‘There Would Be No More CW:’ Arrow Producer on How the Show Saved a Network

Debuting in 2012, Arrow had a lot riding on its success, including the entire future of The CW network, according to executive producer Marc Guggenheim. Starring Stephen Amell as the titular character and alter ego of Oliver Queen, Arrow was the first of many superhero shows that would compromise the Arrowverse, which lasted from 2012 to 2023, concluding with the finale of The Flash. Other entries in the shared universe included Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman.

In a new interview on The Showrunner Whisperer podcast, Guggenheim revealed that if Arrow failed to become the hit it did, it would be certain doom for The CW, which was struggling in the ratings at the time despite hits like Gossip Girl, the revamped 90210, and The Vampire Diaries. It was Warner Bros. TV President Peter Roth who spelled it all out for Guggenheim, which led to immense pressure for the producer.

“Shortly after the pilot got ordered to series, Peter Roth [president of Warner Bros. TV] took us out to lunch and basically laid out for us, in incredible detail, the reality that if Arrow wasn’t a hit, there would be no more CW. So it was the pressure of having a show and keeping the show on the air – that’s one thing – but now we also have the pressure of keeping the whole network on the air. That’s another thing.”

Thankfully, Arrow became a hit for The CW, in part thanks to its eager willingness to take audiences on a dark journey that portrayed Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen as the flawed yet optimistic hero he is. Also contributing to Arrow’s good fortunes was the social media boom that was taking place at the time. With Facebook and Twitter (now X) just a few years old, fans flocked to the platforms to share theories, ship characters together (Olicity, anyone?), and share cosplay photos of themselves in costume. This excitement only led to more interest in the series, and the continuation of The CW network.

Who Will Portray Green Arrow in James Gunn’s DC Universe?

And Why It Won’t be Stephen Amell

Turning from the small to the big screen, James Gunn is set to kick off the new DCU with the release of Superman in 2025, which stars David Corenswet as the titular hero. While recent set leaks have revealed the appearance of Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), one character that’s been absent from the conversation thus far has been Green Arrow.

While the superhero has been featured in a number of animated projects over the years, and was played in the TV show Smallville by Justin Hartley, the character has yet to make his live-action feature film debut in any capacity. As of now, there hasn’t been confirmation that Green Arrow will even be featured in Gunn’s new DCU, so no official casting news has been announced. That hasn’t stopped fans from fantasy-casting the character, however, with Stephen Amell’s name being thrown into the mix, and actor Kyle Gallner petioning for the part.

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Amell has even gone so far as to say in the past that he’d be willing to don the green suit once more in a limited capacity, though in an interview with MovieWeb earlier this year, he said that he doesn’t feel that “being in the cinematic universe would validate that character.” He said that if Gunn were to come calling, he’d listen, but if he doesn’t, “fine.”

“I don’t know. I think it would be really helpful to maybe see like a frame of footage from one of the movies before I decide if I want to be a part of it. Because I loved playing Oliver Queen, and I don’t feel like being in the cinematic universe would validate that character. You know, we did eight seasons, we did 170 episodes, and I wouldn’t change a thing. So, you know, if he calls, great, if he doesn’t, fine!”

Chances are that if Gunn does introduce Green Arrow at some point into his vision for the new DCU, Stephen Amell won’t get the call to reprise the character, as the filmmaker seems to be set on casting fresh new faces for his universe, much the same way Andy Muschietti did by casting Ezra Miller in 2023’s The Flash over Grant Gustin, who portrayed the character on the small screen in the Arrowverse.