Ryan Reynolds, long known for his self-deprecating humor regarding the 2011 DC superhero film Green Lantern, has expressed a significant shift in perspective, stating that he owes his entire career to the movie.
Speaking at the premiere of his new film Mayday, Reynolds told Entertainment Tonight that he would be open to a cameo in the new HBO series Lanterns. He elaborated on his changed sentiment, explaining that while he did learn "what not to do" from the experience of making the large-scale production, he also gained invaluable lessons. "Any time you're making something that large, there are core lessons that come of it," Reynolds said.
Reynolds declared, "I owe my entire career to that movie. I owe everything to that. Everything about it was a gift that keeps on giving. And I really enjoyed the experience of making it." The film, in which he starred as Hal Jordan opposite Blake Lively as Carol Ferris, also marked a significant personal milestone for Reynolds, as it was where he met his wife.
For years, Reynolds has made light of the film's critical and commercial failure. This included a notable post-credits scene in Deadpool 2 where his character travels back in time to kill Reynolds before he can star in Green Lantern. He also engaged in trolling fans by suggesting his version of the character was part of the Snyder Cut.
Green Lantern director Martin Campbell has previously expressed regret over the film, though he speculated it could have been improved had Reynolds been involved in the scripting process. Reynolds' most recent public appearance related to the superhero genre was crashing the Avengers: Doomsday panel at San Diego Comic-Con in a Deadpool costume.