Green Arrow Spin-Off – Would You Watch?
The crew here at Starkville’s House of El is really looking forward to the return of Smallville this Friday with the all-new episode “Escape”. In an effort to get everyone excited (not that you need much encouragement) there will be many new posts this week leading up to the return of our favorite show.
I thought I would start off the week by addressing something that I have been thinking of for quite a while. Now that we have an announcement of a 10th season, which will by all indications be the last season of Smallville, I wonder if there is an audience and if there is room for a spin-off series from Smallville. Let me be clear here that there is not any news that you have missed or rumors floating around the Internet. this is simply my take on what might work if and what I would hope for if a spin-off was ever to be created.
I believe that a Green Arrow series could be a success if presented properly. Smallville has shown that a comic based show can thrive on prime time television. Granted it’s Clark Kent and the Superman universe, but what void will be left once the show completes it’s unbelievable run. Looking at what we already know about the Green Arrow mythos as it has been presented could make way for an interesting show. Since his first appearance in season 6, Justin Hartley has played Oliver Queen, the Emerald Archer known as Green arrow. I think that he has played the character well and has displayed the charisma and acting chops to be able to deliver as a lead character of a series. He handles comedy very well and can demonstrate the darkness that has always plagued the character of Green arrow. His origin has been told in bits and pieces, some not fitting together as closely as I would have liked to see, but I feel the foundations are there. We know he is from Star City and has been living in Metropolis for a while now, but why couldn’t he go back to Star City to deliver his brand of justice for the citizens there. The character of Speedy (aka Mia Dreardon) has been brought into Oliver’s story and could relocate with him. this cold be the Batman & Robin type show that I know the CW execs would love to explore. In my mind this would be a much more “real-life” scenario grounded in street level crime and mobsters rather than the super-powered villians that we have become accustomed to on Smallville. There is a backstory that could be explored with a lot more depth. What happened to Oliver when he was with the Dark Archer? What were his first experiences like when he began as Green Arrow? Not to mention all of the possibilities with Mia and her previous life, lets not forget that in the comics she was HIV positive. Mentions could be made of their time in Metropolis without really needing to bring in any actors from Smallville. Not only that but, there could be many special guest appearances from some of DC Comics characters who would fit in that world. I am mostly thinking of the lesser or non-powered characters in the DCU. I believe that there are ways to make this show work, and I for one would watch a show like this. Not to mention that there has been rumors for a few years that there is a Green Arrow script called “Supermax” that has at times been close to going into production.
Take a few minutes and search the web for some of the upcoming television shows revolving around the superhero genre. You might be surprised at what you find.
I understand that with over a season to go of Smallville many things could change, characters could die, or stories could takes turns we never saw coming. Those factors would play into whether or not a spin off could work story-wise.
I would love to know what you think of this idea and if it’s a show you would watch.
I for one have become enamored with character of the Green arrow. The arrow much like batman is the epitome of a hero (non powered) the ones to keep the powered in check. I like the idea of something based in non super powered villains and with speedy added to the mix I think it would work. To fill the void of Smallville or not to I would definitely watch it.
ABSOLUTELY YES!!!!!!!!
I’m sorry but “Supermax” sounds like a line of special feminine products…if you catch my drift. *wink, wink*
SuperFlo
It would be good and you could jump rite into the story bc a lot of the origin has been played out in smallville, and we would also not have to warm up to Oliver as we hv grown to know the character
if theres a “leaked” torrent version of the pilot(like they did for aquaman) and its good, i’m down
I have always said I wanted to see Green Arrow spin off for years. I thought when Ollie left with Canary in the seventh season. I thought that is what Miles and Al were developing for The CW.
When Mia showed up in Crossfire earlier this season I thought that was the route Kelly and Brian were going to go down just in case Smallville didn’t get renew. I think we SHoEligans knew it was going to be, but just in case I figured this what was going to go down just in case it wasn’t. Now, with all the DC characters like Zantanna, Canary, Impulse, Cyborg, Dark Archer, and even ones that could be used that weren’t from DC continuity proper like Tess (if she lives past the tenth season, I don’t believe she will just my opinion.) There is so much material that begun on Smallville.
For me, personally, I would love to see a live action Star City.
I love the title of this article. “…Would You Watch?” OF COURSE!!! I have a feeling that many people who hang out here would be on-board for an Arrow spin-off. Now, would that fill the Smallville void? I don’t know. They couldn’t use the same formula as Smallville. Sure he could have a couple freak-of-the-week(or just small villian) episodes per season but I think the show would be really cool revolving around his business endeavors and how he maintains a personal life while running a business and saving the city. As cool as his gadgets are and how much I love a good fight scene, I’d rather see it get more into his character.
Green Arrow is already awesome in the comics and on Smallville. Green Arrow always has great stories that are told in the comics. I would love to have a Green Arrow series. You would have so much great stories from Connor his son to Roy. Not only that Green Arrow’s main nemesis can be Deathstroke. You could explore Deathstroke and all that like what Smallville did with Lex.
Brian I have been thinking about this concept for quite sometime, it’s nice to know someone at SHoE shares my ideas.
I think it could be really awesome, it’s also really nice to know that you all feel the same way.
@Dan Schmidt: Hey Danny, dude, tell me if you get anymore news about your “job offer”.
@Junior: You have a great idea about Deathstroke’s story being like Lex’s, but I think they could do this with Vordigan (The Dark Archer) because Merlin (the Dark Archer of the comics) is GA’s biggest enemy.
My own thoughts about this project are somewhat simple. You have Oliver Queen move back to Star City and begin a romance with Dinah Lance. You have Green Arrow and Black Canary go on patrol with eachother. You have a big “Morgan Edge” crime lord that GA and his Oliver persona fight against. The best crime lord for Green Arrow is his arch-nemisis: Brick. You have hired help to fight against Green Arrow, like GA’s enemies: Everyman, Exocutioner, Deathstroke, Clock King, Count Verdigo, and Onomatopoeia. You could also have Mia still learning from Oliver and eventually become Speedy. Then they should probablly have Justice League missions and have them in as regular guests (not main characters). I honestly think if you want to put Roy Harper (Speedy1, Arsenal, Red Arrow) into the show, you need to have him be Oliver’s age, but he (in my opinion) must be Oliver’s cop friend from the Star City PD. I also think that eventually (maybe in a 3rd or 4th season) they should put Green Lantern Hal Jordan into the show as a main character (or like Oliver in season 6 and then as a main like season 8). He could be Oliver’s friend and a superhero, but Oliver doesn’t know about him being GL. Eventually he could be a JL member and he could also bring new villians to the show (like: Sinestro, Doctor Polaris, Black Hand, etc.). Anyway, no one has to listen to me, but this is what I think of a Green Arrow tv series.
BTW: I think it should be called: ARROW!
Yes…..without a doubt!
I agree with you all, I have been a benign fan of the arrow for years and the characters’ portrayal and story on smallville has made my curiosity severely increase toward him. I would love to see a arrow spin off! And I don’t know al and miles take on it but I think it would be a nice tribute to them if trey were brought in to work on it! Well said Brian
GA kinda allready has a show its called Smallville i might watch if Mia was in it but if shes not no thanks. to be honest i think a SuperGirl spinoff would work better cause with her the writers can have more fun with her cause Kara dose not really have a set history with bad guys stuff like that like Ollie and Clark dose. idk if you guys have been reading the SuperGirl comics but Sterling Gates really knows how to write Kara and i think Brian and Kelly would love to tackle Kara again if given the chance. plus i think Laura and Kara deserve that chance there good charater and actor. but i might watch a GA show if and i mean if Mia was in it since i like Mia.
Yes, I would watch. If Justin turned it down, or the writers decide to go another way with the Green Arrow part, it might lessen the chances for me to continue on if they go through with this. But I’m sure Justin would do it. He is great with this part, and I think he could make it through a Green Arrow series.