As it appears, the Transformers star, Mark Wahlberg was once considered by Zack Snyder for the role of Green Lantern that almost destroyed MCU star Ryan Reynolds’ career. Ever since Snyder introduced notable characters to DC, fans couldn’t help but wonder, which Green Lantern version the Studio might use and which actor they might choose.
After going through several auditions, the studio failed to find a suitable hero, as the franchise’s producers already had someone in mind. And as it appears, they had pinned Mark Wahlberg as the face of Green Lantern before they had to settle with Ryan Reynolds, which certainly turned him into a virtually unemployable person, thanks to his failed DC superhero movie.
Mark Wahlberg Was The Initial Choice For Green Lantern
DCEU has been experimenting with its comics and superhero characters for a long time. Some turned out to be blockbusters, while others simply wrecked careers. Considering how DCEU did exceptionally well since Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, producers wanted to make a Green Lantern movie, featuring Mark Wahlberg.
While rumors were not confirmed or denied by Warner Bros; Zack Snyder and producer Charles Roven were prepping to practically cast the entire future of DCEU. And so while it’s still a rumor, it’s not far-fetched that Snyder and Roven, both wanted Wahlberg for the role of Green Lantern. However, as for the actor, he didn’t seem to have any plans of reciting the Green Lantern‘s oath.
Although DC Studios went after established stars to cast as their superheroes and thus wished for Mark Wahlberg to join the franchise, the Transformers actor never indicated any plans to join. And evidently, as it appears, things worked out well for Wahlberg as he saved his career from the brink of destruction, by avoiding Green Lantern.
Green Lantern Aftermath Turned Ryan Reynolds Unhirable
Although rumors of casting Mark Wahlberg as Green Lantern were never confirmed, Zack Snyder and producer Charles Roven appeared moving forward with Ryan Reynolds to feature in the disastrous 2011 movie. Although Reynolds arguably offered the best performance in Fox’s R-rated movie Deadpool, he claimed to become virtually unemployable after his appearance in DC’s Green Lantern.
Speaking with Variety, the actor revealed, following the disastrous results of 2011’s Green Lantern he faced a major career downfall. “I represented the death of the superhero for a while. After Green Lantern, I was pretty much unhirable.” Ryan Reynolds stated. The 2011 DC movie failed to make a buzz at the box office, as they expected.
Managing to bring in only $219M worldwide against a reportedly massive $200M production budget, Green Lantern practically turned into a flop. And thus, Ryan Reynolds faced a challenge in his career, as from the perspective of Hollywood studios, he caused the death of a superhero character with virtually no redeeming qualities. Therefore, Reynolds faced a pretty rough period, until he was cast in MCU’s Deadpool.
Watch Green Lantern on Amazon Video, and Deadpool on Disney+.
Source: Screenrant, Variety