Reynolds as Green Lantern: The Screenwriters React [& poll]

Two comic book writers who co-wrote the Green Lantern movie script said they're thrilled with the choice of the lead actor for the film.

"While I didn't have any say at all in the process, I couldn't be happier," said Green Lantern screenwriter Michael Green, who also co-writes DC's Superman/Batman comic. "Ryan Reynolds is the best possible outcome. A terrific, intelligent, charismatic actor, and of course, funny as hell."

Reynolds was named by Variety on Sunday as Warner Brothers' choice to play Hal Jordan in the upcoming Green Lantern movie, which is being directed by Casino Royale's Martin Campbell. After being in a reported three-way battle for the role with Bradley Cooper and Justin Timberlake, Reynolds has won the role in time for the expected November start of production in Australia. The movie is slated to be released on June 17, 2011.

Green said the part of Hal Jordan in the Green Lantern script, which he co-wrote with Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, calls for an actor who can handle a multi-layered part.

"Hal Jordan/Green Lantern has a lot of different layers to him, and Ryan is one of the rare guys who can inhabit them all and more," he said.

In comics, Hal Jordan is a pilot who is given a powerful ring and its lantern-shaped battery after discovering a spaceship crashed on Earth. He replaces the ship's alien pilot as a member of an interstellar corps of heroes who enforce justice with their green energy-emitting rings.

Guggenheim, who's also a comic book writer on both Amazing Spider-Man for Marvel and Resurrection for Oni Press, said he'd been considering Reynolds as a good match for the character since before he ever heard his name officially associated with the part.

"It's very funny, because my wife was the first person to suggest Ryan to me," Guggenheim said. "Now, neither my wife, Tara, nor myself have any say whatsoever in the casting process. I found out via Variety, same as anyone else. But I thought Tara was right about Ryan then and I feel equally right – if not more so, thank you very much Proposal – now."

Green said that, like many comic book movie fans, he's liked the actor since Reynolds appeared in his first comic-related film back in 2004, as Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity.

"I've been a fan of his since I saw him kick ass in Blade 3 – and everything he's done since just shows how much depth he's got underneath his hero side," Green said. "The funny thing is, since the announcement, I've been approached by women and geeks alike telling me how psyched they are to see him put on that the ring. The only negatives I've heard at all is people worried he won't be able to play other superheroes too!"

Green's contacts aren't the only ones worried. The casting puts in question the former assumption that Reynolds would reprise his role as Deadpool in the previously announced X-Men Origins: Wolverine spin-off.

But that's a worry for Marvel – not for Warner Brothers or the Green Lantern writers, who are just happy to have landed the actor for the Hal Jordan role.

"Ryan's a star and the perfect one for this part," Guggenheim said. "I'm extremely excited. And, yes, it's nice that my wife gets to be right – something that doesn't happen very often. Kidding!"

So that's the screenwriters' take. What's yours? Let us know in our latest Newsarama poll. Nearly 6000 readers have already cast their vote...