The press tour for Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire is the gift that keeps on giving, but this time, it's not news about Snyder's former Star-Wars-turned-new-science-fiction-franchise that's got people pining for what might have been. As it turns out, Rebel Moon Star Charlie Hunnam, probably best known for his role as Jax Teller in FX's Sons of Anarchy, was offered the role of Green Arrow in the Snyderverse... and turned it down, but maybe not for the reasons you'd think.
The news comes courtesy of an interview Hunnam recently did with Comicbook.com's Brandon Davis. Davis mentioned that Hunnam was the fan choice to play Green Arrow in the Snyderverse, and asked Hunnam if he'd ever spoken to Snyder about playing the role. What followed was one of the funniest answers you'll ever hear during a press interview. Hunnam confirmed that he'd never talked to Snyder about the role, but the conversation had come up.
"I never talked to [Snyder] about it," Hunnam confirmed but did admit that he had the conversation with someone. "Honestly, I don't remember who. Yeah, it was some people in suits brought the idea to me and thought it would be terribly exciting for me to play Green Arrow, but I did not share their enthusiasm.... I don't know who Green Arrow is, so I don't wanna offend anyone. I looked at one picture and I was like, 'I'm not sure green's my color and I'm pretty sure spandex isn't my material.' Beyond that, I was like 'one image, thanks, not interested."
It's an extremely funny and honest answer, and like most things about the Snyderverse, will leave fans speculating about what might have been. After all, Hunnam does look an awful lot like Oliver Queen.
But fate has a funny way of working these things out. That collaboration with Snyder may not have happened, but Hunnam is joining Rebel Moon's as Kai, a mercenary and starship pilot hired by Kora (Sofia Boutella). For Hunnam's sake, let's hope he's not wearing green spandex in the role.
Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Part 1: A Child of Fire has a limited theatrical release beginning December 15th, including in 70mm in four theaters, and makes its streaming debut on Netflix on December 21st. Snyder recently confirmed that Rebel Moon takes place in the same universe as Army of the Dead, and that a sequel entitled Rebel Moon Part 2: The Scargiver will release on April 19th, 2024. The franchise is already slated to expand beyond the silver screen with Rebel Moon: House of the Bloodaxe, a prequel series from Titan Comics.
Will Borger is a freelance writer at IGN.
