First Look: ‘Green Lantern: First Flight’
Mar 3, 2009 by Kofi OutlawDC Comics has long been my favorite in the animation game. I loved the Batman and Superman animated series that ran during the 90′s; I …
DC Comics has long been my favorite in the animation game. I loved the Batman and Superman animated series that ran during the 90′s; I also loved Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, which ran during the early years of 2000.
I’ve remained a fan of the more recent DC Universe direct-to-DVD animated features, which include Superman: Doomsday, Justice League: New Frontier, and DC’s latest animated feature, Wonder Woman. And, at first glance, it’s looking like I’m going to enjoy the next offering from DC Universe, Green Lantern: First Flight, when it hits DVD/Blu-ray this summer.
Green Lantern: First Flight is a re-imagined origin story of the Silver Age Green Lantern, Hal Jordan. The film plays off the 1950′s sci-fi era, a time when the possibilities of space travel were a cultural phenomenon and test pilots like Hal Jordan were considered national heroes. The film will mainly be set in space, and will be sure to feature epic intergalactic battles and other wonderful sorts of eye-candy.
First Flight is being helmed by Superman: Doomsday and Wonder Woman director Lauren Montgomery (who is enjoying a pretty productive career over there at DC Universe). Of course these DC animated features always come with a star-studded cast of voice actors; lending their voices this time out will be Christopher Meloni (Law And Order: SVU) as Hal Jordan; Victor Garber (ALIAS) as Hal Jordan’s nemesis, Sinestro; Michael Madsen as Hal Jordan’s alien mentor, Kilowog; and the lovely Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as Green Lantern Corps member, Boodikka.
And as the official stamp of quality: DC Animation legend Bruce Timm will be producing the film.
Now First Flight looks pretty cool, but isn’t this animated feature dangerously close to stepping on the toes of the upcoming Green Lantern movie? I mean how many times can you tell the same origin story before audiences stop shilling out to see it?
There is a first-look featurette for Green Lantern: First Flight over at the official movie website. Go check it out and then come back and tell us what you think!
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Looks promising. WP has done well with there animated DC direct to DVD thus far. Just picked up the World Woman DVD today and plan on pick up this one as well.
Iron man had a animated movie on dvd not long before the movie, a year or so. But the story was quite diffrent, and not that good plot wise. I imagine that the first flight will be quite diffrent from the live action movie, and did we not just get a Hal Jordan origin in Justice League: New Frontier? As long as the deal with the origin qucikly – and put some good plot in there, I’ll be happy.
It’s like the Ang lee hulk- half movie origin, Buuu… 2008 Hulk, origin in credits, jeay!! – maybe something inbetween for the Lantern…
He’s a favorite character of mine since I was a wee lad in the 70′s..Hal Jordan is the definitive Green Lantern and I am looking forward to this..At least Anton Yelchin is not playing GL
..although I’m a little perturbed by the choice of Chris Meloni to play GL..why not David Boreanaz…it’s like Kevin Conroy is THE animated Batman voice..such is Borneanaz IMO..
After watching Justice League Unlimited, I don’t know if I want to hear anyone other than Dennis Haysbert (of 24 and Allstate fame) doing the voice of Kilowog. His voice is officially what I hear now. Same with Sinestro, after episodes 43/44. Ted Levine, who played Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs, and more modern, the detective/sergeant in USA’s MONK, lends his voice.
I like to think Bruce Timm runs the animation universe at DC with an iron fist, and that his continuity should be law for anything animated. Ha
From the featurette and the concept art for the movie I think they have settled on a costume design.
Alex,
Dennis Haybert is my Kilowog too. And my favorite President of all time. And one heck of a Black Ops Commander. Haybert should probably run the Universe, now that I think about it.
Rob,
How much of an “armor look” will the outfit have, you think?
I’m looking forward to this. I can pick it up at the video store and watch it with my daughter and geek out in the privacy of my own home.
The next animation will be The Flash.
I have an idea for the cast in a possible Green Lantern movie:
Hal Jordan – Robert Sean Leonard
Guy Gardner – Peter Krause
John Stewart – Matthew St. Patrick
Sinestro – Hugh Laurie