.
.
Well, it looks like someone may have put the cart before the horse, or rather, the will-powered energy constructs before the ring. On Sunday, we reported that, despite poor box office performance, Warner Brothers was indeed moving forward with a sequel to this summer’s Green Lantern.
This morning, however, it appears that new word is coming down from Warner Brothers and they are not quite ready to move forward with the sequel. The Hollywood Reporter again is reporting that on Monday, studios were still a little weary of sinking more money into the franchise:
While a top studio source told THR on Sunday that Warners was proceeding withplans for a follow-up film, a studio spokesman said Monday that no decision hasbeen reached.
What does this mean for the emerald harbinger of hope for Warner Brothers? Apparently that nothing yet has been decided. They may or then again, they maynot. THR does go on to say that while Green Lantern’s first outing may have been disappointing, they are definitely taking the approach of ensuring that DC’s space copis fully embedded in the hearts and minds of people worldwide.
On the other hand, Warners’ deep marketing spend has familiarized worldwide audiences with the character. And studio franchises are not just about box officeany more. Disney’s Cars, one of Pixar’s lowest-grossing and least-embraced films, launched a $1 billion global licensing juggernaut that paved the way forthe just-released sequel. Similarly, Warners is planning an aggressive roll-out of Green Lantern merchandise, with more than 100 global licensees, an animated series, games and theme park rides. A Lantern sequel could feed all of those revenue streams.
Perhaps there is still hope for a sequel, but honestly, it looks like we will have to wait for the dust to settle. With a script already commissioned by Michael Goldenberg (screenplay credits include Contact, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Green Lantern), if and when they decide to move forward with the sequel, it is good to know that it won’t take long to get into production. We will also have to wait and see what this means for other DC properties that were in the batter’s box, waiting for their turn at bat (Justice League, Wonder Woman, Flash, Hawkman, etc…).
What do you think? Should they move forward with the sequel? What do you think Warner Brothers and DC Entertainment should do with their potential movie franchises?
Jim is an avid movie enthusiast, representing the general movie going audience, looking at movies for their entertainment value as opposed to their critical weight. He enjoys the escapism that movies provide. He is a fan of all genre's of movies, but gravitates toward comic-based movies, summer "popcorn" flicks and over-the-top comedies as his preference. 
