Ryan Reynolds describes superhero flop Green Lantern as a 'victim of Hollywood'

'I don’t think anyone ever figured out exactly what it was'

Before Ryan Reynolds struck box office gold (and Golden Globe recognition) with Deadpool, he had a bit of a tumultuous time trying to make another superhero character fly - Green Lantern.

In a new interview with EW, Reynolds has mused on why his latest incarnation of Deadpool worked compared with the latter which was released in 2011.

"Deadpool always knew what it was," he stated. “With Green Lantern, I don’t think anyone ever figured out exactly what it was. That isn’t to say the hundreds of men and women didn’t work their fingers to the bone to make it as good as possible.

"It also fell victim to the process in Hollywood which is like poster first, release date second, script last."

Reynolds continued: "At the time, it was a huge opportunity for me so I was excited to try and take part in it. I did, however, write a letter to Fox right before I had to decide whether or not I was gonna do Green Lantern. I asked one last time sort of like the groom standing at the altar, ‘Will you please be my wife?’ and they said they couldn’t pull the trigger on Deadpool. For too many reasons too boring to illustrate, it just didn’t work.”

There are rumours that the character will appear in DC mashup film Justice League with word suggesting that Free Fire actor Armie Hammer is in line to star.

Reynolds will next star in Deadpool 2 which found itself at the centre of controversy when original filmmaker Tim Miller stepped down paving the way for John Wick director David Leitch to step in.