Bradley Cooper admitted that losing the Green Lantern role was difficult, but during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Cooper explained that he's past the rejection:
I did get a chance to try out for it, which was amazing to even get a chance. Ryan Reynolds got it — who, by the way, if I was directing the movie, I would cast him. He's perfect. He actually looks like a superhero.
Cooper did get to audition for director Martin Campbell, but Cooper's performance shared too much with another famous superhero for him to get the part:
I couldn't not do Christian Bale's Batman when I was doing the audition. I don't know what it was! I put a mask on and the director was like, "Okay Bradley, be regular and talk." And I was like, "Yeah, got it... [in a deep, gravely Batman voice] listen, Sally, we're going to have to take your family away if you don't listen to me!" At one point, I actually walked back and saw it, because they have it on the monitor while you're auditioning. I saw a little clip as they were rewinding it, and I thought, "Oh my god, that can't be." It looked like a Saturday Night Live sketch! I was like, "Oh, I'm not getting this! Now I can really do my Batman! Who gives a s***?"
No need to feel pity for him, though, as Cooper is far from hurting for work after the success of The Hangover. His next movie, All About Steve, opens September 4.