With filming set to begin in Louisiana this week – hopefully, casting on Martin Campbell’s Green Lantern is just about wrapped up. THR is reporting that Temuera Morrison (Star Wars: Ep. II) has been cast as the iconic pre-Hal Jordan ringbearer of Sector 2814, ABIN SUR.

New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi (a.k.a. Taika Cohen) has also been cast, in a previously unrevealed role as Hal Jordan’s best friend, Tom Kalmaku.

In the comics, Kalmaku is a young Inuit engineer at Ferris Aircraft, also the employer of test pilot Hal Jordan. Thomas was one of the few people who knew Hal Jordan’s secret, and kept a journal of Green Lantern’s adventures, which he later published as a biography of Hal Jordan.

In several stories he either assisted the hero, or required rescuing. As a non-costumed sidekick, he served a similar role to Jimmy Olsen, except that Jimmy did not know Superman’s identity.

Green Lantern is slated to hit theaters on June 17, 2010.