ryan reynolds

Last week's leaked Green Lantern concept art literally blew my socks off, which was especially remarkable seeing as how I was wearing shoes at the time. Ouch. Now, io9 has two new images they're presenting as legit leaked art from the 2011 Martin Campbell science-fiction superhero film.

Represented in these images are designs for the Guardians and Green Lantern's mentor-turned-nemesis Sinestro (an unfortunate name if his parents ever wanted him to grow up to be anything but evil). The Guardians are the otherworldly beings responsible for the Green Lantern Corps - the intergalactic police force which recruits Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) in the film. They're represented as arrogant and judgmental in the comics, but they're also responsible for who gets a power ring (the outlet for Green Lantern's power) and who doesn't. Sinestro is their star Lantern, until he gets power hungry and turns on the Corps. Mark Strong is said to be taking on the role of Sinestro in the film.

Thanks to Devin at Chud for bringing this new art to my attention. You can see the Sinestro mock-up after the jump.

I'm not one to get really hyped up for films before their release, preferring to keep a level-head lest I build up my expectations to the point where I am let down more often than I am satisfied. With that said, when it comes to these leaked Green Lantern design pics, there's only one thing I can say: OOOMMMMGGGGOMG!!!1111!!!!!!!!!111OMGGGGGG!

Ahem.

Yes, I will be a total drooling idiot by the time Summer 2011 gets here, in anticipation of Martin Campbell's live-action adaptation of one of the coolest superheroes ever created, DC's Green Lantern. What we have in these leaked alien character designs are the potential movie versions of Abin Sur, the dying ring-bearer who bestows his power ring to Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds in the film), as well as Green Lantern Corps members Tomar Re and, below the jump, trainer Kilowog.

Sony does indeed have a new Flash Gordon movie in development with Breck Eisner (Sahara) attached to direct, that much is true, but there's a casting rumor coming from Hollyscoop -- the same site that reported the Taylor-Swift-as-Supergirl hooey just a few weeks ago. Sam Worthington is said to be the number one contender on a wish list that also includes Ryan Reynolds.

I'm sure he is. With Avatar on the top of the box office charts, it positions Worthington as the genre action hero of the moment. This isn't even remotely close to actual casting news -- it's someone (who may or may not be involved with the production) just throwing the name of a likely actor out there and saying, "Gee, you know who'd make a pretty good Flash Gordon?" It's spit-balling. Everybody can do that. I'm sure you've thought of a couple cool casting choices for Flash Gordon just now, while you read this.

My first exposure to Flash Gordon was the Filmation animated series, but most people are familiar with him from the 1980 cult camp classic film. His comic book roots go all the way back to 1934, when Alex Raymond created the character as a blatant rip-off respectful competitor to Buck Rogers -- another popular comic of the time about an all-american hero transported to a hostile alien world.

It's strictly a rumor until he signs on the dotted line, but Ain't It Cool News reports that Jackie Earle Haley is the frontrunner to play Sinestro in Martin Campbell's upcoming Green Lantern movie. It's an interesting casting choice, but as a longtime Green Lantern fan, I think I pictured someone a little more slick--not as rugged as Haley--to play Green Lantern's arch-enemy.

For those that are unfamiliar with the character, Sinestro is a power-hungry member of the space-faring Green Lantern Corps, chosen to train Hal Jordan (played in the upcoming film by Ryan Reynolds). Sinestro eventually turns against the Corps and faces off against his pupil. I was surprised at how much of the recent animated Green Lantern: First Flight feature was a Sinestro origin story, and I'd recommend it if you're interested in learning more about the character.

Haley will next appear in Platinum Dunes' Nightmare on Elm Street remake as iconic boogeyman Freddy Krueger on April 30, 2010.

In a very surprising move, Ryan Reynolds has won the much-coveted lead role in Warner Bros. live-action version of Green Lantern. We reported earlier this morning that Reynolds was up for the role alongside Bradley Cooper and Justin Timberlake, but thought he'd be a long shot considering the fact that he was also gearing up for a solo Deadpool spin-off. But Green Lantern is definitely a better (and more popular) role for him, and Warners probably liked the fact that Reynolds comes with a nice healthy package full of good looks, charisma and physical force. Dude is huge, he's proven he can handle the superhero stuff (ie: Deadpool in Wolverine), and he's at that sweet spot in his career where something like this could turn him into the next Christian Bale.

Read the rest at Cinematical

So it looks like the coveted Green Lantern role has been trimmed down to include three potential contenders (according to THR): Bradley Cooper, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake. (And no, that last one was not a typo or mistake on my part.) I'd take Reynolds off the list since he's busy getting a solo Deadpool movie off the ground (though I bet he'd rather have at Green Lantern), which means Cooper and Timberlake are left. Honestly, out of those two I think I'd pick Timberlake, simply because he's a giant wild card and why not take the chance? Timberlake would be the smartest move for the studio, who'd no doubt want all of his fans to turn out for the film, and speaking as someone who doesn't really care about this particular character, I say Timberlake is where it's at.

But what do you think? Sound off below of which of these three deserve the part more.