The DC Universe is still in the midst of being rebooted on the big screen, though there will also be several TV shows featuring major DC heroes and villains. One of these will be Lanterns, focusing on Green Lantern Corps members Hal Jordan and John Stewart. This leaves the other human Lanterns out of the spotlight, though the perfect actor may already be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Bradley Cooper is already a popular actor, and his voice-acting role as Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy only increased his visibility. The character's bad attitude is very much like that of Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan's first "replacement." With Cooper open to following James Gunn to DC, it might be time for him to make audiences beware his power -- and his demeanor.
Bradley Cooper's Time in the MCU Might Be Drawing to a Close
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a send-off for the heroes who debuted in 2014, leaving team members such as Rocket Raccoon in a very different spot. Though the character may very well appear in future films, his tenure in the spotlight of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is likely over. This leaves Bradley Cooper open for further comic book movie roles, especially with James Gunn's current priorities. As mentioned, Cooper has expressed interest in going wherever Gunn asks him to due to their working relationship. That'll likely have to be the new DC Universe, given that Gunn is the creative lead at DC Studios, with his own time at Marvel now over.
Given that things are just getting started at the DCU, it'll need as much star power as possible. With how stellar the reviews have been for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, cribbing an actor from the series (which Gunn has already hinted will happen with Superman: Legacy) would only propel interest in its infant stage. Cooper might be one of the more unexpected castings, given how ubiquitous Chris Pratt is, but this could work to his advantage. After all, while he might not be a Marvel actor that most would fan-cast for a DC character, there's one much less furry hero whose personality is just like Rocket Raccoon's.
The Loudmouthed Guy Gardner Is the Perfect DC Role for Bradley Cooper
Though he started out as a fairly straight-laced hero who was almost indistinguishable from Hal Jordan beyond their hair colors, Guy Gardner was later changed to being a brash, rude individual whose attitude was almost as bad as his haircut. Obnoxious and mouthing off to pretty much anyone about anything, Guy has a fairly controversial reputation in the DC Universe. This characterization will likely be implemented in the cinematic DCU, especially given Gunn's fidelity to the source material. If that's the case, Cooper can outright transplant his voice and attitude as Rocket Raccoon to a live-action Green Lantern. Like Rocket, Guy Gardner sometimes sees life as a knife fight against pretty much anything that moves. At the same time, they both have fairly tragic backstories that help to explain these circumstances, making them more than just a set of ornery dispositions.
With Hal and John in the Lanterns TV show, Sector 2814 is wide open to have another human patrolling it in the accompanying movies. Putting Bradley Cooper in a DCU movie as Guy Gardner would automatically draw interest in the film, all the while raising Guy's profile to the level of his fellow emerald warriors. The project to feature him might be a potential adaptation of Justice League International, which featured Guy as the resident Green Lantern. That book was known for its comedic nature, which, if directed by James Gunn, would fit perfectly with his movie sensibilities. Having Cooper along for the ride would even bring in some of that Guardians magic, even if this time, he'd be working for the Guardians of the Universe.
To see Bradley Cooper's latest outing as Rocket Raccoon, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is now playing in theaters.