The DCU is gearing up to introduce one of the most interesting villains from the Green Lantern comics in Lanterns, and it may prove to be the best live-action version to date. As far as DC is concerned, there are a handful of iconic villains that have had their time to shine on the big screen.

Joker is an iconic rival for Batman, while Lex Luthor is the pivotal Superman villain, but for heroes with fewer adaptations under their belts, their gallery of villains has yet to have its potential thoroughly explored. However, despite only having one other live-action adaptation, Green Lantern’s most recognizable villain has already appeared on-screen.

And yet, with that earlier Green Lantern movie receiving a wave of negative reviews, the entire story and cast have largely been swept under the rug as a part of DC’s less spectacular past. But with the DCU set to reboot all things DC, the ultimate Green Lantern villain is finally back in play, and potentially more terrifying than ever.

The DCU’s Sinestro Debut Is The First Time We’ve Gotten The Villain In A Live-Action Movie In 14 Years

Sinestro is one of the most intriguing villains from DC Comics, but his live-action debut in 2011’s Green Lantern went under the radar, despite a strong performance from actor Mark Strong. Originally, Sinestro was a part of the Green Lantern corps, but his lust for power and control resulted in his being exiled.

At this point in his story, Sinestro was able to rally others to his side, and acquire a yellow power ring fueled by fear, thus becoming the leader of the newly formed Yellow Lantern corps, and becoming the ultimate rival to the Green Lanterns.

Now, 14 years after the character appeared on the big screen for the first time, he is due to return as part of the DCU in the upcoming Lanterns TV show. Evidently, this will provide a totally different medium to explore the characters’ story, and deliver a fresh take on Sinestro.

The DCU’s Long-Term Format Is The Perfect Place For A Sinestro Story

Lanterns is set to be the first new live-action series in the DCU. While Creature Commandos delivered the first official outing for the DCU in glorious adult animation, and Superman saw the theatrical debut of the DCU, Lanterns tackles a new story, with new characters, and expands the DCU with some of the comics’ most iconic characters.

While the 2011 Green Lantern movie was able to briefly tap into Sinestro’s story while unpacking Hal Jordan’s origin story as a hero, it wasn’t quite possible to dive deep into the history of the character in less than two hours.

But over the course of a series, with potentially multiple seasons, there is far more room to expand on the character of Sinestro. And considering his integral role in training Hal Jordan as a Green Lantern, and then becoming the leader of a new rival group, there is a lot to explore.

Now, Lanterns is set to pick up later in the timeline of this story, with Hal Jordan already having established his legacy as a Green Lantern, but the show will likely need to unpack the history between the two characters. This is why a TV format, with several episodes, would be better suited to telling this story specifically.

Lanterns’ Sinestro Actor Also Looks Promising For The DCU

ᴅᴇᴀᴅline revealed exactly who will be playing Sinestro in the DCU, Ulrich Thomsen. Thomsen is a seasoned actor from Denmark who has built an impressive career in the US and abroad over the last 32 years. Among his credits, Thomsen has had prominent roles in shows like Banshee opposite Antony Starr, and The Blacklist opposite James Spader.

Thomsen exudes quiet and calm power, which is perhaps best seen in his performance as Kai Procter in Banshee. This ability to create unease and fear through his mere presence, and to command the screen will serve Thomsen well in his role as Sinestro for the DCU.

And beyond TV appearances, Thomsen has also tackled projects on the big screen, such as 2011’s The Thing, a prequel to the iconic John Carpenter movie from 1982. This will benefit Thomsen if the character gets a chance to appear in feature films down the line.

Sinestro is a complex character who is able to inspire others to follow him, use his charisma and charm to win favor, and then take this goodwill and pour it into incredibly cruel and tyrannical efforts that help him to gain further power and control of others. Thomsen has already tapped into these elements with previous characters, like Procter.

As a result, it seems more than likely that Thomsen will be able to tackle the role of Sinestro and create something truly spectacular. Add to this the wonderful rich source material, and the expanded storytelling format that TV offers, and I am convinced that this will be the best version of the DC villain to ever appear in live-action.

And with the way the DCU is set to keep expanding and exploring these characters, there is an opportunity for the character to evolve in future seasons, and other projects beyond his debut series. Either way, Lanterns will re-introduce Sinestro, and kick off his journey in the DCU.