Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie is being actively courted to call the shots on DC's Green Lantern Corps film. When Warner Bros. announced its initial slate of movies set in the DC cinematic universe (unofficially known as the DC Extended Universe), a Green Lantern movie reboot was among them. WB previously brought the Green Lantern property to the big screen in 2011, but the ill-fated project - starring Ryan Reynolds as pilot turned intergalactic superhero Hal Jordan - disappointed both critically and financially, killing its franchise potential in the process.
Green Lantern Corps is still part of the official DC film slate, even in the aftermath of the DCEU undergoing major changes in leadership and creative direction as part of the fallout from Justice League disappointing last year. The movie's cowriter David S. Goyer similarly confirmed that the Green Lantern reboot is "still in the works" back in January, but didn't have any additional information to offer beyond that.
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That Hashtag Show is reporting that WB is now looking at McQuarrie to take the reins on Green Lantern Corps, having previously considered such candidates as Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) for the job. McQuarrie has directed four movies so far, including the first Jack Reacher, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, and this summer's Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Seeing as he's also written every film that he's directed to date, it stands to reason that McQuarrie will also rework the Green Lantern Corps script, should he sign on for the project.
That Hashtag Show further speculates that if McQuarrie does sign on to direct Green Lantern Corps, there's a real chance that Tom Cruise will follow and sign up to play Hal Jordan in the film. The idea isn't as far-fetched as it might seem at a passing glance, either. Cruise was on the Hal Jordan shortlist for Green Lantern Corps last year and isn't too far outside the age range (39-50) that WB is reportedly still looking to cast the Jordan character at. If Cruise does sign on, then his version of Hal Jordan would be something of a mentor to a 21-30 years old version of John Stewart in the film.
Cruise remains at the top of his game as an action star even now that he's 55 years old, and his run of films with McQuarrie either writing, directing, or both is pretty dang impressive (Valkyrie, Jack Reacher, Edge of Tomorrow, Mission: Impossible). However, Green Lantern Corps would be more of a green screen/CGI heavy offering than the practical stunt-driven action movies that Cruise prefers to work on, so his involvement is far from a sure thing even if McQuarrie signs on to direct. On the other hand, since Hal Jordan starts out as a pilot, the film would give Cruise the chance to further show off his flying skills - something he's been practicing of late for the upcoming sequel Top Gun: Maverick.
It's believed that WB/DC is still aiming to have Green Lantern Corps ready to hit theaters by 2020, meaning that pre-production and possibly even filming could begin this year. As such, a clearer picture of the situation - and either Cruise and/or McQuarrie's involvement with the project or lack thereof - will hopefully begin to emerge in the near future.
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Source: That Hashtag Show
