Mark Strong in talks to play Sinestro in Green Lantern

style=' display: block; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;' alt="mark strong " src="http://filmonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/mark-strong.jpg" class="aligncenter" width="499" height="236" title="mark strong" />What’s this? Mark Strong might be playing a villain in a film? That’s never happened before (if you ignore Sunshine, Stardust, Sherlock Holmes, and upcoming films Kick-Ass, Robin Hood and John Carter of Mars). Well I suppose he is British.

Green Lantern director Martin Campbell today squashed rumours that Watchmen actor Jackie Earle Haley was in talks to play the role of Sinestro by announcing they were currently in talks with Mark Strong:

Speaking with href="http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/01/15/exclusive-green-lantern-director-says-mark-strong-in-talks-to-play-sinestro-confirms-kilowog-more/">MTV News during the junket for “Edge of Darkness,” his upcoming action thriller opening January 29, Campbell dismissed rumors that “Watchmen” actor Jackie Earle Haley was in talks for the role.

“No, that’s completely wrong,” said Campbell of the persistent rumor, which popped up again recently despite Haley denying any involvement with the “Green Lantern” movie. “In fact, we’re in negotiations with Mark Strong to play Sinestro.”

“He’s not only a wonderful actor, but he looks like Sinestro,” he added. “If you look up old pictures of Sinestro, he’s very like him. The Jackie Earle Haley thing, somebody told me about it this morning; I had never heard it before in my life.”

He also revealed the names of a few other characters that would be making an appearance. I’m not familiar with the Green Lantern world but i’m sure a few people will be familiar with these names.

“Well, Kilowag will be,” said Campebll. “Tomar-Re is in it. Sinestro is in it. Abin Sur is in it. All the origin people. Carol [Ferris], of course, who will be played by Blake Lively. All the main characters are there, and it’s a complex story. The origin story of Green Lantern is complex, probably one of the most complex, which makes it a challenge to get it right.”

Green Lantern will begin filming in around 8 weeks, so they have a bit more time to negotiate and get Mark Strong on-board.