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CW's GREEN ARROW Show Has A Nolan-Like Approach To Superheroes

Arrow will be vastly differ from Smallville, with a greater emphasis on realism. Plus first reviews of the pilot episode.

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By Mark Julian - 5/30/2012

Don't expect The Flash or Superman to show up on The CW's new Green Arrow show. Taking ques from Christopher Nolan's approach to realistic costume adventures, no one in the Arrow universe will have special powers. Said lead, Stephen Amell to Zap2It---

"Nobody in our universe has super powers, so that's a big jumping off point. I think we find Oliver Queen more injured than we saw him before. Other than in name, there are virtually no similarities between [Hartley's version and the new version]. It's not to say that one's better than the other, it's just that they're so different, it's almost weird to compare them."

The site also goes on to reveal that they have viewed a rough-cut of the pilot and absolutely loved the show and reinforce the fact that he's very different from Smallville's take on The Emerald Archer. Also commenting on the pilot is The Detroit News which states that the show has "plenty of Easter eggs" and that Amell has "more charisma than “Smallville’s” lead, Tom Welling." The show seems very promising and definitely surprised most skeptics when the first footage was unveiled. And while there are no superpowered beings currently planned to cameo, there's plenty of non-powered heroes to choose from DC's roster.



On 18 January, 2012, The CW greenlit the pilot for a proposed Green Arrow series with Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim and Andrew Kreisberg producing. The series, Arrow, will offer a fresh take on the character. Smallville's Justin Hartley will not be involved in the new project. Actor Stephen Amell will portray Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in the pilot.

In Arrow, Oliver Queen will be in his late twenties. Dinah Laurel Lance will also be a featured character, though not as the Black Canary and using her middle name "Laurel." Oliver Queen's mother Moira is still alive in the present day, with Oliver Queen returning to "Starling City" after people believed he was dead for five years. It has been recently reported that actress Katie Cassidy will portray Dinah Laurel Lance in the pilot episode. Colin Donnell is cast as Merlyn.




Running Time: 60 min
Release Date: Unknown
MPAA Rating: Unknown
Starring: Katie Cassidy, Stephen Amell and Willa Holland
Directed by: David Nutter
Written by: Greg Berlanti (story/writer), Marc Guggenheim (story/writer), Andrew Kreisberg (writer), George Papp (character) and Mort Weisinger (character)

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hellfire - 5/30/2012, 7:26 AM
Will give it a go but I've a bad feelin about this.
HavocPrime - 5/30/2012, 7:30 AM
Will give it a shot, wondering if Onomotopia will make an appearence, be definatly different.
hellfire - 5/30/2012, 7:32 AM
"more charisma than “Smallville’s” lead, Tom Welling" well that's not too difficult really now is it. O and there better not be any of this daytime soap acting where they walk to the other side of the room and look off into the distance. I reall got fricked off with it in smallville.
PeterParker1991 - 5/30/2012, 7:37 AM
I'm excited for this. Need something decent to watch on TV. Heroes fell apart in the end. No Ordinary Family didn't have a long enough run on the air. The Cape I felt didn't have enough good story lines. And Smallville... too much drama. Hoping this show doesn't fall into the trap of its predecessors.
hellfire - 5/30/2012, 7:42 AM
I actually enjoyed the Aquaman pilot, would of like to have seen where they would've taken it.
Tevii - 5/30/2012, 7:43 AM
"Taking ques form Nolan..." A knock-off Batman and they are going to use the same style as Nolan? Shocking.
WB needs to stop putting all their eggs in one basket. Nolan is great but his style doesnt work for everything. Batman, and sure GA (and Daredevil even though hes marvel, i think Nolan would make a killer DD movie). thats about it. If Warner Bros. really want the success of Marvel, they need to quit their approach and One man show tactic
hellfire - 5/30/2012, 7:44 AM
@iLove nolan is doing the next muppet movie, finally it'll get that sense of realism that it's been missing for all these years.
Tevii - 5/30/2012, 7:44 AM
@hellfire - I agree. the Aquaman pilot wasnt bad at all. I wouldve watched the show....

But the Wonder Woman pilot??? What a pile of CRAP
GingerBird - 5/30/2012, 7:45 AM
Ya no shit, it looks like a total rip
Off of Batman Begins.
driver - 5/30/2012, 7:45 AM
Even tree has more charisma then Tom Welling, but ill give it chance.Only one.
marknjoanna - 5/30/2012, 7:48 AM
i can get realism on pbs,how bout some comic book action.

but if they mean nolans realism like the 80 floor free fall that crushed the cab but didnt even knock the wind out of batman or his skinny girl friend in tdk,then dont bother lmao.

why is dc so intent on being 1 dimensionaly.will they ever get a clue.
SupermanP33v3 - 5/30/2012, 7:53 AM
Though I am Super excited about this show, I get very frustrated with the "Nolan" approach. In Nolan's universe no one has Superpowers.... this is why we will never see a JL movie with Christian Bale as Batman, or why Bane is powered down. Yet, it is completely realistic for a man to jump around on rooftops fighting crime instead of doing this realistic thing called sleeping? I respect what Nolan has done, I think every comic book movie should be approached "What would it look like in the real world is someone had Superpowers. Look at The Avengers, everyone was saying that Thor could not exist in the same world as Iron Man from the movies... but it worked out fantastic. Don't rule out superpowered individuals from Arrow, just approach them from a realistic view point.
thalidomide - 5/30/2012, 7:53 AM
JDUKE25 - 5/30/2012, 7:54 AM
Well, I think realism would work just fine with Green Arrow. It's not like it's Martian Manhunter.
hellfire - 5/30/2012, 7:54 AM
@Tevii DEAR GOD I hope the person responsible for that was severely flogged!!!
TrueRedBlue - 5/30/2012, 7:56 AM
Honestly, what doesn't have a 'Nolan-like approach' these days...
thalidomide - 5/30/2012, 7:57 AM
Gusto as Iron Man
blueorangeny - 5/30/2012, 8:05 AM
IMO. If they going with this realism. Then I'll pass. That means Black Carnary will not even be herself.
mr2324jgf - 5/30/2012, 8:05 AM
I'll say this again...

Smallville went 10 seasons.

Hate on Welling and Smallville all you want to... fact is, without it, this show doesn't get picked up. They're filling a void. When you get on your soap box and fill like posting your anti-fanboy flaming piles of poop... remember that you're the MINORITY if you didn't like Smallville.
marknjoanna - 5/30/2012, 8:09 AM
TrueRedBlue - 5/30/2012, 7:56 AM
Report Comment Honestly, what doesn't have a 'Nolan-like approach' these days...

the avengers,you know that movie that blew tdk right out of the water.
HelaGood - 5/30/2012, 8:11 AM
i think the show has the CW approach...
Vapes - 5/30/2012, 8:12 AM
I dunno, trailer still looks like Smallville to me.

CW needs to dial way back on the melodrama. Let things go unsaid once in a while.
hellfire - 5/30/2012, 8:22 AM
Let me just go over to this window, look up into the sky, contemplate my response because it will be deep and meaningful. Could you imagine if you were deaf, could only read lips and living in smallville, you'd never know what anyone was saying cause they'd have their back to you all the time.
hellfire - 5/30/2012, 8:23 AM
@overtappeal it sounded a lot like Kyle XY
mr2324jgf - 5/30/2012, 8:28 AM
@teabag umadbro?
hellfire - 5/30/2012, 8:29 AM
@tea F*ck me how did i miss that lol
batbro - 5/30/2012, 8:32 AM
@blackandyellow: master baiter, hehe *beavisandbuttheadgiggling*
tweeeeenkies3 - 5/30/2012, 8:33 AM
As long as we get SOME Black Canary action I am fine.
I don't give a shit if she doesn't scream, as long as we get to see Katie Cassidy in black leather and fishnets. I will be a happy camper if and when that happens.
marknjoanna - 5/30/2012, 8:38 AM
mr2324jgf - 5/30/2012, 8:28 AM
Report Comment @teabag umadbro?

no hes telling it like it is. why, is he making you mad bro.
ralfinader - 5/30/2012, 8:46 AM
"Nobody in our universe has super powers, so that's a big jumping off point."

They are absolutely correect, I have now jumped off any interest in seeing this future steaming pile of dog excrement.
CaptainAmerica1945 - 5/30/2012, 8:47 AM
I love at the end of the trailer GA says "Nobody can know my secret!"

Fine, but won't wearing a mask would help????
theoneA7 - 5/30/2012, 8:48 AM
Not sure about this... Why does DC need to go the dark and more realistic route? Just because it worked for Batman means it will work for all.

Also, although I liked Smallville(especially near the end)I think it lasted so long because people wanted to see how it would end.
MJPETTY7 - 5/30/2012, 8:50 AM
@teabag "lol Smallville sucking gave my life meaning ;P "

That is probably the saddest thing I have ever heard... LOVE SMALLVILLE! ARROW WILL BE GREAT!!! (hopefully)
SUPERSHADOWBAT - 5/30/2012, 9:00 AM
While I liked mostly liked Smallville for the ten seasons, it did stray into neing teen angst soap at times. Arrow I am looking forward to, more realistic will work for a character like GA. I just hope they don't stray too far from the comics and his roots. We will need to see other heroes in this series if it is to be successful, Dinah will need to become Black Canary somewhere down the road. For Arrow to succeed, WB will need to cater more to the real fan as GA doesn't have the broad fan base of Superman or Batman.
GUNSMITH - 5/30/2012, 9:02 AM
HE NEEDS A MASK, WITHOUT A MASK DOING WHAT HE'S DOING IS REALLY RETARDED.
LOL - 5/30/2012, 9:03 AM
"Nobody in our universe has super powers..." Epic fail right there! It's a DC character... have they EVER seen Green Arrow's rogues gallery?? Wow.... so far Marvel is winning because it's NOT recycling the same OLD formula that works on ONE character. Ollie's a hotheaded wiseacre... this is..... ugh.
GUNSMITH - 5/30/2012, 9:05 AM
"NOBODY CAN NO MY SECRET." YEAH WHY DONT YOU WEAR A MASK?
darkmetal - 5/30/2012, 9:17 AM
It sounds better than the Wonder Woman pilot.
Hartley's GA was great. The character' like every other character, was crapped on and mismanaged by the Smallville direction in seasons 9-10.
And I say that as one who loved the show.
It simply did not meet its own standards after the original producers left.
Its doubtful this series would exist w/out that version.
ColonoscopyKid - 5/30/2012, 9:22 AM
"[frick] this is going to fail... Everything Nolan does is dark and gritty... I like extravagant and colorful costumes. Just like what Captain America is wearing."

@ilovedcandmarvel....so what basically your gay?
LOL - 5/30/2012, 9:27 AM
Gunsmith, I salute you, you're a flipping genius for pointing out one of the show's MAJOR flaws! I'm laughing whenever that phrase comes up and HE'S NOT WEARING A DAMN MASK!!! Hopefully he'll have a mask at some point... No super powers, huh? I'm pretty sure it won't last long enough for the creators to change their minds about that one as Green Arrow's uncanny marksmanship is pretty much right on the edge of being superhuman.
darkmetal - 5/30/2012, 9:35 AM
Often comic readers dislike adaptions of comics when they dont follow the comics exactly.
What they fail to realize, is sometimes the adaption is better than the source material.
Bane in the comics is nothing w/out Venom. So he's not a threat to Batman w/out the gimmick.
When Nolan decided to use Bane, people were surprised. Bane has been a nobody villain since 1996 or so.
Nolan's version is a very deadly man, w/out PEDs.
Often TV or Film adaptions not only improve on the comics, but the publisher then utilizes the new approach. DC changed Green Arrows suit to resemble the better one on Smallville. Marvel took Wolverine out of the silly yellow and blue after the X-Men movie gave him a better look. The Blade film was better than the comics.
Harvel Dent's origin in Nolan's film was better than the crazy DC version that had Batman sitting in a court room as he's hit with acid.
Nolan's Joker is better than DC's by far.
And Nolan's handling of the Batman world is much better than a world full of super heroes.
Originally Batman, Superman, and others were self contained stories in their own world's. In many ways the individual comics were better that way. The heroes were merged not by creativity, but by a publisher who simply sought more sales.
ChiefJudge - 5/30/2012, 9:36 AM
Smallville - Superheroes galore, metahumans with great powers - special FX extravaganza - Huge success worldwide!

Arrow - Guy dressed in hoodie in a universe where superheroes don't exist!

They Missed the point - It'll suck and be cancelled after 1 Season
rastaZen - 5/30/2012, 9:37 AM


My life is already realistic ; if you are attempting to entertain me with super heroes then give me escapism.

I want SUPER HEROES!!!!!!!
and I want good guys and bad guys with amazing and unusual abilities!!!!!
AND I want lots of people in outlandish costumes !!!!!!

Green Arrow is a great character , so is Batman , Hawkeye and the Punisher; but these guys ALL - at one time or another - are in the mix amongst super powered costumed masked beings.

I feel like these producers want to jump on the super hero bandwagon but they don't want to have to spend any money on costumes or FX.

No Ordinary Family ? F**K you.
no masks , no costumes = FAIL.

Alphas ? F**K you.
no masks , no costumes = FAIL.

Arrow ?
One Dude in a costume ( so far ) , no mask and an entire universe bereft of super powered beings. This does not bode well.

I cannot condemn this show that has not aired yet but I am not pleased about their intended direction for the show.
Good luck to you Arrow , maybe you will surprise me and actually be good but I do have a " F**K you " set aside and waiting for you in the wings.
G - 5/30/2012, 9:47 AM
Yeah, looks great. That's how CW does it.. start off with a Bang, then decrease their budget when the show is at it's peak, and let it falter, move it to a crappy night, etc (i.e. Smallville)
hush - 5/30/2012, 9:50 AM
Colourful costumes?

Like Hawkeye?

And Black Canary?

And Nick Fury?

Smallville was great and I am really looking forward to a new take on the original archer.
Ranger14 - 5/30/2012, 9:56 AM
Well..I was looking forward to this one.
Dedpool - 5/30/2012, 10:21 AM
Nolan haters need to stop crying. I know that not EVERYTHING needs to be dark and gritty, but this is one of the ones that SHOULD be. Esepcially if it's to do well and be taken seriously. Should he have his sarcastic sense of humor? HELL YEAH! But street level heroes need a certain amount of grit and realism.

I personally thinkt the Noir approach to it and the grounded reality will set it apart from Smallville.
dnno1 - 5/30/2012, 10:21 AM
:42 seconds into the trailer there is a list of names that Oliver's father gave to him. From what I could make out from the list here are some of the villains that will be in the series:

Albert Davis - a Star City Millionaire and occultist who's plan to rid the city from crime goes awry. He was killed by Mia Dearden (Speedy).

David Drason - Grew up in an area of Star City known as The Swamp. He was sentenced to prison for the murder of a police officer but escaped and took the name, Slingshot, an expert marksman and assassin.

Hannibal Bates - known as the shape-shifter, Everyman. Since no one will have powers in this series it is assumed that he will probably be a master of disguise or something like that.

Isabel Rochen - former Siberian servant who earns her way into wealth. Believes herself to be the true heir to Queen Industries and is an enemy of Green Arrow better know as The Queen.

John Deleon - ruthless business rival of Oliver Queen who destroys and bankrupts the fortune of Queen Industries, taking it over in the process.

Danny "Brick" Brickwell - a former low level henchman who later becomes leader of a crime syndicate in Star. His rise to power gains the attention of the Star city police and Green Arrow.

We already know that Tommy Merlyn will be in the pilot episode and the name Merlyn is the same name as one of Green Arrow's arch villains in the comics.
PersonaPostOvo - 5/30/2012, 10:25 AM
If this show has no other superheroes in its universe then how the hell are there Easter eggs and if there are why would we care about them if there are truly no superheroes in its universe.

I'm excited for the show though.
SHHH - 5/30/2012, 10:30 AM
Smallville Blows.....
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