Rapper-turned-actor Common told reporters that he has heard nothing about the on-again, off-again proposed Justice League movie, in which he was to play the Green Lantern.
“I don’t know what’s happening with Justice League, to be honest,” Common said during interviews on June 16 in Beverly Hills, Calif., to promote his upcoming SF action movie Wanted. “I don’t know if they are doing the film. If they do do it, I would love to be a part of it. … It seems like a really good project to be a part of. I haven’t heard anything.”
Justice League was set to begin production in Australia under director George Miller, but was delayed by last year’s writers’ strike and a decision to pull production out of Oz when the film failed to win tax incentives. Several actors were at one time connected with the film, but the ongoing delays have thrown into question whether any of them will remain. Common was at one point linked to the role of John Stewart/Green Lantern.
“I love Green Lantern, man,” Common said. “Anybody that, like, his superpowers [are] in his mind. … He can create things with his mind as long as he has the ring, that’s, like, … me [laughs].”
OSCK Op/Ed/Speculation and Commentary on this update:
With Smallville’s final season being rushed through production and word that it will be running without repeats this season to get it completely aired by early 2009, your OSCK admin would not be surprised if we hear there is a new director and the film is being moved from Australia for production and that Tom Welling is back in the lead role as Supes with an all new cast for the league. The studio has a very buzz worthy Supergirl sitting in the wings too. The success of Ironman and now the Hulk has to have Warner execs steaming over the problems with JLA. Talk in Hollywood is that the delay of this film one of the biggest points of ongoing discussion for DC owners Warner Brothers. Stay tuned for more JLA news as the summer moves into fall. Am guessing the logistics will take some time to iron out but with Iron Man 2 looking at a very aggressive shooting schedule DC/WB will not want this project put on permanent hiatus. As always OSCK takes their hat off to the guys at IESB who first reported that Tom Welling was the Warner choice for supes last August.
Final note- Common is not only starting filming on T4 with Christian Bale in New Mexico this summer, he will be in the new X-Files movie opening in July. He is quickly building a solid industry portfolio of supporting roles in big productions. My guess is that when the JLA movie is ready to go forward if he is available he will be one casting choice they may stick with. Word is many of the other b-level actors first discussed and chosen by Miller are being dropped partly due to them taking on other projects. If Common cannot play Green Lantern Warner really should talk to David Boreanaz. He is a HUGE GL fan and voiced the character in the latest Justice League animated feature. Anyone who saw the finale for Bones saw his pitch – he was reading a comic in the tub even showing his love of comics and the Lantern. Personally I think he’d make a pretty awesome Batman if Bale isn’t going to be involved. I know all of Bones and Whedon fandom would get behind him as a Justice League member and he is nice and tall and built unlike most of the other potential cast members that were being bantered around last fall.
Filed under: DC Comics News | Tagged: jla movie update, common as green lantern, speculation on tom welling as superman, david boreanaz as batman
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