First of all, there’s no guarantee that the Green Lantern movie that opened this weekend is even going to have a sequel. Word has it that it’s only going to make something in the $50 million range for the weekend, and is going to tank next weekend when it goes up against Pixar’s Cars 2. Still, I think it’s pretty clear that the filmmakers were really hoping for a sequel, and that they planned on making Sinestro the villain, possibly with the entire Sinestro Corps behind him. That’s obviously a really popular storyline (and the one that got me into Green Lantern comics), but the mythos is full different characters and concepts that fans would love to see on the big screen.

So if the Sinestro Corps is a given, here are 6 other things I would want to see in the sequel.

6. More of the Corps!

Like the Star Wars Cantina - but Green!

If you read my review of the movie, then you’ll know that my No. 1 complaint was that the Green Lantern Corps was given such a minor role. Had the filmmakers embraced the Corps throughout the film instead of focusing on just Hal whining about getting a Power Ring, the movie would have been a huge success. That’s right, I said it. The concept of an entire intergalactic police force of Green Lanterns is unique among all superheroes, both DC and Marvel! It’s so good that Marvel stole the idea and made the Nova Corps.

A sequel shouldn’t abandon Earth and Carol Ferris completely (see #2), but the majority of the film should be about Hal in space interacting with the Corps. As you can see from the picture above, there’s an actual Green Lantern cafeteria on Oa. This would be the perfect place for a scene like the famous cantina scene from Star Wars. Put some actors in super makeup to be different aliens, or just go ahead and CGI a bunch of them. Anything to show that Hal is part of a huge team who break each others chops, chitchat about the space weather and complain about the grub.

5. Mention the rest of the DC Universe – but only through Tomar Re and Krypton

You failed them all, fish-face!

Ask yourself this very geeky question: If the Green Lantern Corps are supposed to protect the universe, why didn’t they save Krypton – Superman’s home planet – from exploding? The answer is: they tried. Or at least Tomar Re did. Krypton is in Space Sector 2813, which Tomar Re mentioned in the movie as his sector. It’s right next door to Earth’s sector, 2814. And in the comics, Tomar Re was going to try and use some space minerals to siphon off some of the explosiveness that was going to destroy Krypton. He got blinded and delayed by a solar flare along the way and didn’t make it in time. Win some, lose some.

I have no idea whether or not a Justice League movie will ever get made, or if DC/Warner Bros. will do what Marvel is doing and unite all their solo hero movies into one flick. The Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern may not be the Green Lantern that appears in the Justice League movie. But minor cameos and references in the sequel would be fun. However, rather than having Superman fly by to say ‘hi’, they should be creative about it and tell the story of Tomar Re and Krypton. They could do it while eating in the cafeteria.

4. Hal should never again doubt himself

Don't let it go, fool!

They say that the second film in a trilogy has to be the darkest chapter. It worked in Empire Strikes Back. I have nothing wrong with this idea. The way they’ve done it in superhero movies is that the hero loses his powers, friends and/or faith in himself. It happened to both Peter Parker and Tony Stark. However, it should not happen to Hal Jordan. There was enough whining and wussing out in the first movie, Hal should stay confident in himself and his abilities throughout the sequel.

That’s not to say he shouldn’t lose his Power Ring. I could forsee a moment when Sinestro and his forces attack Oa and destroy the Central Power Battery. It reminds me of Matrix Revolutions when Morpheus watches the Nebuchadnezzar blow up. Hal and the Corps could lose their powers, then have to band together as ordinary people to get them back. Or maybe they’ll be stuck with what little charge remains on their rings. Either way, losing his powers should not involve losing his confidence and courage.

3. Mention the Emotional Light Spectrum

But only mention them. There are 9 different colored Lanterns in the comic. Green is willpower. Yellow is fear. Pink is love. Purple is compassion. Blue is hope. Orange is greed. Red is rage. Black is death. White is life. That’s all well and good, but having too many of these Lanterns in the movie would make it too crowded and possibly confusing. They introduced will and fear in the first one, so they should introduce the others in the sequel. Let Hal and the audience know that all of these colors exist, but don’t show anyone actually using the Lanterns or the Power Rings (with one exception). Save all of that for the third movie.

2. Carol becomes Star Sapphire

Maybe with a costume change

This is that one exception.

Sinestro as the villain with his yellow, fear-based ring is a given in the sequel. They teased it during the credits. And I would say that Sinestro and his Sinestro Corps would be villain enough. However, as a subplot, Carol Ferris should be given the pink, love-based ring of the Star Sapphire. She’s probably Hal’s second most popular villain, so much so that they teased it during the opening dogfight scene. Her call sign was ‘Sapphire’ and she had the star-symbol on her flight helmet.

This would give Carol something to do in the sequel besides just being the girlfriend stuck on Earth. If a sequel focuses on the Green Lantern Corps vs. the Sinestro Corps, Carol could be a wild card. Which side will she take? Will she be evil, like in the comics, or will her love for Hal win out and she lends a hand? Perhaps one and then the other If we go with my idea of the GLC losing their powers, the Star Sapphire might be crucial in helping get those powers back. Carol and the Star Sapphire would make a great B-story.

1. Mogo!

The coolest Green Lantern of them all!

Mogo is, hands down, the coolest, most exciting Green Lantern of them all. Mogo is a sentient planet. He can think, speak, fly through space and change the shape of his continents. And he was recruited into the Green Lantern Corps! We saw all those different and weird-looking aliens in the group scene in the movie, so we know that the corps is diverse. But no member is more diverse and wild than Mogo. He will blow the minds of all those non-comic fans who go to see the Green Lantern movies and have no idea what they’re in for.

Out of everything on this list, Mogo is the one that absolutely has to happen in the sequel. The movie could start on Mogo, maybe show Hal hanging out in a lush, tropical environment. Then when he flies away from the planet, they reveal the big Green Lantern symbol and hear Mogo ‘talk’. Perhaps he could even show up to lend a hand in the finale. What better cavalry to call on than an entire planet with super powers? Mogo is an absolute must for the Green Lantern sequel!

If there is a sequel…

Honorable mention: Guy Gardner! I don’t want to see any of the other human Green Lanterns in the movies. But if they insist on expanding the cast like that in order to appease the fans, Guy Gardner should be the one and only extra Lantern they use.

The Crazy One!

In the comics, there are four human Green Lanterns. Hal Jordan was the first, and he’s eventually joined by Jon Stewart, Kyle Rayner and Guy Gardner. Each one has their own personality and origin as to how they got the ring, as well as how they use it. Each one also has their own group of fans, diehards who would love to see them on the big screen. I, however, do not want to see any of them on the big screen. I’m a HUGE proponent of the K.I.S.S. method of superhero movies: Keep It Simple Stupid.

The first Green Lantern movie messed this up. They dumped info and background and characters and concepts all over the audience. Bad idea. The filmmakers will be tempted to throw in at least one of these other human Lanterns because they are such a big deal in the comic book, and it will make some fans happy. But all it will do is take focus away from Hal Jordan and the rest of the alien members of the Corps. So I don’t think they should do it.

But if they insist, I vote for Guy Gardner.

Guy is a huge jackass. He’s insulting, insubordinate and cockier than Hal Jordan – but he’s got more heart than any of the others. Guy may be an asshole, but he’s also a serious white knight who will go to any length and make any sacrifice in the name of the good guys. You could trust Guy Gardner with your life, you’d just have to put up with his attitude (and sexual harassment, if you’re a woman).

On the screen, he’d push all of Hal Jordan’s buttons. He’d take to the ring far faster than Hal did, and prove to be a natural in a way that embarrasses Hal. He’d flirt with Carol, buddy it up with Kilowog and prove to be a real badass. Plus he’d be funny. Hal was funny in a charming way, Guy could be funny in a laugh-out-loud sort of way. And in the end, his head strong behavior and cockiness would be his undoing as he tried to take on the Sinestro Corps single-handedly. So Guy would need to turn to Hal and the rest of the Corps for help.

And with Hal and Guy as the two human Lanterns, never ever bring in Jon Stewart or Kyle Rayner! Two many Lanterns just dilutes their importance, and there’s nothing film-worthy about Jon or Kyle.

Young and Black, that is all