After playing Jango Fett and his many clones in the Star Wars prequels, Temuera Morrison’s career didn’t exactly skyrocket. In fact in 2008 he ended up appearing for a few weeks in the rather low-rent New Zealand medical soap, Shortland Street. That said, he was recently back in Hollywood for Couples Retreat and now he’s set to return to mega-budget, effects filled blockbusters with the Warner/DC Comics flick, Green Lantern.
THR is reporting that director Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) is keen to give his fellow New Zelanders a break, as he’s not only got Morrison in his superhero movie, but also cast Kiwi actor/filmmaker Taiki Waititi (who wrote and drected Eagle vs. Shark, and also worked on Flight Of The Conchords).
Waititi will play the best friend of Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds), the test pilot who comes to wear the super-powered ring of the interplanetary police force known as the Green Lantern Corps. Morrison meanwhile is playing Abin Sur, a member of the Corps who is instrumental in Jordan becoming a superhero, after he crash-lands on Earth and recruits the young man.
The 3D movie is set to start shooting this week in New Orleans, with a release date set for June 17th, 2011.