Will Green Lantern 2 get Green Lit?

While I've made it clear that I was somewhat disappointed with Green Lantern (six out of ten power rings rating) I also made it clear that I'd love for a sequel to be made.  Despite the weak script, Ryan Reynolds makes a great Green Lantern/Hal Jordon and Mark Strong IS Sinestro.  It's Sinestro's (warning spoiler) embracing of the yellow ring at the end of the movie that let's you know what direction Warner Bros. is planning on going with in the future with Green Lantern.  And that direction is Sinestro vs. the Green Lantern Corps.  And who doesn't want to see that?

Blake?  Blake?  Wake up!  We're filming!

Problem is, Green Lantern didn't open with the $60 million plus opening weekend that studio execs were planning for (instead opening to $52.7 million).  Add less than stellar reviews from critics and many were wondering if Warner Bros. was going to move forward with this franchise.

But then, The Hollywood Reporter came out with this story on June 26, saying that the big wigs at Warner Bros. were indeed going to move forward with a sequel.

So Green Lantern fans dodged a bullet right?  The movie was weak enough that making a sequel was in doubt, but they got the confirmation they wanted that the franchise would move forward.

The very next day however, The Hollywood Reporter ran this story, and all of a sudden there are once again doubts as to whether a sequel would see the light of day (granted it was an analysis).

So which one is it?

It's hard to tell.  I honestly don't understand why THR would run a story saying a sequel is a go if they were just going to write another story the next day saying a sequel could still be in doubt.  My gut says Warner Bros. has to take a chance and move ahead with Green Lantern 2.  The right pieces are there, especially Strong as Sinestro.  With this character Warner Bros./DC Entertainment have the chance to showcase their best on screen villain since Heath Ledger's Joker.  It would be a shame to let that go to waste.

Not only that, but with the Harry Potter franchise finally coming to an end on July 15, Warner Bros. needs a new franchise and they need Green Lantern to be successful so that DC Entertainment knows that they can go into their vault and make movies from characters not named Batman or Superman.

The bolder move would be to get rid of director Martin Campbell who was clearly in over his head with this comic book/sci-fi/CGI loaded universe.  Re-loading James Bond is one thing, and Campbell did that magnificently with Casino Royale, but this is a different game over here with GL.  Kenneth Branagh did a fairly good job with directing Thor and he's not coming back.  Campbell did not do a good job with Green Lantern and Warner Bros. should bring in someone else who will make a stronger, slightly even darker movie.

Sinestro vs. the GL Corps is something that every fanboy would love to see on the screen.  Here's hoping the sequel gets approved, but here's also hoping they do it right this time.