Why Idris Elba should be the next Green Lantern

Two weeks ago I was asked to do a follow up to my article on why Jim Caviezel should be Batman. In the last two weeks we have seen more Batman casting suggestions than anything else in our Facebook newsfeeds, so it got me thinking about a different Justice League member and who I would like to see as the next Green Lantern. At the moment there are many names flying around for the role of the Green Lantern, people have mentioned the likes of Chris Pine and Matt Bomer, among a few others. But there is only really one suggestion that I’m sure we can all agree with and that is Idris Elba.

Elba is one of the most accomplished actors in contemporary film and media today.

He is a multi-award winning actor and has recently completed his role as Nelson Mandela. Idris is a powerful actor who’s presence is felt on-screen. He would make a great Green Lantern.

Personally, I do not enjoy seeing an actor play multiple superhero characters.

And although Elba is currently playing Heimdall in the Thor movie, he is not the lead or a central character to the movies. His move to DC then, to play the Green Lantern, will not be anything as major as Fassbender (Magneto) playing Batman. When people think of the Thor franchise they immediately think Chris Hemsworths and Tom Hiddleston. They do not think about Idris.

Ryan Reynolds.

Nobody liked Reynolds’ portrayal of the Green Lantern. To erase the sins of the past I feel DC has to abandon Hal Jordan and introduce John Stewart into the Justice League film. If the Justice League goes ahead with Hal Jordan we will see a white wash of a superhero team. Even the Avengers had a person of colour (Nick Fury)…. Well, and they had a Hulk.

There is no one better to step into the role of John Stewart than Idris Elba. John Stewart is a veteran U.S. Marine, and if you’ve recently seen Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim you would have realised that he would do this role justice. His character, Stacker Pentecost, is by far the strongest role in Pacific Rim. We cannot help but respect his commands. Del Toro describes Idris as, “one of those actors that is capable of embodying humanity, in almost like a Rodin sculpture-type, larger than life, almost like a Russian realism statue, you know, big hands, all the turmoil of humanity in his eyes.”

This side of him is also shown in Luther, for which Idris received a Golden Globe. Hal Jordan describes John Stewart as having a “chip on his shoulder bigger than the rock of Gibraltar.” One cannot help but feel that this role is somewhat made for Idris Elba. As a member of the Justice League he will be standing alongside the likes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, all leaders in their own right. John Stewart will need to have a great physical presence and be able to dish out orders even better than he is able to take them.

Elba is also somewhat of a real life hero.

In 2009, the Prince’s Trust, appointed him its Anti-Crime Ambassador. Idris credits this appointment with helping him to start his career in the big leagues. Idris oozes the feeling on command and leadership. When he takes leadership roles you can feel it and it feels authentic. He is a perfect match to John Stewart, a character that prides himself on integrity and morals. It is also ironic that John Stewart was jailed and tortured for weeks in South Namibia, which was DC’s equivalent to an Apartheid South Africa, and Idris Elba is currently acting as Nelson Mandela, the man who suffered under the rules of Apartheid South Africa.

We have not seen a superhero of African descent in quite a while.

We haven’t had a black superhero since Michael Jai White was Spawn and Wesley Snipes was Blade! Marvel looks as though they will be adding more colour to their ranks with Falcon in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Johnny Storm being made African-American is on the cards too. It would be wise for DC to add a bit of colour into their team. A powerful actor such as Idris Elba taking up the duties of The Green Lantern could provide the minority with a great role model to aspire too.

He has women weak at the knees.

If DC is worried about losing out on the market without Reynolds, they will get an even bigger return if they bank on Elba. Idris Elba was named as one of the Sexiest Men alive last year. He is also a musician and a DJ – we know how the ladies love their musicians. He was even considered to be cast as the first black 007. DC would have a bigger drawing card than the likes of a mid-tier actor like Ryan Reynolds if they bestow Idris Elba with the powers of the Green Lantern.

He could help reboot the Green Lantern franchise.

The first Green Lantern film really sucked. DC needs to focus on repairing all the damage they did to the character in the upcoming Justice League movie. Give the people what they want – a better Green Lantern.