Green Arrow series in the works at The CW

[Lencho01]

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/02/08/cw-arrow-smallville/

Feb 8 2012 03:01 PM ET
How CW's 'Arrow' will differ from 'Smallville' -- EXCLUSIVE

by James Hibberd

Image Credit: Amell (Getty Images) / Hartley (CW)

The CW’s Arrow is going to be pretty different from the Green Arrow character on the network’s recently retired hit Smallville. Think Bourne Identity with lots of arrows.

Fans of the DC Comics archer figured they were in for a change the moment the project was announced. The producers include Greg Berlanti (Everwood), Marc Guggenheim (FlashForward), and Andrew Kreisberg (Vampire Diaries, Fringe). Then the formidable-looking Stephen Amell was cast, taking over the role from Smallville‘s Justin Hartley.

CW’s development head Thom Sherman tells EW.com there will be several other differences as well.

“It’s a very provocative and sophisticated and edgy,” Sherman says of the Arrow pilot. “It’s not as comic book-y as Smallville or other [superhero projects] from other networks.”

Sherman has developed a buzzworthy slate of new pilots for fall consideration, including Arrow. He says the character feel more like more akin to Jason Bourne-type than a superhero who relies on super powers or gadgets. Arrow’s backstory that will be revealed slowly during the first episode.

“He doesn’t have any superpowers, he’s a very grounded character like a Jason Bourne — we use the term ‘mambo,’” Sherman said. “His skill-set is that he’s an archer, but he also have physical strength and prowess. He’s clever and able to devise ways of taking down a bad guy that are unique and fun to watch.”

Arrow is one of eight drama pilots on The CW’s consideration list for next fall. More on The CW’s pilot slate to come…

 

[Sawyer]

Sounds like it's going to be action-heavy. I like.

 

[Nightwing 52]

So, Oliver Bourne...

Seriously though, the action can be really awesome.

 

[Karelia]

Sounds good to me. Hope it is more action-orientated than Smallville was, where we only got 5 minutes at most. (I loved Smallville, but that's what was always disappointing about the show... the lack of action.)

 

[Rockstar]

Rockstar: No superpowers, you say. Why wouldn't it be great with some of it?
Imagine the main hero (Green Arrow), the regurlar character (Black Canary) and guest star (Elongated Man) at a rooftop in the middle of the night, and they're about to save people.
If the show is handled with care, and of good quality, we will perhaps get a third season. And who can show up by then, if not Green Lantern?
Maybe not the Hal Jordan version, but still. We could actually get the team-up a lot of people want. Who cares if it's just on TV?

It would be lame on a CW TV budget.


It's too cheesy and comic book-y too. They need to ground GA in gritty, believable reality. No superpowers.

The Bourne direction would be great, BUT I'm skeptical that is an accurate description.


The description sounds exactly like Human Target, which makes me happy.


I wonder if they're intentionally calling Dinah Lance as "Laurie" because making their own version of the character, without superpowers, and this way there's no issues with DC.

 

[Project862006]

David Ramsey Cast As John Diggle

- John Diggle is a 35 year old African-American military man who served with the Army Rangers in Afghanistan. He’s hired by Moira to be Oliver’s bodyguard. Oliver repeatedly eludes his protection. The casting breakdown (or TVAddict’s piece) also said this: “Diggle’s primary conflict is one of loyalty — he has to show that he’s working for Oliver, not Moira, before Oliver will give him a smidgen of trust.”
- And here’s where the pitchforks came out – The TVAddict has confirmed that Thea is Thea Queen, Oliver’s younger… sister. She was 12 when Oliver and her father disappeared. Now she’s a “celebutante” who acts badly. She loved her big brother with all of her heart, and she’s glad to have him back – but now that she’s older and spreading her wings, she might not be ready for Oliver to be Bad Cop in her family and making sure she behaves. She is the only one who gets away with calling Oliver “Ollie,” and Ollie, in turn, calls her “Speedy.”

David Ramsey has been cast in the CW pilot "Arrow." Thesp, who is currently recurring in CBS' "Blue Bloods" as the mayor of New York, will play the character John Diggle, a former military man now working as a bodyguard for hire who soon finds he is trapped in a battle of wits, loyalty and trust. Stephen Amell was previously cast for the lead role of Oliver Queen.
"Arrow," which is based on the DC Comics book "Green Arrow," is being produced by Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Prods. Greg Berlanti is writing and exec producing with Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg.
David Nutter is directing the pilot and also receives exec producer credit.
Ramsey has previously appeared in "Dexter" and "Ghost Whisperer." He is repped by APA, Principato-Young and Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson & Binder.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118049941?refCatId=14

 

[Hunter Rider]

^^^ Doesn't that guy usually play a villain? I remember he tried to kill Amanda on Diagnosis Murder.

Amell's going to start parkour training:

Cool, that fits pretty well with the character and should had to the action element.

I really like the one from the cartoon, but I think in live action it would look like a full body track suit. I like the way the costume looked on the first issue of the new 52, now it seems as if there going toward it being all green.

There was also a sketch they released that Jim Lee did, its like the new one I just liked how he did the glasses.

Heres the link
http://http://comicartcommunity.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=42812


Script review, posted from greenarrowtv which links to this blog.
http://http://travisyanan.blogspot.com/2012/02/pilot-script-review-arrow.html

A darker version of the Jim Lee concept would work IMO.

 

[Hunter Rider]

This.

 

[solidsnake86]

I would rather they borrow villains from other heroes than put the heroes themselves on the show. I think a lot of those appearances on smallville were really poor, including the justice society episode. It starts with the costume because they just don't have the budget to pull them off. Not to mention the actors are not the greatest and it doesnt help when the writing is poor as well.

If I had to choose one it would be the question like someone mentioned. He's a guy in a suit, can't screw that up.

 

[Kokomo29]

I just pray that they don't reuse the suit from Smallville. That would be tacky in my opinion. For a darker show, the suit needs to reflect that and be different to set itself apart from Smallville's interpretation of the character.

 

[Rockstar]

The Smallville suit is bright and tacky, but it reflects SV. I just noticed his torso area has the emblem of an arrow and the tip of that arrow is his crotch. lol.

They had to correct that in his second suit

 

[Diesel]

I saw this posted on GreenArrowTV.com. It's an early review of the pilot script. It's fairly spoiler free. He has a few nitpicks, but overall is pretty positive.

http://travisyanan.blogspot.com/2012/02/pilot-script-review-arrow.html

 

[Airwings]

Rockstar: Why couldn't Ralph Dibny work in a gritty and realistic action show? It isn't Plastic Man we're talking about.

If Green Lantern shows, it doesn't have to do anything with Oa or the corps. Alan Scott has no connection with it, so they can use him but change his outfit.
And if doing Scott, why not try a character named Jay Garrick too?

 

[Webhead2006]

Saw the news from a few days ago. First nice to hear that another actor has joined the cast. For what we saw in character breakdown for casting as a original character. Cant wait to see how that actor/character turn out. Now as for what that cw exec had, i get what he was saying a bit. With the analog to jason bourne. Which works for how ollie would be a crusader and all that and how he takes down his enemies.

But some of the other stuff he said didnt sound good. Though since it just a network guy saying these things, hopefully that isnt how the showrunners are going to take things. I would hope after the mess that kelly's ww was. Dc would play thing more smart on there next go around. But since the producers havent said anything the exec could be mispoken.

I just hope the treat the characters right, and add the right amount of original stuff/there own twists on the mythos. While having the right mythos stuff used. Cause at the end of the day the show is about a comic book character. If you are not going to include various comic elements into the show. Whats the point in doing the show at all.

Like the exec said if they wanted a jason bourne type of character. Just create some original new show like bourne or do a tv show based on the film character. Then totally alienating the comics fans. But hopefully they will not do that and like smallville did do there own thing, but toss in comic stuff/mythos stuff and find a good balance of things.

As for budget we dont even know what the pilot budget will be, which will differ from series budget. They could spend like 6-8mill for the pilot, then the series itself per episode be like 1-3mill dollars. Plus really with no super powers, and pratical stunts and some sfx stuff for arrows and if any comic super villains show up budget could be used well.

 

[solidsnake86]

^well the one good thing about green arrow is that his character is open to interpretation because he's one that hasn't been as fleshed out as batman, superman, or spider-man.

So really they wont be able to alienate fans that much because there isn't much to go on, not to mention his comic has never had a big following.

That said it would still be nice to see comic book villains, because if they take away those elements, there really is no point to making the show based on him. Granted I'm all for making the villains "realistic" in the sense that they are able to explain reasons for their powers.

The great thing is that the special effects budget should be lower so hopefully that money will go into sets and costume design because I think that is where they can get the comic fans interested. DC has so many villains that wont be appearing on film that have very cool designs.

 

[Webhead2006]

well i meant is they shouldnt change every single detail about the character or not include alot of things from the comics be it characters or a certain comicbook storyline. They should find a balance on doing there own thing while still honnoring the mythos of the character.

As for villains i do hope we get a few of ollies top baddies like merylin, count vertigo and a few others, then toss in a few general dc villains. To pop in from time to time. Then the like sv had FOTW arrow could be random criminals, corrupt political folks and all that. So we save budget on episodes like that. So they can toss in more budget for special episodes ie featuring dc villains or if the show lasts and brings in any dc heroes.

 

[chris moore]

There's probably all kinds of generic DC villains that may well "belong" to a particular hero's rogue's gallery but has always been drastically out of their league. Toyman and Supes always felt like one, or Cheetah and Wonderwoman. And Deadshot not being primarily a GA villain? Just daft.

 

[Webhead2006]

Besides merylin and count vertigo who else is usually cosidered green arrow main baddies he tangos with? And who are some general dc baddies he tosses with(not counting bats/supes/ww baddies who probably be offlimits).

 

[Manic]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Green_Arrow_enemies

 

[HighFivingMF]

Besides merylin and count vertigo who else is usually cosidered green arrow main baddies he tangos with? And who are some general dc baddies he tosses with(not counting bats/supes/ww baddies who probably be offlimits).

There's Brick, a crime lord with stone skin. Onomatopoeia, who kills human heroes for sport and says sounds out loud. He's tussled with Deathstroke once or twice. Constantine Dracon is a martial artist/assassin. The mayor of Star City assumes the guise of Steelclaw and acts as a villain to control crime like Green Hornet.

 

[Webhead2006]

Those sound like some interesting baddies would they work on a tv budget?

 

[Boy Scout]

Am I the only one who's still wondering why they felt the need to change "Star City" to "Starling City?"

 

[Sawyer]

I'm still betting on the Sin City/Basin City naming. The full name will be Starling, but everyone living there will refer to it as just Star.

 

[HighFivingMF]

Those sound like some interesting baddies would they work on a tv budget?

I don't see why they wouldn't.

 

[solidsnake86]

One thing I was suprised with smallville is that they never used make-up for brainiac or bizzaro.

Hopefully if they use brick they do him with make-up.

The rest of the villains shouldn't be hard to pull off. Mostly normal villains anyways.