With the release date of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice now less than a month and a half away, the hype train has grown crowded. Despite various controversies surrounding the film, the superhero showdown now appears primed to become one of the biggest theatrical hits of 2016.
Those who have followed the film’s development surely caught wind of the highly publicized test screening leak from December, in which a Reddit user claiming to have been in the audience posted a litany of spoiler-y details concerning the film. While the legitimacy of those claims were (and still are) considered questionable at best, one of the many intriguing bits of information that came out of that supposed test screening was the (entirely unconfirmed) casting of Hal Jordan. With the Green Lantern Corps film still four years from release, the idea that one of the film’s main stars had already been secretly cast was a shocker, to say the least.
Recently, Dan Amboyer (Younger), the rumored man behind the emerald mask, sat down for a revealing interview with PopSugar in which he strongly hinted at his upcoming role in Zack Snyder’s superhero epic. For those of you looking to avoid potential BvS spoilers, we advise you turn back now. You have been warned.
Amboyer spoke about his first day on the set of Batman V Superman, and while he didn’t drop any specific details, the behind-the-scenes information he was willing to discuss is full of interesting information about certain physical elements used in the film, like Superman’s suit and the production’s use of physical sets over CGI. Amboyer doesn’t offer anything pertaining to his exact role in the film, but saying “all of a sudden, you’re on another planet, literally,” does raise some interesting questions about just what the actor was shooting, as everything released for the film so far has been terrestrial in nature. Perhaps Amboyer is merely speaking figuratively about the surreal nature of filming a comic book movie, but, then again, perhaps he and the Green Lantern Corps are seen off-planet at some point. Here’s what Amboyer said:
Amboyer was pressed for more information about his character, but he simply responded: “I can’t. They told me I couldn’t say anything.” His decision to remain tight-lipped is surely a contractual one, but he did reveal a few hints to his true identity when asked whether or not his character’s full name would be revealed:
“It was awesome. I got there right at the beginning of shooting and it was crazy because my first day people were showing me around and all of a sudden the Superman suit comes by — and it’s giant. It’s not something you can hang up. So that was insane. But what I thought was really interesting was that they filmed a lot of it on film, not digital. So a lot of the sets were actually built. So, all of a sudden, you’re on another planet, literally. Everything is so intricate and perfect. You think so much of that is just CGI and postproduction, but it was actually there.”
“Oh, yes. It does appear, but it’s kind of an undercover thing. The name appears on me at one point.”
Amboyer could certainly be alluding to his character appearing in a military uniform. Hal Jordan is the best known fighter pilot in all of DC Comics and is well-known for sporting a brown bomber jacket emblazoned with his name. Amboyer then chose to take the Green Lantern teasing a step further by revealing his favorite color:
Despite being listed simply as “Drone Pilot” on the film’s IMDB page, Amboyer’s personal website lists his identity as “Lt. Christie.” While there is mounting evidence these names are simply a ruse (and Amboyer himself seems perfectly content playing into the rumors that he is indeed playing Green Lantern) there’s a chance he’s simply playing a non-superpowered military man – one who at no point happens upon a ring capable of harnessing pure willpower.
“Blue. Definitely blue, but I appreciate nature as well and everything green.”
Batman V Superman is already tasked with introducing new versions of both Batman and Wonder Woman, and will likely introduce several other future members of the Justice League as well. Concerns over the film’s ability to carry so many new characters have existed for some time, and adding a Green Lantern into the mix may be a risky proposition. As much of an up-and-coming talent as Amboyer may be, his ideal BVS role may be a simple cameo in a bomber jacket with “Jordan” stitched on the front, rather than a full-fledged Green Lantern reveal.
What do you think, readers? Is Amboyer playing Hal Jordan, or is he purposefully misleading fans? Do you think he’s the right man for the job? Perhaps most importantly, should Batman v Superman even be attempting to introduce yet another Justice Leaguer?
Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice opens on March 25, 2016, which is followed by Suicide Squad on August 5, 2016; Wonder Woman on June 23, 2017; Justice League Part One on November 17, 2017; The Flash on March 16, 2018; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League Part Two on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and then Green Lantern Corps. on June 19, 2020.
Source: Pop Sugar [via CBM]