Chrysler Lights Up 'Green Lantern' As Challenger Becomes Onscreen Hero

Just a few weeks ago we were lamenting how the Chevelle was receiving a lot of onscreen muscle car roles, including feature placements in the recent films The Other Guys and Faster. We noted that these roles might better go to classic models that have recently seen re-releases, such as the Camaro or the Challenger.

Well, along comes the new trailer for the latest DC Comics hero to get the live-action feature film treatment, The Green Lantern. We reached out to Chrysler to learn more about the most recent of a spate of placements for the Challenger.

But first, a look at the trailer in question, featuring a wheel-burning classic Challenger:

We assume a green Challenger would have been too much.

The classic Challenger may have gotten its role as part of Chrylser's involvement in the film. A media representative from Chrysler told us that the Jeep Wrangler prominently seen in the trailer, as well as some other background vehicles, were supplied by the automaker. The rep added that there may be a modern model Challenger tie-in promotion later on, though nothing was yet decided.

As we have argued, these kinds of high profile roles for the classic Challenger are great promotion for the throwback model now on showroom floors. Reinforcing the model's muscle car legacy creates a valuable brand through-line between past and present. But Challenger fans won't have to wait until next summer to see the classic Challenger onscreen. Is it just a coincidence that the rumored release of an updated convertible Challenger coincides with Vince Vaughn driving a classic convertible Challenger in the January comedy The Dilemma (below)?

Meanwhile the new model is itself getting a lot ogf screen time across content spectrums. In the last year the new Challenger has played huge rolls in everything from a driving lesson with wildly popular Nickelodeon star Miranda Cosgrove of iCarly fame to a huge showing in the hit zombie series, The Walking Dead.