The Green Hornet was created by George W. Trendle and Fan Striker in 1931. The difference with this hero is that he wasn’t created for a comic book before it went on to other forms of entertainment. It was first created for a radio program that ran on WXYZ, a local Detroit radio station.
The Green Hornet is Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher by day and a masked vigilante by night. He’s assisted by his sidekick Kato, who is also Britt’s chauffeur, bodyguard, and valet. Green Hornet also drives his own vehicle called the Black Beauty, his own version of the Batmobile.
Throughout its existence, the Green Hornet radio series has been incarnated into film, television, and comics by many different people; comic book publishers such as Harvey Comics, Dell Comics, Gold Key Comics, and NOW Comics have released many titles featuring the Green Hornet’s adventures. The latest adaptation has been released by Dynamite Entertainment, a mini-series written by Kevin Smith in which he tells a story based on an abandoned film script he wrote in 2004.
In 2008, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that, through Columbia Pictures, they will release a Green Hornet film. Seth Rogen was signed to write the screenplay with Evan Goldberg. Seth was also cast for the lead role as Britt Reid/Green Hornet. His valet Kato will be played by Taiwanese singer/actor Jay Chou. Christophe Waltz will play the villain Chudnofsky, an original villain created for the film. Cameron Diaz has also been cast to play Britt’s fellow-reporter and love interest. Her character’s name has yet to be announced. Edward Furlong will play a character named Tupper. Other unspecified roles will be played by Edward James Olmos, Tom Wilkinson, and David Harbour.
The film will be produced by Neal H. Moritz for Sony Pictures Entertainment, distributed by Columbia Pictures, and the film will be directed by French director Michel Gondry. “The Green Hornet” is set for a December 22nd, 2010 release.
