Ever see Way of the Gun? After that, I could see him as Paul Reid.
Ever read the NOW comics? According to their story, there have been at least 4 Green Hornets: the original, who was the Green Hornet of the 30's and 40's; the "Van Williams" Green Hornet from the 60's, a younger Hornet from the comics who went on one mission and was killed by an explosion, and then the last and latest Green Hornet, Paul Reid. All are related to each other. They turned it into a family legacy.
Besides, in real life Paul Reid was a concert pianist. Kinda fopish at first. I can see Ryan Phillipe pulling it off.