'Green Lantern' Updates: Locations and Villain Casting

It was recently claimed that production of Warner Bros superhero movie "Green Lantern" was to move from Sydney because of the rising value of the Australian dollar.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, this is now definitely happening. It reports that a statement from the studio says the move is being forced by "the current global economic situation, including fluctuations in currency valuation and overall costs."

On Friday, the Australian dollar hit a 27-year high against the US dollar and the costs of filming "Green Lantern" have now increased by more than $2 0million. The Aussie dollar is being tipped to rise further and may reach parity with the US dollar in the coming weeks.

"Green Lantern" - starring Ryan Reynolds - is likely to end up shooting in Mexico or Canada. New Orleans has also been mentioned as an alternative location for the film, which is set for release on June 17, 2011.

This is bad news for Australia because there are already a number of films shooting there including the "The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader" and two animated full-length features are being produced there including "Happy Feet 2."

It’s not a total loss for the Australian movie industry though, as Spike Jonze filmed "Where the Wild Things Are" there this past year in Victoria and I’m sure that brought in a hefty sum to their local economy.

As for casting on the villain of the film, Ain't It Cool News reported a rumor that Jackie Earle Haley (the new Freddy in "Nightmare on Elm Street") will be playing the role of Sinestro.

Sinestro is the former mentor of Hal Jordan and the arch-nemesis of the entire Green Lantern Corps (of which Ryan Reynolds is a part of). Sinestro was banished from the Corps for using the power of the Green Lantern to instill fear rather than combat it and was given a yellow ring and the power of the Yellow Lanterns, the enemy of the Green Lanterns, instead.

The same day this rumor hit, Collider was able to talk with Jackie Earle Haley on the red carpet of the Scream Awards, and he confirmed that it's not true. Watch the video below to hear his response.


More news to come! Catch ya' later!
Sources: Screen Rant, The Geek Files, First Showing