Tom Cruise is a polarizing figure. Some hold him in very high regard as one of his generation’s greatest actors. Others just plain can’t stand the guy.

So what has the general reception been to rumors that he might play the Green Lantern (Hal Jordan, to be exact) in the DCEU’s upcoming Green Lantern Corps live action film? As expected, divided. Really, really divided.

There’s more than just Cruise’s unique form of divisiveness at play. He’s 55 years old, and Green Lantern Corps likely won’t hit theaters for a couple more years. He’s also a true Hollywood star―an actor who established himself long ago and likely has no shortage of big opportunities for starring roles. Cruise doesn’t need the DCEU to uphold his relevancy.

RELATED: The Grumpy Geek on why casting megastars in shared universes is a bad, bad idea.

That makes it a risky endeavor for Warner Bros. to pursue him as the most famous Green Lantern of them all. How likely is it that they can get a 55-year-old superstar to commit to their cinematic universe for the long haul? They’ve already run into an apparent snag with maintaining Ben Affleck’s interest, and that has plenty of fans already giving the thumbs down on this potential casting.

But Cruise can be a good fit for the DCEU, maybe even a perfect one.

That optimism hinges a lot on the alleged premise for the Green Lantern Corps movie―a superhero buddy cop flick. Speculation is that it will feature two, if not more Green Lanterns from Earth. If one of them is Hal Jordan, that sets him up as the ideal grizzled, veteran Lantern to be partnered with [potentially] a rookie Lantern like John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, or Guy Gardner.

If that team up is, indeed, the concept, then Hal Jordan almost has to be a Lantern who has been on the job for a while. After all, Green Lantern Corps needs to explain what the Green Lanterns of Sector 2814 (Earth) have been up to all this time. Thanks to the history lessons from Justice League, we know that Green Lantern Corps is a thing, and are aware of Earth, yet they’ve been nowhere to be found since Steppenwolf’s first attempt at conquering Earth.

Zod trying to terraform the planet, Enchantress trying to wipe out mankind, and a second stint by Steppenwolf couldn’t draw a Green Lantern’s attention, so where in the heck has Earth’s been?

The buddy cop idea behind Green Lantern Corps could easily answer that question. Hal (played by the, currently 55-year-old Cruise) has been in the thick of his shift, battling all kinds of nasty, intergalactic threats beyond our planet. When it becomes apparent that Earth is such an alluring locale for baddies, it calls for the recruitment of a second Green Lantern for Sector 2814 to partner up with Jordan.

And away we go.

Cruise playing a hardened Hal Jordan seems like a match made in heaven. A Jordan who’s been around the block would be just as much the cocky, fearless superhero that many fans fell in love with during Geoff Johns’ legendary run with the comics from 2004 to 2013. Cruise can absolutely nail that kind of role, and he’s no stranger to wild, high-quality action flicks. His work in such films like the Mission: Impossible franchise, The Last Samurai, and Valkyrie speaks for itself. His portrayal of Jordan could be the perfect foil to a humble, reserved John Stewart, or the youthful, imaginative Kyle Rayner.

It also gives Warner Bros. an out should he ever lose his passion for the role. If Cruise either can’t commit to the DCEU for the long haul or wants out sooner than expected, that second Green Lantern could just as easily become the prominent Green Lantern for this franchise. Have Jordan fly off back into space at the end of Green Lantern Corps while Stewart, Rayner, or whomever sticks around on Earth to become a part of the Justice League.

READ MORE: Geoff John’s created a lot of Green Lantern comics. They are collected here on Amazon

The moniker of “Green Lantern” is far more recognizable than the guy wearing the power ring. The title isn’t synonymous with its bearer, like, say, Batman/Bruce Wayne are. Warner Bros. doesn’t have to worry about audiences feeling a disconnect based on which Green Lantern is the most prominent in the DCEU, since not even Hal Jordan is exactly a mainstream name, at least, beyond longtime comic enthusiasts.

There’s an entire generation of kids who grew up far more familiar with John Stewart than Hal Jordan due to the former’s role in the Justice League cartoons from the early 2000s, while the latter was MIA for nearly a decade.

The reason behind that absence could maybe, just maybe, be Warner Bros.’ other out with Cruise. In the 90s, Hal Jordan succumbed to the entity known as Parallax, went a little bit of both nuts and evil, and then ‘died’. They could just as well be planning to bring Cruise in as Hal with the intent to kill off Hal within 1-3 movies, perhaps someday adapting that famous storyline where Hal meets a terrible fate.

They just need to have a plan. Up until recently, it didn’t feel like there was a long term vision for the DCEU. They can’t “cross that bridge when they come to it” regarding a potential early departure. Have Cruise’s role plotted out in fine detail before he puts pen to contract, and don’t write Hal Jordan to have to carry too much of the franchise’s weight.

Whether you’re currently nodding in approval or shaking your head in disgust is irrelevant, because it can work.

Jeff Pawlak loves DC Comics, but he’s not about to give a free pass to the DCEU on anything. He’s very relieved that the streak of ensemble movies is about to go on hiatus as the DCEU now heads toward several solo, origin movies that it has needed all along. Catch him on Twitter @JeffreyPavs to find him often chatting about superheroes.

If you want to see more fresh Geeky content, support us through our Official Patreon Page & simultaneously earn perks & exclusive rewards.

If you enjoyed this video, be sure to keep up with The Geekiverse across social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram and share with a friend. View live video game streaming on our Twitch Channel & watch regular videos & shows on Youtube. Lastly, listen to The Geekiverse Podcast Station on iTunes or Soundcloud today!