The Green Hornet is a fictional masked crime fighter. Originally created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker for an American radio program in the 1930s, the character has appeared in other media as well, including film serials in the 1940s, a network television program in the 1960s, and multiple comic book series from the 1940s to the 1990s. Though various incarnations sometimes change details, in most incarnations the Green Hornet is Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher by day who by night goes out in his masked "Green Hornet" identity to fight crime as a vigilante, accompanied by his similarly masked Asian manservant Kato and driving a car, equipped with advanced technology, called "Black Beauty".
Okay, now here's the Green Hornet as he appeared in the 1940's movie serials...
And here's how he appeared in the 1960's television series...
And now introducing the Green Hornet for a modern audience... Seth Rogen???
I know Tim Burton made it work for Michael Keaton as Batman (which caused a stir at the time because he was known for comedies like Mr. Mom and Johnny Dangerously. But I still like both Batman and Batman Returns), Warren Beatty (not to be confused with Ned Beatty) was somewhat believable as Dick Tracy (And no. I didn't like the movie), Alec Baldwin as the Shadow seemed to have the right look and build for the part (can't comment on this one. Never saw it) and Billy Zane was actually quite good as The Phantom (lightweight but a lot of fun). But isn't this stretching it a little? It might work since they have a unique director in Michel Gondry behind the helm who directed some of my favorite Björk videos.
I guess the mindset might be to capture lightning in a bottle the way they did with Michael Keaton as Batman. The actor you'd least expect as a superhero pulling it off as a superhero. I'm still having a rough time wrapping my mind around Seth Rogen pulling it off the way Keaton did though.
But we'll see.
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