The main trio of Arrow reunited at Motor City Comic Con 2023, taking part in an Arrow panel that looked back on their time as superheroes. Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, and Emily Bett Rickards anchored the very first TV series in The CW’s interconnected DC universe, which recently came to an end with the conclusion of The Flash.
Stephen Amell’s time on Arrow
Arrow was full of ups and downs for DC fans, but hopefully it’ll bring some comfort to hear that the actors did strive for comic accuracy! One Green Arrow fan confronted Stephen Amell about breaking his promise to bring Oliver Queen’s iconic goatee to the small screen in Season 7, a detail which I had never even realized was missing. Then again, I’m not a diehard Green Arrow fan!
Oliver did grow some facial hair in prison that season, but Amell admitted that the goatee never made it on screen because it looked awful. Stephen Amell said he had shaved and designed the goatee himself during a hair and makeup test. He sent a photo of his work to the producers, but it looked so bad the idea was immediately killed and never saw the light of day.
While answering other fan questions, Amell said his favorite crossover was 2018’s Elseworlds event because he got to switch bodies with Grant Gustin. His admiration for his former co-star was clear throughout the panel, with Amell later saying “Whenever I can be on TV with Grant Gustin, I try to be on TV with Grant Gustin”.
Arrow’s behind the scenes secrets
Of course, fans asked the cast about any behind-the-scenes secrets on Arrow. Stephen Amell revealed that if he broke character on set and started laughing, the entire filming day would be delayed because everyone else would break down with him. He found the perfect solution when Season 2 rolled around and Oliver Queen’s child was introduced. To avoid breaking character when the child actor was on set, Amell said he’d look at the kid and tell himself he’s a bad father to avoid laughing during a take! I don’t know about you, but if I was an actor that would probably make me break character even more.
Actors sometimes take props from set if they have a special connection to the character. We already know that Grant Gustin kept his Flash ring, but what about the Arrow cast? Stephen Amell admitted to taking the bow depicted in the pilot episode, which is definitely a fitting memento.
David Ramsey took Diggle’s gun and joked about “burn[ing] the helmet” that so many fans hated. In reality, it doesn’t seem like he shares that same hatred since he actually kept the first helmet he wore as Spartan. Finally, Emily Bett Rickards revealed she had one of Felicity’s shirts and it was currently in her suitcase, but only realized it at that moment!
The end of the Arrowverse
Finally, the actors were asked about the Arrowverse’s impending ending with the series finale of The Flash looming on the horizon. Stephen Amell has already given his thoughts on the universe ending, but Emily Bett Rickards took the opportunity to reflect on the franchise she helped originate. “It’s time to end […] 10 years is a good length of time to be wearing spandex,” Rickards said. It seems like all three actors agree that the Arrowverse has reached a natural conclusion.
But that doesn’t mean they’re opposed to reprising their roles. When I got an autograph from Stephen Amell, I said I hoped to see him return as Green Arrow in the future. “What do you think? Chances?” he asked me in return. I flipped the question back on him and asked what he thought the chances were since I was pretty sure he’d be willing to come back. “I’d say probably pretty good,” Amell responded.
I was a big Arrow fan and loved the connected universe in its heyday. While I’ve fallen off the Arrowverse wagon post-Crisis on Infinite Earths, it’s still nice to know the actors are willing to return if the opportunity is right. I’d love to see an onscreen reunion in the future, especially since Ramsey and Amell both reprised their roles in different series after Arrow ended. But for now we’ll just have to wait and see if any of these characters enter the new DCU spearheaded by James Gunn!
What do you think? Are you sad that the Arrowverse seems to be over? Let us know on Twitter or in The Cosmic Circus Discord! And if you haven’t already check out my other Motor City Comic-Con coverage here!
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