Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Stephen Amell starred as Oliver Queen a.k.a Green Arrow in the CW seriesArrow. The show spawned the Arrowverse, including shows such asThe Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl,and more. It went on for eight seasons, ending in 2019. The show crossed over with other shows in the Arrowverse and saw many prominent DC characters make an appearance.
While the show included popular characters such as Deathstroke, Black Canary, and the Monitor, the makers revealed that they never intended to introduce some of these characters so early into the show. Characters such as Deathstroke and Arsenal a.k.a Roy Harper appeared in season 1 of the show despite being planned for much later.
Stephen Amell’sArrowWanted to Introduce Deathstroke Much Later
Stephen Amell’sArrowintroduced many DC characters to the mainstream, such as Black Canary, Overwatch, and Mister Terrific, and even started the Arroweverse which would branch out toLegends of TomorrowandThe Flash. Many mainstream characters such as Deathstroke a.k.a Slade Wilson also made an appearance in the show.
“It’s just sort of devastating”: Kevin Conroy Almost Played a Live-Action Batman After Arrowverse But the Reason That Didn’t Happen Will Break Your Heart
According to producer Marc Guggenheim, many of these appearances were just supposed to be an Easter Egg before they leaned into it and introduced the characters early on in the show. In an interview withEW, Guggenheim mentioned that the team did not intend to bring in Wilson so early in the show and it was actually co-creator Geoff Johns’ idea.
Guggenheim mentioned that Johns suggested the idea to include a Deathstroke mask in the first episode of the series which later led them to introduce him in a future episode,
“David Nutter was on set [of the pilot], and he wanted basically a foreground element. He was like, ‘What can we stick here?’ and he had the idea of maybe something with an arrow through it. Geoff Johns happened to be on set and said, ‘Well, what if it’s like a mask, it’s half-black and half-orange, and it’s basically the Deathstroke mask?’ And we were like, ‘Oh, great Easter egg!’ because we were all about the Easter eggs back then.”
Manu Bennett played Slade Wilson in the show and he would go on to play the role till season 6 of the show.
Actor Colton Haynes Was Never Part Of The Plan InArrowSeason 1
While Deathstroke made his live-action appearance before the DCEU in the Arrowverse in season 1, another character was also introduced much earlier than planned in the series. According to producer Guggenheim, actor Colton Haynes who played Roy Harper a.k.a Arsenal in the show was introduced in season one ofArrowdespite not being a part of the plan. He said to EW,
“We had no intention of introducing Roy Harper [Colton Haynes] in season 1, [but] we saw him in episode 15. The Huntress being as early as episode 7, the idea that we would introduce another superhero character? Never part of the original plan for season 1.”
Guggenheim mentioned that he learned from his experience working on the ABC showEli Stonewhich was canceled after two seasons without a proper conclusion. He revealed that he did not want to save story ideas for a season that might never be made and hence decided to go all out withArrow.
“People think I’m kidding, I’m not kidding”: 5 Years Ago, Stephen Amell Openly Challenged Marvel Fans to Get Him Cast as 1 Avengers Villain – Secret Wars Can Do it
While Colton Haynes gained considerable fame for playing the role of Harper in the show, he would go on to exit from the franchise after season seven. He mentioned in his memoir (viaE! News) that the reason why he chose to depart from his full-time role in the show was due to his depression and because he could not be around one of his cast mates. He did not reveal the name of the actor he could not work with.
Arrowis currently streaming on Netflix.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
More from Nishanth A
Spider-Man: Brand New Day – How the 2008 Comic Arc Could Shape Tom Holland’s Next Movie
Transformers Star Is Absolutely Right on Why He Rejected ‘The Penguin’
5 Bella Ramsey Performances So Good, You’ll Forget ‘The Last of Us’ Controversy
Recommended
2 Reasons Why the Helldivers 2 x Halo ODST Warbond Isn’t Perfect
Who Is Jasveen Sangha: Ketamine Queen Connected to Matthew Perry’s Death
Sean McLaughlin’s Dad Just Became the Unlikely Villain (or Hero) of ‘Bachelor in Paradise’
Madison Beer’s Boyfriend: Who Is She Dating?
Helldivers 2 X Halo ODST Legendary Warbond Crossover: Complete Rundown
Good Boy Director Explains How He Made His Dog Act in 2025’s Most Inventive Horror Movie
Stephen Amell
