THE history of the Green Hornet is as convoluted — and, if possible, as preposterous — as the plots of the long-running radio drama that spawned this masked vigilante.

Since elbowing his way into the public consciousness 75 years ago on WXYZ in Detroit, the character has known more variations than Bach gave Goldberg.

Dozens of actors, scriptwriters and filmmakers have worked with the property, which has been adapted into a TV show, two movie serials and reams of comic books. The latest iteration — a 3-D feature called “The Green Hornet” (also in 2-D) that opens on Friday — spent nearly two decades in development, courted controversy with its casting decisions along the way and ended up with a steep price tag of a reported $130 million.

“It’s been tumultuous,” Seth Rogen, the star and co-writer of the bromantic action comedy, said with just a hint of understatement.