First Look: ‘Green Lantern: First Flight’

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!