems like we all just needed to wait a few hours, as DC and Warner Bros. have stated that they will be including Sinestro in the film, and they only have one actor in mind to play him: Jackie Earl Haley. The folks over at Hitfix did some legwork and uncovered Warner’s plan for the character.
With Sinestro, don’t expect him to stroll in and suddenly be pure evil in this film. And don’t expect him to be onscreen for the entire movie. But unless something drastically changes, he is in the film. And I’m hearing that based on the relationship they have with him from “Watchmen” and “A Nightmare On Elm Street,” Jackie Earle Haley is the only choice for Sinestro by the studio.
The groundwork is being laid in the first “Lantern” for a much larger role for Sinestro later on if this first movie does well, and they like the idea of continuing their relationship with Haley.
Word is that they’ve also found a way to work Alan Scott and the rest of the Corps into the script. This sounds like it’ll be one of the most epic comic films DC and Warner have ever put together. Official word will come in on Sinestro and more casting as principal photography starts up this Spring in New Orleans, so we should know more then.
Matt Raub
January 14, 2010 at 1:27 pmIt should just prove the theory that Hollywood is only aware of 3 character actors in existence…
Sal Loria
January 14, 2010 at 11:44 am*sigh* By the time this movie comes out, I’ll have reached “Jackie’s over-exposed” status.
Chicago
January 14, 2010 at 11:19 amThis is just great casting. I rally hope this works out.