Sarsgaard to play comic book villain

Peter Sarsgaard is set to play the villain in big-budget comic book movie Green Lantern.

The actor's character, Dr Hector Hammond, is a pathologist who is looked upon as a disappointment by his father, a senator.

Dr Hector Hammond acquires psychic powers after discovering a meteor.

Sarsgaard will support Ryan Reynolds, who is starring as Hal Jordan, the test pilot given a ring by a dying alien introducing him to an interstellar police squad dubbed the Green Lanterns.

Blake Lively has been cast as Carol Ferris, Reynolds' love interest.

Sarsgaard has appeared in numerous movies. He acted as a homophobic killer in Boys Don't Cry in 1999 and more recently starred in An Education which was released in cinemas last year.

Green Lantern, to be directed by Martin Campbell, will begin filming in March in New Orleans.