Quentin Tarantino was offered Green Lantern

It’s always interesting to hear who they had planned to play certain roles we associate with certain actors, and ponder on what a movie would be like if they got a different director. Usually we don’t ponder until after the movie is made and the image has been established in pop culture.

Well what if Quentin Tarantino was directing Green Lantern? It almost happened.

MTV Splash shares:

During our interview, the filmmaker also divulged that he was once offered the chance to direct a big screen adaptation of an iconic DC Comics superhero.

“I was offered the ‘Green Lantern,’ ” Tarantino told MTV News. “Not since it’s been a script, but just like, ‘Hey we own the ‘Green Lantern.’ Would you like it?'”

Tarantino declined the opportunity and “Lantern” joined the list of other franchises, like “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,” that he was offered but never ended up taking on. “Green Lantern,” of course, is now being helmed by Martin Campbell (“Casino Royale”) and will star Ryan Reynolds.

I find it interesting that Tarantino was considered for Lantern, but I don’t know that I would be happy if that actually happened.

I don’t hate Tarantino, but I find him very hit or miss. He is an acquired taste and very much “not for everyone” kind of film maker. But a fit for Green Lantern? I just don’t see it.

He does mention that he is a Comic Book nerd and drew inspiration for Inglorious Basterds from Sgt Fury and Howling Commandos. And he is interested in doing a superhero film, but not an existing property. Tarantino himself says:

“It wouldn’t be an existing comic book character,” he said. “I’m a writer. I’d want to use my imagination and not have to fight with geeks’ memories of how this character should be and, ‘Oh, I cast an actor as opposed to a bodybuilder’ or it’s not as good as the way [DC Comics artist] Neal Adams drew him.’ If I were to do something like that, I would want the fun of coming up with the superhero myself.”

Now THAT I would be curious to see from Tarantino.

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29 thoughts on “Quentin Tarantino was offered Green Lantern

  1. I actually think it would be fascinating to see Tarantino tackle a superhero. Maybe not an A-lister lister. I imagine he could do great stuff with Black Panther or Daredevil (imagine his Kingpin – plus he has a thing for ninjas).

  2. Death Proof “is what it is”- a fun ride back to those cheap 70’s style crapfest flicks that look and feel like your in Rob Zombies living room.

    Kurt Russell was AWESOME in that movie.

    guilty pleasures.

    Planet Terror was the one that was dissapionting to me

  3. Jackie Brown get’s that reaction cause everyone that loved Pulp Fiction and watched it like 50 times and could recite the dialouge(my self included) wanted it to be the same kind of ride.
    AND IT WASN’T so they call it crappy. at first I was a little disapointed of the same thing but re-watching it helped me appreciate it more.

    all his flicks are extreamly different but carry simular tone and style.

    and Jackie Brown holds on it’s own merits

  4. Q was born to direct a superhero flick. This would have been amazing, and I’m sorry it isn’t happening. With all the buzz about making ‘dark’ hero films (ie. The Dark Knight) could you imagine how amazing a a QT directed hero film would be? The problem I had with TDK (which I liked, by the way) was the dialogue at times was cheesy. It is hard to make a superhero movie without cheesy dialogue popping up, and QT is awesome at dialogue and action. I always think of the crazy 8 scene in Kill Bill as how you get stuff done in a movie.

    1. Tarantino’s dialogue is heavily cheesy, but it’s often the purpose of his films to be cheesy so it fits.

      When has Tarantino ever directed a “dark” movie?

    1. I like Jackie Brown quite a bit actually, mostly because of Bobby D’s character. It’d still be a pretty good film without him, in my opinion, though.

      That being said, I’ve enjoyed every one of Tarantino’s films, they aren’t all amazing or anything and some have huge problems, but I still think they’re above average compared to many movies released nowadays.

  5. Quentin Tarantino is the Keyser Söze of Hollywood…except he has “convinced the world” that he is a good director. Guys and gals let’s face it. Q. has made some bad stuff as well. Jackie Brown was horrible. And, Inglorious Basterds was some sychophantic fetish with WWII-ploitation of the 70’s, not to mention incomprehensible French cinema.

  6. Whoa boy!! Lantern movie with blood and gore and wacky action scenes and long-drawn but equally attention drawing thought provokers….hmmmm….now where does that fit in Hal’s imagination…

  7. No doubt there would be hype although a high probability that this would work. Would be keen to see him try at least..

    420Band – a director still alive that makes movies i still get excited about… Sidney Lumat can’t believe he is still making movies.

  8. Ya I agree Tarantino was probably not the best choice for the Green Lantern Movie. But it would be interesting to see what he would come up with. I can’t believe the film would be for everyone.

  9. It would be the first Super-Hero flick with the word “FUCK” in it like 50 times or more..

    Love Quentin, definitly hit with me.

    one of the few directors still alive that I can get excited about their films

  10. I envision his super hero having the super power of having a thirty minute dialog with a villain in an attempt to talk the villain out of his criminal pursuits. Of course, this would end with both the hero and the villain shot dead by their own sidekicks.

    1. I was thinking the same thing. Along those same lines, I find myself really looking forward to The Last Airbender, by Shyamalan next summer. I very curious to see what he can do with someone else having written the script. Although, I’m sure what we see on the screen will probably be very different from what was originally written.

      1. I have no more faith in Night as a director/wirter. However, since he didn’t write this last one, I’m willing to keep an open mind. He needs a different producer besides himself to tell him what he’s doing sucks.

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