Blake Lively Cast Opposite Ryan Reynolds in "Green Lantern"

By our guest blogger, Hillary Weston

Just when we thought teen icons were beginning to dwindle out, here comes Blake Lively to dispel that theory. As of this weekend it has been announced that the "Gossip Girl" star has been cast as Carol Ferris in Martin Campbell's "Green Lantern" opposite Ryan Reynolds. The film has received the official green light from Warner Bros. and is set to open in July 2011.

To land the role, Lively had to beat the likes of Eva Green, Jennifer Garner, Diane Kruger and Keri Russell. We've seen Green work with Campbell before and Kruger is just coming off the success of "Ingloorious Basterds," so it's hard to believe they would not have been the first contenders for the role.

Although Lively can draw in a crowd with her teen obsession-fueled fame and stunning looks, she seems like the wrong choice to me. In the Lantern comics, Ferris is a mature character in her late 20s who has an MBA and inherits her father's business. It's hard to picture the same girl who is best known for her role as an overindulgent, flighty high school student to be playing someone such as Ferris, especially when paired opposite Reynolds.

Some might argue that I am being too harsh and over-critical of an actress, who has yet to really spread her dramatic wings, but when you come down to it, she is just too young. If it was up to me, Eva Green would have gotten the role. We know Green can act and would look just as good playing the part. But sadly, Green does not have the same following the Lively has acquired. Now, we just have to wait and see which stars will be rounding out the cast.

I'm hoping for the best.