The latest Q&A from Warner Bros. latest direct-to-DVD movie, Green Lantern: First Flight is with screenwriter Alan Burnett. If you have been watching DC cartoons on TV since the 80’s and 90’s as I have, then you have seen his work, most notably on the timeless Batman: The Animated Series. Burnett has also written for other fan faves including Batman Beyond, Batman and Superman, and even going further back, Duck Tales and Smurfs! He has been around writing great episodes for great shows for a long time and I know I am looking forward to seeing what he’s done with ol’ Hal Jordan!

QUESTION:

Is there a message within this film?

ALAN BURNETT:

Well, one of the messages is that I like lots of fights (he laughs). I suppose it’s the old “Don’t judge a book” thing. Appearances are deceiving. Those who you think might be your greatest friend can be your greatest enemy, and those you might think are of no use to you could be the most important person in your life.

QUESTION:

Did the origin story development of Hal Jordan in Justice League: The New Frontier influence your approach to this first Green Lantern film?

ALAN BURNETT:

I’d originally treated the origin story by going back to the very first Hal Jordan/Green Lantern comic book. But ultimately, my script was about 20 minutes longer than it should’ve been. Bruce Timm came up with the idea of getting the origin done as quickly as possible, so that’s where some cuts were made. Now we get the origin story done before the opening credits, and we leap right into the adventure from there.

You can check out the rest of the interview here!