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Will Bradley Cooper Play Hal Jordan in Green Lantern?

by Alex Billington
May 5, 2009
Source: HitFix

We've heard time and time again rumors off and on about who will play Hal Jordan in Martin Campbell's Green Lantern movie. Back in March, it was rumored that Star Trek's Chris Pine was the frontrunner, but that was debunked. But now Drew McWeeny at HitFix is saying that it'll be Bradley Cooper. Who is he, you ask? Well, first off, Drew McWeeny is otherwise known as Moriarty from AICN, and I trust this guy. He doesn't report rumors and I know he has checked this scoop twice (or more). Secondly, if you're wondering who Bradley Cooper is, he's one of the guys in the upcoming summer comedy The Hangover, at least.

In addition to The Hangover, Cooper has appeared in Wedding Crashers, Failure to Launch, Yes Man, He's Just Not That Into You, and he was the lead in The Midnight Meat Train. Give or take that last one (and his roles on TV shows like "Alias") he has starred in primarily comedies, and I've come to think of him as the goofy, asshole, friend kind of guy, not a charismatic leading man. But maybe he's just been typecast and this is his chance to break out. I mean, look at Chris Pine, that guy kicks some ass as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, and when he was cast, nobody though he'd be able to pull it off. Could it be the same for Bradley Cooper?

We know that director Martin Campbell likes to see a lot of actors for his movies. Word is that he passed on (or they weren't otherwise interested) actors like Ryan Gosling, Emile Hirsch, Anton Yelchin, Jon Hamm, and Chris Pine, so far. So who else is out there that's left that could play Hal Jordan? Bradley Cooper? Drew says "they have not hired him yet," however, he will be screen-testing this week, and he's even willing to "bet that Cooper's going to be the guy." So there you have it, sounds on target this time. We'll of course confirm this when and if he is indeed cast as Hal Jordan, but for now, it's time to open this up. Good choice?

Explore tags: Casting, Movie News, Opinions

http://www.comichacks.com Chris @ Comichacks.com

EXCELLENT choice, actually. I liked seeing Bradley Cooper in everything I've ever seen him in and he'll always have a spot in my heart ever since ALIAS. Hope this works out for him.
xerxex

He has the face to ware the mask so hopefully this is true!
Fuelbot

I think it's a great choice. He's known, but not so well known that his status would detract from the role. He's also never done anything like this, it's always been mostly comedy, so I think there's a lot more talent that we've yet to see.
tankmaster

Not a bad choice, chris pine would have done great too.
PimpSlapStick

*Must fight urge to say Na...tha..nn..Fi...llion..* I failed
Cody

Dont know about this but like someone said hes always plays comedy roles. Also dont think ive ever seen him NOT play like the utter asshole of a film so it'll be interesting to see if hes got some talent.
http://edwardrow.blogspot.com/ Edward

Look at Chris Pine? ahah Look at Heath Ledger! When he was cast as The Joker people were up in arms, then they got used to it then they started to like the idea.. then I think we know the rest.
teyhtr

He would be amazing as Hal! Cast him already!!!
Blake

Wow. Good choice. Please be true.
Ajax

I don't really know him, so I can't really say if he's a good choice. However, it seems that a lot of people like him and I trust WB, so I can't wait to see him.
Farris

I'm not opposed to the choice, but I would have preferred Chris Pine or Ryan Gosling.
Maxx

This is exactly who I thought of when they said they were developing a Green Lantern film. Yeah he usually does comedy but I dont think the transition would be too hard. Marvel Studios always tries to incorporate comedy into their films. Even Incredible Hulk poked some fun, "You wouldn't like me when I'm hungry..." Good stuff...anyways hopefully he does well in the screen tests.
moviekidmike

Nah, don't like it.
WB EXEC

Why do they not just go with the Jon Stewart Green Lantern and put Will Smith in it. I mean he can act and people will go see anything with him in it.
MichaelBaysMom

Alessandro Nivola
Farris

@14 - That would make more than The Dark Knight.
http://www.widescreenwonderland.com Widescreen Wonderland

I always wanted Bradley Cooper as The Flash...:( But this is actually fantastic news! Hopefully this will really happen. Maybe add Common as John Stewart and we've got the making of a kick ass Green Lantern film.
http://www.bleepinggeek.com Pete the Geek

Why would they cast Guy Gardner to play Hal Jordan? Seriously, though - they need to cast someone with a kind of breezy laid-back quality to him. Hal in the comics (which hopefully they'll actually consult for this film...coughWolverinecough) is totally fearless. When everyone else is losing their cool and freaking out, he's the guy that just rolls right in and starts hitting stuff. Bradley Cooper is great at playing hotheaded and arrogant characters which would be great for Gardner, but I just don't think he's right for Jordan.
Darunia

He was awesome in Midnight Meat Train, and he is great at playing both a cocky asshole, and a nice guy. Physically not the guy that jumps at the 1st thought of Green Lantern, but that can be worked out.
Alex

He could be CAPTAIN AMERICA
Mondo Jay

... I personally would have preffered either Pine, or a no-name actor... I think Cooper has the chops to prove me wrong though... ...
whoknows

bradley cooper is a very underrated actor but is up and rising, and he can basically take any role and act in it as shown in alias and midnight meat train. this is a great choice and hopefully its true.
Spider

#5. I second that! Nathan Fillion would be a good choice. Bradley is ok. I just hope they get this character right.
Craig

I'd personally prefer Pine but if WB & Campbell think its the right move to hire Cooper I wouldn't really mind I suppose.
Ajax

BTW, Although I support WB, I too was hoping it would be Nathan Fillon.
zubzwank

They'll probably want to portray Hal Jordan as a 20-something, like they did with Reed Richards in the FF movies, and again, this would be an inaccurate choice if the comic character is the model. If they go for someone closer to the DC Hal, a great choice would be Josh Lucas. Why? Because in the silver age, Gil Kane, the great artist who originated the modern GL, modeled him after the young Paul Newman. Lucas is nearly a spitting image of Paul Newman in his younger days and he can play serious but cocky, which would fit GL. He's also the same ge as the comic character.
THERBLIG

Yeah pine is a little pewny and so is this guy, he better bulk up!
Fisherr

Not a good choice, don't like the guy and i don't think he could pull it off.
eric

hell no his facial structure isn't hero type
http://mayonnaiseandbread.com jkp

i think Jamie Bamber + joh Hamm have the face for it, moreso Bamber. Cooper would be great in a superhero comicbook-adaptation-movie-film, but im just not so sure for the role of Hal Jordan . . .
Shawn

Nathan Fillion would be a great choice.