Entertainment & Arts

The ‘Green’ line: the Hornet and the Lantern

Green Hornet was introduced in January 1936 as the title character of a radio show by Fran Stryker and George W. Trendle, the same tandem that in 1933 introduced another misunderstood masked man: the Lone Ranger. Green Lantern first appeared in a July 1940 comic book as a big city crime-fighter with a magic ring, a mash-up of Batman and Aladdin. Almost 20 years later, after Sputnik, he was revamped as a sci-fi hero with an alien-tech ring.

Green Hornet was introduced in January 1936 as the title character of a radio show by Fran Stryker and George W. Trendle, the same tandem that in 1933 introduced another misunderstood masked man: the Lone Ranger.

Green Lantern first appeared in a July 1940 comic book as a big city crime-fighter with a magic ring, a mash-up of Batman and Aladdin. Almost 20 years later, after Sputnik, he was revamped as a sci-fi hero with an alien-tech ring.  (Mark Linnihan / AP / DC Comics)

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The stars

Rogen, who is best known as the chubby stoner in “Knocked Up” and “ Pineapple Express,” slimmed down for this action role but thankfully skips the spandex in favor of trench coat and fedora.

Reynolds had 2009 rom-com success with “The Proposal” and was just named People magazine‘s “sexiest man alive.”  (Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images / Associated Press)

The vibe

French director Michel Gondry (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) says “Hornet” has the old-school peril and humor mix of “Beverly Hills Cop” but skeptics worry it may be “Inspector Gadget” with sex jokes.

Director Martin Campbell hopes for rollicking adventure -- like his hit “The Legend of Zorro” -- and a sort of Jedi-knight version of “Top Gun,” but fanboys worry he might deliver “The Mask” in space.  (Ettore Ferrari/EPA / Warner Bros.)

The girl(s)

Cameron Diaz plays Lenore Case, the spirited new secretary to Rogen’s just-minted media mogul.

Blake Lively (“Gossip Girl”) is Carol Ferris, the childhood friend of Jordan and (unlike the early version of the character in the comics) a savvy rival pilot.  (Getty Images/EPA / Getty Images)

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