American Gods’ Ricky Whittle Wants to Join the Green Lantern Corps as John Stewart
JB Augustine
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A Green Lantern Corps movie was confirmed when former DC President Geoff Johns stepped down from his position and launched his own production company Mad Ghost Productions. The film was confirmed last June. It’s possible the film could enter the first stage of development quite soon. As a consequence, the call is sounding for a new ring bearer.
And John’s Mad Ghost Productions confirmed the film would center around Hal Jordan and John Stewart. With Stewart confirmed buzz about who could play the famous space cop has been building. Many fans have been agog for one actor above any other to portray him: Ricky Whittle.
The American Gods star spoke with SyFy Wire and he is enthusiastic to bring Stewart to life because of his relevance.
“It’s a fantastic character, and an important character, if you read the comics in terms of human society and race and different issues that we are engulfed by at the moment in America.”
John Stewart first appeared in 1971, the post Civil Rights era when there wasn’t much black representation in comics. A constant fixture thereafter, he has worn the ring as protector of sector 2814 now and again. Serving on the JLA in the place of Hal Jordan for Cartoon Network’s Justice League and Justice League Unlimited made him a major player.
Whittle later invoked Johns who wrote the character for years, and might hold sway in casting.
“You never know. If Geoff Johns is reading this, I am definitely up for it. I’m a huge fan.”
He also stressed the importance of bringing Green Lantern back, referring to what a punchline the 2011 film became.
“The character Green Lantern needs to be reborn. Even Ryan Reynolds came up with that when he killed himself in the Deadpool credits, which was hilarious.”
Green Lantern Corps will be another reboot with a new cast a and characters, the focus reported to be John Stewart.
Ricky Whittle rose to fame on the CW’s dystopian sci-fi drama The 100, co-starring alongside former big-screen April O’Neil actress Paige Turco and Isaiah Washington. His following developed while part of the show and is with him wherever he goes.
When Starz TV picked up Neil Gaiman’s American Gods for a series, Whittle’s followers on social media pushed hard for him to be cast as Shadow Moon. Now they have thrown his name in the ring for Green Lantern.
“I’ve had conversations, and to be in the conversation is a big honor. That’s all I can really ever ask for. Lots of fans have been campaigning for me. If they can get me Green Lantern, too, we are going to have to do something special. I’m going to have to start doing tours in full costume and go and watch with all the fans. But, yeah, I would love to be a part of that world. Hopefully, they do it justice this time.”
Hopefully indeed. Til then, Whittle’s gig on American Gods, which also happens to star Ian McShane, is in its second season.
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