DC producers almost chose Mark Wahlberg for a role that netizens later reimagined for Tom Cruise.

SUMMARY

Although Mark Wahlberg is in headlines for being repeatedly fan-cast in MCU roles, there was a time when he almost reportedly appeared in DC.

Since Warner Bros revealed their plans to release a Green Lantern Corps movie in 2020, producer Charles Roven might have thus sought Mark Wahlberg for the role of Green Lantern.
Soon after Mark Wahlberg’s image surfaced on the internet, speculations about Tom Cruise also emerged.

Although Mark Wahlberg, famous for his appearance in the sci-fi fantasy franchise Transformers, is in headlines for being repeatedly fan-cast in MCU roles, there was a time when he almost reportedly appeared in DC. According to reports, there’s a possibility that Wahlberg was once considered to play Green Lantern in the DCEU.

Mark Wahlberg
The reports emerged after Mark Wahlberg posted an image on his Instagram, alongside the images of the entire Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice cast. Although the rumor was not confirmed or denied by Warner Bros, the internet went ablaze as netizens later sparked headlines for considering Tom Cruise in that very role.

Mark Wahlberg Was Considered to Play Green Lantern

Following Ryan Reynolds’ 2011 movie Green Lantern, which not only ruined his career in the superhero genre but also significantly damaged DC’s reputation, the studio considered twice before reimagining the character.

But, since Warner Bros had plans to bring back Green Lantern in 2020, producers yet again thought of it during Justice League.

Warner Bros had plans for Green Lantern Corps movie in 2020
Only this time, according to reports from Mario Robles’ X post, producer Charles Roven wanted Mark Wahlberg to play Hal Jordan, aka Green Lantern in the DCEU. The rumor began in 2018 after an image surfaced on Wahlberg’s Instagram, where the actor was spotted standing in front of a wall pinned with images of the entire Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice cast.

It is believed that the photo was taken somewhere in 2014, as Mark Wahlberg is seen sporting long hair, which he had while filming Transformers: Age of Extinction. Now, according to ScreenRant’s theories, since Zack Snyder and Charles Roven were casting the entire future of the DCEU, there’s a high chance that they were figuring out the right actor to eventually play Green Lantern.

Wahlberg was being reportedly eyed for Green Lantern
Since Warner Bros revealed their plans to release a Green Lantern Corps movie in 2020, right after the release of Justice League and Justice League 2, Roven might have thus sought Mark Wahlberg for the role of Green Lantern. Considering that Wahlberg was already one of the biggest movie stars, and DC went after established actors, there’s a chance he was eyed for the role of Hal Jordan.

Netizens Reimagined Tom Cruise as Green Lantern

As Mark Wahlberg’s post popped up in 2018, with the images of the entire Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice cast on the wall, fans believed he was being sought to appear as Green Lantern in Justice League. But given his stature and position in the industry, he was too big of a star for DC to bring in for a mere cameo.

Wahlberg was too big of an actor for DC to bring in for a mere cameo
Thus, it is believed as per ScreenRant theories, that Mark Wahlberg was indeed being sought to play the titular role of Green Lantern in the DCEU. Possibly beginning with a small cameo in Justice League, the actor would have been later launched as a prominent face in DC with Green Lantern Corps in 2020. But unfortunately, things didn’t work out as planned.

Soon after Mark Wahlberg’s image surfaced on the internet, another prominent actor made his rounds around the character of Green Lantern.

It’s none other than Hollywood heartthrob Tom Cruise, who was being reimagined as Hal Jordan following an alleged list of shortlisted actors by Warner Bros. But as per CBR, since Ryan Reynolds was also mentioned, despite his catastrophic 2011 movie, the list’s veracity was in question.

Fans reimagined Tom Cruise as Green Lantern
However, that didn’t stop fans from reimagining Tom Cruise in the DC role. Nonetheless, in the end, neither Mark Wahlberg nor Tom Cruise made their way into the DCEU as Green Lantern. But certainly, the hope is still on since James Gunn is now preparing for an upcoming HBO series Lanterns.