Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds says he owes his entire career to Green Lantern despite the 2011 superhero film being widely viewed as a major failure.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the 49-year-old actor explained that working on the big-budget comic book adaptation taught him invaluable lessons that reshaped both his personal life and professional path.
Reynolds acknowledged that observers often assume his primary takeaway from the project was learning what not to do on a film set. He noted that while that assumption was partly true, making a production of that magnitude provided fundamental lessons that he carried throughout his career, adding that he owes everything to the experience.
The 2011 feature also proved pivotal for his family life, as Reynolds met his future wife, actress Blake Lively, while filming. Lively co-starred in the movie as Carol Ferris, the love interest of Reynolds' character.
Reflecting on their initial meeting on set, Reynolds described the experience as an incredible milestone and a gift that keeps on giving, adding that he thoroughly enjoyed the process of making the movie.
Potential return in HBO series
Fifteen years after last donning the superhero costume, Reynolds indicated he has not ruled out playing fighter pilot Hal Jordan once again. The actor expressed open interest in making a brief cameo appearance in Lanterns, an upcoming live-action television series in development for HBO.
Speaking about a potential return to the DC Comics universe, Reynolds explicitly stated that he would definitely participate in a cameo role for the new series, as reported by People magazine.
Green Lantern was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures as a prospective tentpole franchise based on the long-running DC Comics character, a member of an intergalactic police force powered by a ring of willpower. Although the studio hoped to launch a cinematic universe, the film was met with scathing critical reviews and underperformed at the global box office.
Lessons on character and family ties
Despite its harsh public reception, Reynolds revealed during an appearance at the TIME 100 Summit in New York in 2025 that the film eventually found a special place in his home. He shared that Green Lantern had ultimately become the favorite movie of his young son, Olin.
During the 2025 summit, Reynolds reflected on how the challenging production influenced his approach to future projects, including his later success producing and starring in the Deadpool franchise. He explained that filming taught him some of the most critical lessons of his career.
Reynolds emphasized that looking back at the experience taught him that character matters more than spectacle. He noted that in hindsight, that specific realization fundamentally shaped his perspective as an actor and producer.
