When Green Lantern glides into national multiplexes next month, Warner Bros. will be counting ticket receipts to gauge commercial interest in a sequel, which already has a script from a handful of the writers of the first film. While I'm incredibly enthusiastic about taking Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps. to the next level, apparently director Martin Campbell, who helmed this year's franchise hopeful, isn't. He just told Total Film that, regardless or box office numbers, he won't be returning for a follow up."This film has become the instruction manual if they do any further ones. It's what we call pipe laying," he says. Not that he has plans to return for a sequel - like Bond, he loves 'em and leaves 'em."
For a little bit of context, you should know that Campbell directed 1995's James Bond reboot GoldenEye (which became the highest grossing film in the entire canon) but didn't return for any of the Pierce Brosnan sequels. He followed that up with The Mask of Zorro, which was a huge hit, but took seven years and two films in between to make the 2005 sequel. The same can be said of Casino Royale, which he directed but turned down the opportunity to make Quantum of Solace. His MO seems to be " start a franchise, pass the keys along" - a great creative choice, but one that constantly makes you wonder what could've been. In any event, Campbell hasn't decided what his next project will be, but I'm looking forward to seeing him forge new territory.
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