While it’s no longer uncommon for a studio to start working on the script for a film sequel before the first movie comes out (so they can get the follow-up in cinemas as soon as possible), it’s not so common for them to hire people to write a sequel treatment before they’ve even finished principal photography on the first instalment. However THR reports that’s exactly what’s happening with Green Lantern.
Although the first film in the superhero series is currently shooting with Ryan Reynolds in the lead role, Warner has already hired Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim, all of whom helped with the first Lantern screenplay, to come up with a treatment for a sequel. The same trio has also been asked to write a treatment for a film version of The Flash, with the deal then seeing them go on to write one of the screenplays (although it’s not known which one).
The Flash film will apparently take inspiration from the recent comic book work on the character by Geoff Johns, and will use the Barry Allen version of the Scarlet Speedster, who remains the most popular incarnation.
The idea could be that they want treatments for both so that Warner can decide which project to fast-track, or they may just be learning lessons from Marvel’s experiments in character cross-overs, by using the same people to create a similar feel for their upcoming DC Comics movies. It undoubtedly suggests they like what they’ve seen of Green Lantern so far, and want to see more of it with The Flash, and with Hal Jordan and Barry Allen being friends in the comics, it opens the door to the possibility of DC/Marvel doing something similar to what Marvel has done.