Seth Rogan is… The Green Hornet? Really?
Really? OK, all I can say is that it is NOT April 1st.
Seth Rogan IS The Green Hornet. Or at least he will be in 2010. There is an official website with a release date and everything. Seth has been around since 2000’s Freaks and Geeks, but rocketed up the Hollywood hotlist with his involvement in a number of Judd Aptow films (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad).
Now i have no great attachment to The Green Hornet as a character (aware of him and seen an old movie once) so I won’t mind if they play it for laughs, but I’m sure there are still a few diehard oldschool original fans out there who won’t like it, but they aren’t really the action movie blockbuster audience anymore. Now I would have screamed holy hell if the proposed Jack Black Green Lantern movie had actually happened.
The Green Hornet was created by Fran Striker, an American writer who also created The Lone Ranger. In fact Striker connected his creations. The Green Hornet’s secret identity, newspaper publisher Britt Reid, is the son of Dan Reid, The Lone Ranger’s nephew, making Britt the Ranger’s grand-nephew. The connection was later severed when the properties were sold to another company in the 1950s.
special bonus rare fight scene with martial art master Bruce Lee in his first public role as Kato in the Tv serial “The Green Hornet”.
via IGN
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Loading ...Tags: Comic Book Movie, SFW, Sony, The Green Hornet
June 24th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Go Seth! Who knew there was that much green spandex in existence?
June 25th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Lets look at some facts that have been overlooked or pushed under the rug by SOOO many in Hollywood.
1. The character predated Batman and the ONLY tie in was in 1966 when the same producer for the TV show did the TV Green Hornet TV show.
2. The Character is not a superhero, he has no super powers, no super villains, he is at best a masked crime fighter. Really he is no different than any TV/Film crime fighter except he happens to have a secret identity.
3. The Character did not come from the comic world; comics only explored their version of the story after the radio show was already established. The later 90’s Comic series further explored an alternate universe of the Green Hornet world. Not too uncommon for the comic world but not congruent with the characters true origins and world.
4. The character is a hard driving young (33 years old) successful businessman who is dedicated to fight crime in his community and wherever it occurs. NOT a lazy billionaire playboy that is pure recent media hype.
5. He is seen as a criminal in the criminal world so law enforcement is always after him. The criminals hate him because they fear him, Kato, and the Black Beauty.
6. The Green Hornet is a brilliant strategist and foils his foes in a well played out mental chess game (SEE Jason Borne or James Bond) Kato assists in strategy, weapons development and construction and muscle when needed.
5. The Green Hornet is fully capable in hand-to-hand combat in most every situation. He has a totally different style than Kato. He is in top physical condition.
6. Kato is fully competent in any situation of combat. He is so confident that his attitude comes across as smug. But make no mistake he takes crime fighting and combat very seriously. It would be a very rare occurrence if he were bested in hand-to-hand combat.
7. The TV series was canceled because the producer was not allotted enough TV time to further develop the character. ABC only allowed 30m and Dozier insisted on 60m for the second season. ABC refused so dozier canceled the series.
8. Production costs were out of control on Batman (A Huge hit) and budgets were getting tight so this was also a factor in sidelining the Green Hornet.
9. Keaton worked as Batman because he has shown he an actor that has depth and intensity. It makes no difference that he was in a comedic role prior. He is/was capable of VERY serious roles and can be very dark, which is needed for the Dark Knight. Same goes for Robin Williams as Joker, Riddler. He has proven himself in serious roles and can also be a believable villain and can also be very dark. Seth??
10. The Green Hornet does not exist in the DC or Marvel universe.
11. Seth has in the past said this will be a comedy then said it will be an action film just like Pineapple Express (due out this fall), so who knows what he/they will decide on.
The were able to hold the elements together for Spider-man, Fantastic Four, Elektra, Daredevil, Hulk, Iron Man, X-Men, Batman, Superman, Punisher, Blade so why not do the same for the Green Hornet? The Hornet is more like a Jason Borne, or a James Bond without the MI5-CIA connection. Hard fighting, mental strategy game, interesting gadget technology.
Anything less that what the character is or was created to be is just a slap in the face to all of fandom and aficionados of the genre. People do not want something different they want something familiar but updated to take advantage of the wonderful film technology we have today.
Filmgoers want to leave the film after paying their $10 saying “…damn that was awesome!” Not “Damn I could have blown that $10 bucks elsewhere and been happier.”
Look for inspiring films to model off of like:
1. Ronin
2. Blade (especially the first 10 minutes)
3. The Professional (especially the first 10 minutes)
4. Casino Royal (especially the first 10 minutes)
5. The Usual Suspects
6. Smokin Aces (the plot twist)
7. The Bourne films
Fans are not looking for another Rush Hour film, they did that and it was fine for what it was.
Impress us Seth! Don’t rip us off!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
WOW! It seems there ARE some diehard oldschool original fans out there. You summarized the character far better than I could have. Thanks for posting!
You make SOOO many good points that need to be addressed if they are approaching this as a serious tale of film noir. I just worry that Seth Rogan casting means they’ll just play it for laughs. I’m not saying he’s incapable of serious drama, in fact I’d look forward to seeing him take on a non-comedic role. I see the Michael Keaton as Batman analogy, but fear the Jack Black as Green Lantern comparison is more apt.
There was nothing about Keaton’s physical appearance that obviously conflicted with known characteristics of Batman. Unless Seth Rogan plans some SERIOUS training over the next few years your point #5 may be a problem. Top physical condition is something I associate with MOST Hollywood leading men, but not Seth Rogan.
And I have to say Batman is far more than “a lazy billionaire playboy that is pure recent media hype”. He’s a tortured soul eternally chasing his own demons and trying to avenge the deaths of the parents who were slaughtered before his eyes PRETENDING to be a lazy playboy as he risks his life daily to prevent it from happening again.
The thing with Batman is Bruce Wayne is really the mask and Batman is his true self.
What is The Green Hornet’s origin/motivation?
By the way the Green Hornet Radio Show had its debut in 1936 and Batman debuted in Detective Comics in 1939, and both jumped to different media about the same time, so I wouldn’t say Batman is all RECENT hype. He’s just still alive and well in the public consciousness. Its just that the Green Hornet hasn’t had any recent hype, so many of the newer generations doesn’t know much about him.