
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed this week that actor Peter Sarsgaard is in talks to play Hector Hammond, the super-brained DC Comics villain in the upcoming Green Lantern movie. Hammond is to be the primary antagonist of Ryan Reynolds’ Hal Jordan in the film.
Sarsgaard isn’t the only actor set to join Green Lantern though. Blake Lively, best known for her work on the TV series Gossip Girl, has been cast as Jordan’s main squeeze Carol Ferris. The Ferris character later becomes the villainous Star Sapphire in the comics, but Lively probably won’t have to deal with any of that in the film. However, that’s not the end of the Green Lantern casting news; While promoting his new film Edge of Darkness, director Martin Campbell shot down the rumours that Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children, Watchmen) was in talks to play Sinestro. Campbell revealed to MTV that Warner Bros. were in fact in negotiations with British actor Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Kick-Ass) to play Hal Jordan’s mentor-turned-nemesis.
I think Strong is spot on for Sinestro. Not only does he have the acting chops to make Sinestro work, but at 6’2 he’s also closer to the physically imposing presence the character has taken in more recent incarnations. Who would you prefer to see as Sinestro? Haley or Strong?
The film stars Ryan Reynolds and is set to start shooting in New Orleans this March. Green Lantern is due in theatres July 17th 2011.
Via The Hollywood Reporter and MTV Splash Page