Green Lantern’s Mark Strong says he resembled comics’ Sinestro

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — London-born actor Mark Strong (“Sherlock Holmes”) portrays the magenta-hued militaristic point man of the spacebound police force the Green Lantern Corps in the movie “Green Lantern,” which opens Friday.

The film, based on the DC Comics series, features the first Earthman to join the Corps. Cocky test pilot Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) finds himself at the forefront of intergalactic peril when a dying alien gives him a ring and lantern that give him the power to create anything he can imagine.

Sinestro, as played by Strong, doesn’t think the Earthman can cut it.

“He’s a kind of military commander, and he’s kind of a hard taskmaster,” Strong said at a news conference for the film. “He doesn’t believe the humans have the right to be Lanterns. So he’s very strict, and very arrogant, and a great character to play.”

Sinestro has a long history in the comic books. Created by writer John Broome and artist Gil Kane, Sinestro first appeared in 1961′s “Green Lantern” No. 7. Strong wasn’t aware of the history before the film, however.

“When I read the comics originally, I knew nothing about Green Lantern,” Strong said.

But Strong said his physical look as relating to the comic-book character played into his casting.

“I heard that (director) Martin (Campbell) wanted me to play him because I look like Sinestro,” Strong said. “I’ve never quite known how to take that, whether it’s a compliment or not. But when I saw the way he looked, and the iconic imagery of it, I just thought that it would be amazing. And I’m glad we stuck to the comics, the way he is in the comics. He was great fun to play.”

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