UPDATE MAY 17: The official fall schedule has been revealed for the CW, and we now know where Arrow fits in. The new DC Comics series will be airing at 8pm on Wednesday nights, as a lead-in to the popular genre series Supernatural, giving CW a “Kick-A** Wednesday Night,” said a press release. The series, and their full fall schedule, should launch October 2012.
Original Story: Deadline.com reports Friday afternoon the CW has officially picked up Arrow – the Green Arrow-based hour-long drama.
30 year-old Canadian Stephen Amell plays the title role. The series is helmed by David Nutter, who directed the Smallville, Supernatural and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles pilots, and written and executive produced by Andrew Kreisberg, Greg Berlanti and comic book veteran Marc Guggenheim.
More importantly to our readers, CW has also picked up The Carrie Diaries, a Sex and the City prequel series.
CW’s official description follows after the jump.
“After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine.“
May 11th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
I don’t really expect this to be all that good. But it’s a TV show based on a DC comic, so I will be there. Even if they did as much as I think they could with GA on Smallville.
May 11th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Laughed out loud at the “More importantly to our readers” bit.
May 11th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Sweet!
May 11th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
Was worried about this news until I got the “More importantly to our readers…” Now I am stoked…LOL
May 11th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Starling City? Why change something arbitrary only to make it sound MORE rediculous?
May 11th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Doesn’t sound like the same character from Smallville, but it does match Ollie’s true comic origin better than I thought it would. So, I’ll definitely check it out. Just better not sleaze it up a ton like CW usually does.
May 11th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
“More importantly to our readers whatever lol
May 11th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Am I the only one upset that he’s no longer “Green Arrow” but just “Arrow”? Why not call him Bow or Quiver for crying out loud?
May 11th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Why is his mom still alive? How can you be a superhero if you’re not an orphan? I’ll still watch it out of principle, but I hope they don’t ruin his story. Hopefully it will be more like Smallville & less like Birds of Prey (which I didn’t even watch, but I know how bad it was).
May 11th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Simon DelMonte Says:
May 11th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
I don’t really expect this to be all that good.
What are you basing this comment on?
May 11th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
If they’re willing to throw money at this couldn’t we have a Batman series. Batman done Nolan-style would rock as a tv show and would provide a wider showcase for the rogues gallery than the movies ever could.
May 11th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Starling City – oh come on!! It was already established on Smallville that it was Star City!! This is just bullshit!
May 11th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Is it just me or has DC decided to take a steaming pile on everything sacred to Green Arrow fans…
May 11th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
“Roland Says:
May 11th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Starling City – oh come on!! It was already established on Smallville that it was Star City!! This is just bulls**t!”
This is a different take on Green Arrow… So while those watching Smallville who don’t read the comics might tune in to see that Ollie, it won’t be that Ollie that shows up… It’s like Lois & Clark and Smallville… Both have Clark Kent, Lois Lane, etc in them, but they are not of the same story/universe when talking about the individual shows… It’s like how the WB approaches their movies, essentially…
May 11th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Will rock!
May 11th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
David Nutters productions are always good. Looking forward to it!
May 11th, 2012 at 11:29 pm
It sounds like crap. Hasn’t DC/Warner learned anything from the success of the Avengers and Marvel movies in general? The further you get away from the source material, the more likely you are to lose its fans. It will fail.
May 12th, 2012 at 5:45 am
uhm, spunds a bit batman-ized as a charcter…
May 12th, 2012 at 6:01 am
I won’t be watching this show. It sounds pretty stupid, to be blunt.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:25 am
could turn out good, but this write-up doesn’t gain my interest at all.
May 12th, 2012 at 6:32 am
Its reported that amongst all the 8 pilots from cw this one is the best received one. Its very grounded, very real and believable, alot like nolans batman in term of its tone and filming. The script and cast especially was praised.
For those who are complaining about superficial changes like the name of the city or the title, please grow up. It doesnt make a difference to the quality of the show.
Either ways the trailer will be out next week.
May 12th, 2012 at 10:05 am
At least his outfit looks decent. More like the comic and less like the Smallville take on it.
May 12th, 2012 at 10:41 am
Not entirely exciting but it could be worse. Scott Lobdell could be writing the scripts.
May 12th, 2012 at 11:38 am
I’ll check it out once or twice. Unless it’s on opposite the final season of Fringe.
May 12th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
I hope the little kid he took that bow from doesn’t miss it.
May 12th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
It won’t make it past the pilot.
May 12th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Fanboys = Stupidity.
“won’t make it past the pilot.”…already did.
“Sounds pretty stupid.”…Sounds very similar to Green Arrow’s actual origin.
“DC takes a steaming pile on Green Arrow.”…CW is in charge of the property not DC. TV show is not a comic book, it’s BASED on the comic book.
“Hasn’t DC/Warner learned anything from the success of the Avengers and Marvel movies in general?”…Uh, besides the Hulk from the 70′s!!, name a live action Marvel TV show that waas successful?? DC had a little show called Smallville that lasted, oh I don’t know…10 seasons.
“Scott Lobdell could be writing the scripts.”…Ok, this one is actually pretty smart.
May 12th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Can’t wait for other DC heroes/villains to show up… or are they gonna take the smallville freak-on-the-week route.
May 13th, 2012 at 2:58 am
Cancellation headline: “ARROW a misfire”.
May 13th, 2012 at 8:07 am
Agree with you @ Roland. Bullshit. “Starling City” for startersDC really need to step their game up. Will keep an eye out for it to see how it fares although I won’t hold my breath. Needed to raise the bar since Smallville ended.
May 13th, 2012 at 9:35 am
Sounds “loosely” based on GA, but it also sounds like it’s dripping with drama. Could be the ultimate “superhero soap opera”. Screams “Guilty Pleasure” to me.
May 13th, 2012 at 10:56 am
so what did the Mother have to do with the shipwreck? Was she behind it? She tried to bump off her own son? That’s more of a stepmother move.. unless Ollie was secretly adopted.
May 13th, 2012 at 11:30 am
hence the drama…
May 13th, 2012 at 11:55 am
I wonder if it will out live “The Cape”. I swear they do this just to piss everyone off and to win ratings for ONE week at a time.
And forget the Marvel series movies. We’ve had a GODDAMN GOOD GODDAMN BATMAN in theaters. That’s actually in CW’s backyard. And they still aren’t paying attention.
May 13th, 2012 at 11:56 am
ahem, I mean they aren’t paying any GODDAMN ATTENTION!
May 13th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Okay, I just reread the entire thing…BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN BATMAN. NANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANA BATMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 13th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
This is fantastic news for Kiel and I.
May 13th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
It does sound crapping reading about it , but then again so did Smallville in theory .
Funnily enough , in the end , some of Smallville’s seasons were better than some of the 00s official Superman stories .
And i can see why they kept a family around Oliver for this show . However you cut it , on the paper Green arrow (like moon knight mind you) seems like a Batman rip-off .
Like it or not , it’s clever to at least try to have more subtantial differences between the two
May 13th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I will watch it just cuase its a superhero show. Yet I believe it will be bad. The whole thing about it being based on a comic character is just stupid. Call it Green Arrow and use the material from the comics.
Also veteran Marc Guggenheim comicbook writer, he cowrote the Green Lantern Movie. Which was horrible.
May 14th, 2012 at 4:42 am
Marc guggenheim is also a TV serie veteran and has been quite good at it so far .
May 14th, 2012 at 5:04 am
This will just leave people clamoring for more Hawkeye !
May 14th, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Laurel Lance? Umm… why not Dinah Lance?
May 16th, 2012 at 7:36 pm
I for one and pumped for this. Sure it will not be dead on with the comics but neither was Smallville. Smallville was BAD off but it was still an entertaining show. Now if they can take this show, implement what made Smallville great and take away the stupid things that made Smallville well, stupid (like… almost everything between each Season opener, midseason finale, and season finale… and the series finale) then we’ll have a winner. With Marvel all over the big screen right now (with DC only having Batman and soon Superman) people tend to forget or just plain don’t know that DC has a great list of characters with fantastic stories (IMHO better stories than Marvel). When it comes to TV shows in general, live action or cartoon, DC has and is still on top by a very large margin.
May 17th, 2012 at 8:38 am
It should be noted that Andrew Kreisberg wrote many terrible issues of Green Arrow and Black Canary, or has that been forgotten post-terrible-Nu52-Green-Arrow?
May 17th, 2012 at 10:13 am
Laurel is Dinah’s middle name. Maybe she has a reason for using it that we’ll see in the series. Maybe not.
The core concept of Green Arrow (jerk grows up, tries to make amends) is still there. I’ll wait to see it before judging.
May 17th, 2012 at 11:18 am
So apparently the name Dinah doesn’t test well, but Laurel does? Just give me some glipse that she’ll actually be Canary in this series instead of the formulaic love interest (i.e. boring).
May 17th, 2012 at 11:48 am
Sure Silver…..More interesting……..If that were true they would have movies on all their major characters, whom DC fans said were “always household names”. Give it a rest! DC characters have and ALWAYS will be lame. Origins and back stories even more so. No one can argue that this is not true. DC itself had to reboot their “legendary” (overhyped IMHO)characters due to how much they sucked. Most critics said they are more Marvelized versions. Sorry. Something that is good is timeless and doesn’t have to be altered to the point that it becomes unrecognizable to fans. Nolan’s Batman has almost ZERO in common with any Batman’s story or his true origin. Oh yeah. DC reboots their sucky character’s every 5-10 “crisis” years. OOPS.
May 17th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
I am very much looking forward to this show.
Green Arrow is perfect for TV. The character could not carry his own movie very well, but he’s perfectly suited for a TV show. DC should do this with more of its minor, lesser known characters (that don’t require a TON of expensive CGI like Green Lantern).
In fact, Marvel should start doing this as well. Daredevil and the Punisher movies were lame. Both of those characters would work better in a TV series.
May 17th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
If DC’s characters are so irrevocably “lame”, why complain about them? Go read or watch what you like — whatever that is.
May 17th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
JJX,
Really? All DC characters are lame? Is that why even an admittedly bad movie like Superman Returns made more money than a lot of Marvel movies? Is that why The Dark Knight was the highest grossing comic movie ever until the Avengers? Hmm…
As for DC rebooting things to make them more like Marvel, that isn’t really saying anything about Marvel, it’s only a comment on the simple fact that Marvel characters/stories have tended to be a little “darker” or “edgier” than DC.
And DC characters are timeless. Even when they reboot Superman or Batman, the fundamental aspects of the character and the origin stay the same. Superman is always going to be an alien saved from a dead world and raised by kindly human parents. Whether the writer chooses to focus on his alien side and his feelings of lonliness, or on his human side and his virtuous character, it doesn’t fundamentally alter the character or his backstory. That remains timeless.
May 17th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
By the way, for all the nay-sayers, this is still GREEN Arrow. They haven’t changed the name of the character, just the title of the show.
And that’s a smart decision. You have no idea how many times I had to explain last year that, no, Green Lantern, is NOT that movie with Seth Rogan and the Asian guy fighting crime. And no, Green Lantern is not the blonde guy with a bow on Smallville. Oy…
May 18th, 2012 at 6:59 am
I AM GLAD THAT ARROW WILL BE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND NOT THE SAME NIGHT AS THE FINAL SEASON OF FRINGE IS ON. I CAN’T TO SEE HOW CLOSE THE SERIES WILL BE TO THE COMICS. IT WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE IF THE WRITER WILL USED OF THE GREEN ARROW ROGUE GALLERY AND WILL ARROW ENCOUNTER ANY HEROES FROM THE DC COMICS. GOOD LUCK TO THE FUTURE
May 18th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Having seen the new trailer, I have to say I’m kind of impressed. I think this show might be good.
It appears that they’re taking inspiration from Mike Grell’s The Longbow Hunters and the follow-up ongoing. I’d love it if Shado shows up, maybe even, dare I say, Arrowette!
May 19th, 2012 at 6:30 am
1. Arrow is an original Bow & Arrow character, NOT of DC Comics, was featured in Dynamite’s Project Superpowers
2. From this trailer, Hawkeye from The Avengers looks a lot more cool; I wish he had his one movie
The Aquaman TV pilot was the next best thing after Smallville
April 9th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
There are some interesting cut-off dates in this article but I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There may be some validity but I will take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we would like extra! Added to FeedBurner as well