Canadian actors Ryan Reynolds, Seth Rogen, and Stephen Amell have much in common. The former Sexiest Man Alive, funny man and newcomer have each proven that they know how to fight off villains as the notorious super heroes the Green Lantern, Green Hornet, and Green Arrow.
In 2011, Vancouver-born Seth Rogen played the Green Hornet and in the same calendar year, B.C.-native; Ryan Reynolds gave it a go as the Green Lantern. This year, there is a new hero in town. Torontonian Stephen Amell won the lead role in the CW series Arrow and currently portrays billionaire playboy Oliver Queen.
A Hollywood Reporter article explains that Americans are no longer getting cast in super hero roles because, "The reality is that access to actors all over the world is greater because of the Internet," says Marcia Ross, Executive Vice President of casting at Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Thanks to the 'net, Ross said, casting directors can now email sides (script pages) to the most remote of locales, then record auditions they will show directors and producers. Not only does that level the playing field, it also saves money on far-flung casting calls. "We as casting directors want to be thorough, and now we can," she said.
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Casting directors take note. Green Lantern and Green Hornet both debuted in the top spot at the box-office during their opening weekends while Arrow has been off to a stellar start receiving the highest network ratings in three years and a second season order. Earlier this month, Director Bryan Singer announced that B.C.-native, Shawn Ashmore, will be suiting up in hero attire and reprising his role as Ice Man in the franchise film, X-Men: Days of Future Past.
It is never too late to recognize that not only do our Canadian super heroes look great in green, but they are proving to be box-office gold.