SAN DIEGO – Premiering this fall on the CW, “Arrow” – a modern spin on the DC Comics character the Green Arrow – has been preceded by solid buzz that bodes well for fans of the archery-themed superhero. So which other characters from the pages of the comic books can we expect? Like a good journalist, I went straight to the source: series star Stephen Amell, who plays the lead role of Oliver Queen.
“Well, [co-star] Katie [Cassidy] has some sort of lineage towards Black Canary,” Amell began, speaking with me on the Comic-Con press line for the film earlier this month. “Willa [Holland], [who plays] my sister Thea, has a lineage towards Speedy – at least there’s a reference made, so one would assume. Colin Donnell, [who plays] Tommy, has a lineage towards Merlyn. We see Deathstroke’s mask. And I just read the second episode, and I think we’re gonna continue to move in that direction.”
The actor flashed a coy smile right around that last line, so I’m guessing series creators Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg have something good in store for the fans.
Also stopping by for a quick chat was Amell’s gorgeous co-star Katie Cassidy, who plays Queen’s ex-girlfriend Dinah “Laurel” Lance. With the “immature, petulant, standoffish, spoiled” Queen (Amell’s words) having mysteriously vanished several years before (during this time he’s actually stranded on a desert island, an experience that ultimately inspires his superheroic transformation), she gets a rude awakening when he suddenly reappears.
“They were best friends turned into lovers, and he is the love of her life,” said Cassidy. “He also sort of turns into a bad boy, and is always disappointing her as they get older. And eventually really, really, really breaks her heart. And he then leaves and disappears for five years, so she assumes that he’s dead. And then he shows up at her work one day and is completely confused. There’s a lot of anger there, there’s a lot of history there, there’s a lot of emotion. And she’s sort of overwhelmed with the whole thing and kind of doesn’t really know what to do or how to behave.”
As for the whole Black Canary connection, well – you’re just gonna have to wait and see. Nevertheless, Cassidy does have a few ideas about the costume if and when Laurel’s alter-ego is activated.
“I actually was given a little action figure of the Black Canary at one point,” she said. “And I noticed what her costume was, and it was like a leotard with fishnets and boots. And if it happens…um, I don’t know! It’ll be interesting! [Laughs] I might wanna add some layers, keep it classy.”
You can check out the rest of my interviews with the stars by clicking on the videos above and below!
“Arrow” premieres October 10 on the CW.
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