Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern lesson comes after the 2011 superhero film failed to become the blockbuster many expected, prompting the actor to reassess how he approached creative roles in Hollywood. Nearly a decade and a half after the film debuted to underwhelming box office numbers, Reynolds spoke candidly about the impact that Green Lantern’s reception had on his career during the Wall Street Journal’s CMO Council Summit in November.
Green Lantern opened on June 15, 2011, with expectations that it would become a summer hit, yet fell far short of financial predictions, earning just over $219 million worldwide—a marginal return on its $200 million production budget. Reflecting on that period, Reynolds, now 49, acknowledged that he considered the film one of his more notable failures in creative terms, but emphasized that the experience taught him a critical lesson about asserting himself during production.
You know, that was a time in my life when I was ‘Yes, sir, no, sir. How high can I jump, sir?’
Ryan Reynolds, Actor
The actor expressed that his lack of assertiveness on set resulted in missed opportunities to influence the direction of the project. He recalled that, while others on the production made significant creative choices, he felt the consequences of those decisions most acutely when the film failed to connect with audiences and critics. Reynolds highlighted that, ultimately, it was he who faced public scrutiny when Green Lantern underperformed, noting that actors are often singled out when high-profile films struggle.
You sit there, and you go, ‘I have really strong thoughts and opinions on a creative matter,’ and someone else on another movie, I remember, made a creative decision, and ‘I thought, well, that’s a nail in a coffin that I alone will lie in.’
Ryan Reynolds, Actor
Reynolds added that, while directors and producers rarely face the brunt of criticism when a film flops, it is often the leading actor whose name becomes synonymous with the project’s failure.
“They don’t say ‘This producer’s movie flopped,’ or ‘This director’s [movie flopped].’ That’s me. So if I’m going to be on that headline, I’d like to be the architect of my own demise — or success.”
Ryan Reynolds, Actor
Personal Growth and Life Changes Post-Green Lantern
Though Green Lantern did not meet box office or critical expectations, it had a significant influence on Reynolds’ personal life. On set in 2010, he met Blake Lively, who played Carol Ferris, Hal Jordan’s close confidant and love interest. Their chemistry quickly grew, leading to a romantic relationship that began a year after filming and culminated in marriage in 2012.
Today, Reynolds and Lively share four children: James, Inez, Betty, and their youngest son, Olin. The family dynamic is closely tied to the film, as Reynolds revealed that his son Olin is a devoted fan of the much-maligned superhero movie.
You laugh, but my son, it’s his favorite movie, and he watches it every f—— day,
Ryan Reynolds, Actor
Do you understand the work I’ve had to do to get to the place where I can just pass by that screen and not go, ‘Well, we could have [done something to make it better]?’
Ryan Reynolds, Actor
Ongoing Legacy and Future of the Green Lantern Franchise
Despite Green Lantern’s lackluster performance, DC has not abandoned the character or the broader Green Lantern Corps. Guy Gardner, now portrayed by Nathan Fillion, appeared in James Gunn’s Superman, slated for release in 2025. The franchise is also set for a revival with the upcoming HBO series, Lanterns, which will be produced by DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television and is expected to premiere in 2026.
The story of Green Lantern remains rooted in the lore of the intergalactic Green Lantern Corps. Hal Jordan, the character played by Reynolds, was the first human chosen for the ranks, facing skepticism from alien peers and the challenge of stopping the universe-threatening villain Parallax. Carol Ferris, played by Blake Lively, provided both emotional and narrative support as Vice President of Ferris Aircraft. The legacy of these characters continues to influence DC’s storytelling approach and shape the evolving universe.
Significance of Reynolds’ Green Lantern Revelation
Ryan Reynolds’ reflection on Green Lantern’s shortcomings provides a candid glimpse into the pressures faced by leading actors in big-budget productions, as well as how navigating creative disagreements can define a career. By becoming more vocal and intentional in his work after Green Lantern, Reynolds has shaped future roles on his own terms. Meanwhile, the themes and characters introduced in Green Lantern endure, with new iterations on the way from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television, hinting at a more nuanced future for the franchise, and pointing to the far-reaching influence of lessons learned—even from failures.
