“Let us do it our way”: Greg Berlanti Had One Request for ‘Arrow’ after Being Fired from One of the Worst DC Movies Ever Made

Before establishing the expansive Arrowverse, Greg Berlanti tasted failure with 2011’s Green Lantern, from which he was fired.

Greg Berlanti, the developer of the superhero drama series Arrow, initiated a new era for DC television. The series gained immense popularity and led to the creation of several spin-offs, giving rise to the Arrowverse. Yet, this series was not Berlanti’s initial venture into adapting DC Comics for the screen.

Greg Berlanti developed Arrow after a bitter experience with Green Lantern.
Berlanti initially ventured into the DC Comics universe as a writer for the 2011 film Green Lantern. After being dismissed from the critically maligned movie, he achieved success with Arrow. Consequently, Berlanti made a single request before embarking on the Emerald Archer’s tale for television. Here’s what Berlanti expressed regarding his participation in Arrow following his departure from Green Lantern.

Greg Berlanti Reveals His Only Request For Arrow Before Heading Back to the World of DC

Greg Berlanti had one request before working on Arrow (2012-2020). (Image via BUILD series | YouTube)
By 2016, Greg Berlanti had become a renowned television producer, boasting numerous successful DC Comics adaptations. His streak of triumphs began with the 2012 series ‘Arrow,’ a grittier rendition of the Green Arrow comic book hero, starring Stephen Amell.

That year, The Hollywood Reporter published a profile on Berlanti, delving into the peaks and valleys of his career. Concurrently, Berlanti faced inquiries about any reservations he might have had revisiting the DC universe, particularly after his unfavorable involvement with ‘Green Lantern.’

My only request [when we started on Arrow] was to let us do it our way because I was so heartbroken by what had happened.

Berlanti made the above statement, explaining how he approached the creative side of developing Arrow, following his experience with Green Lantern. Berlanti’s comment implies that he sought a clean slate before starting development on Arrow. He added not getting a chance to deliver a compelling take on characters he loved all his life the first time around left a lasting impact on him.

Greg Berlanti Talks About Getting Fired From the Green Lantern Movie

Greg Berlanti was fired from Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern (2011)
During the same interview, Berlanti also touched upon 2011’s Green Lantern, which he was attached to as a co-writer and director. The film starring Ryan Reynolds emerged as a major critical and commercial failure. However, Berlanti revealed that he was fired long before the film was shot with a script that he hadn’t written.

I got fired from that movie as a writer and as a director, and yet my name was all over it. I still get blamed for it, even though I had nothing to do with the finished product.

Berlanti made the above statement, distancing himself from the mess of a film. The producer also added that there was another version of the film’s script, which was written by him and Arrow co-creator Marc Guggenheim.

While that version was never used for the film, he was proud of it and stood by his work. Berlanti admitted that at the time he felt like the failure of Green Lantern would hang around him all his life. However, Berlanti scaled new heights with the success of Arrow, and its several spin-offs that established him as one of the most prolific producers in Hollywood.