We told you recently and with much joy about the Arrow pilot that’s been given the green light by The CW, written by Andrew Kreisberg (Warehouse 13) and Marc Guggenheim based on a story by Greg Berlanti and Guggenheim. Kreisberg, Guggenheim and Berlanti are all credited as writers/executive producers on the pilot. David Nutter is expected to direct.
Up until now we knew little else other than Arrow is to be a modern retelling of the DC Comics hero. The TV Addict has now been able to sneak a peek at the casting breakdowns, which give us a bit more insight into what to expect from this hotly anticipated better-be-great and better-get-picked-up pilot:
OLIVER QUEEN
What They’re Looking For: A 27 year old reformed bad boy, who after having spent five years shipwrecked on a tiny, brutally dangerous island in the South China Sea returns to town a different man. Or to be more specific, a tortured, thoughtful master of the bow with a ferocious determination to make a difference.DINAH “LAUREL” LANCE
What They’re Looking For: 28 years old, smart sexy, Laurel is a legal aid attorney determined to use her life as a one-woman war against the 1% following the death of her younger sister Sara. A sister, who as luck would have it, just so happened to have died aboard Oliver’s yacht.TOMMY MERLYN
What They’re Looking For: 28 years old and devil-smooth, Tommy is a trustafarian like Oliver, a spectacularly rich young man whose life revolves around parties, clubs, liquor and lots of anonymous sex. Unlike Oliver, he can’t seem to understand his former best friend’s sudden change of lifestyle and direction.MOIRA QUEEN
What They’re Looking For: 48 years old, a beautiful woman, Oliver’s mother Moira is a very wealthy woman who is not used to being shaken. Having remarried during the five years that former husband Robert and Oliver were both presumed dead, Moira has had free rein over the Queen billions. Not surprisingly, she’s deeply interested in learning whether or not Robert will also return unexpectedly, to ruin her present marriage and go over the books with a fine-tooth comb.JOHN DIGGLE
What They’re Looking For: 35 years old, African-American, Diggle is really, really big, a former military man who served with the Army Rangers in Afghanistan, and has been a bodyguard for hire for the last four years. Hired by Moira to be Oliver’s chauffeur and protector, Diggle soon finds he is trapped in a battle of wits, as Oliver repeatedly eludes his protection. But in fact, Diggle’s primary conflict is one of loyalty — he has to show that he’s working for Oliver, not Moira, before Oliver will give him a smidgen of trust.THEA QUEEN
What They’re Looking For: 17 years old (suggest 17-22 years), Oliver’s Lolita-esque sister, Thea was a 12 year old girl when he went on his infamous yachting voyage — but now she’s a celebutante who’s testing the boundaries of acceptable behavior. Thea loved her big brother with all her heart, and is delighted to have him back in her life — but she’s spreading her wings, and is unprepared for Oliver to become the Bad Cop in the family, restricting her access to boys and drugs.
The CW was the home of Smallville and is the home of Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, and The Secret Circle. Marc Guggenheim’s and Greg Berlanti’s writing credits include The Green Lantern, No Ordinary Family, Eli Stone, and Brothers and Sisters. Besides Warehouse 13, Andrew Kreisberg’s writing credits include Fringe and The Vampire Diaries. It’s going to be really interesting to see what tone this pilot will take. We will OBVIOUSLY keep you posted.
