Blake Lively cast in Green Lantern

With Green Lantern getting the green light earlier this week we expected that casting announcements would soon be popping up, and the first comes from THR who say that actress Blake Lively will play the female lead alongside Ryan Reynolds.

Lively will play Carol Ferris, who runs her father’s aerospace company and hires cocky test pilot Hal Jordan (Reynolds), who later becomes the intergalactic policeman Green Lantern. In the comics, the romance became complicated when an alien race bestowed her the power of a crystal called the Star Sapphire.

The search for the Martin Campbell-directed film’s leading lady was almost as intense as the one for its title star. Keri Russell and Jennifer Garner were reportedly among those in the mix for the role.

The role called for a slightly older actress but Lively, who stars in the CW’s “Gossip Girl,” impressed the studio and filmmakers with her audition. Warners was also impressed with her work in “The Town,” its adaptation of the gritty Chuck Hogan novel directed by Ben Affleck now in post-production.

The casting process will next turn its eye to the roles of Dr. Hector Hammond, one of the key villains, and the alien known as Sinestro.

I haven’t seen Blake Lively in anything so i’ll just have to assume she’s good based on Warner Bros. and Martin Campbell’s judgement. Has anyone seen her in Gossip Girl? How is she?

Green Lantern will begin filming in 10 weeks time, so expect more casting announcements in the near future.