Arrow star Stephen Amell recently called attention to an easily overlooked comics reference in the CW series' pilot episode.
Amell, who played Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in the show, highlighted the Easter egg during an interview with Den of Geek. "In the pilot episode when I threaten Adam Hunt and I tell him to transfer something to Starling City Bank…it was bank account 1141," he said. "That is November 1941, in honor of [the first comic book appearance of] Green Arrow… [I played Oliver Queen for] 10 years, that's 1/8 of the time that this character has been around."
Amell debuted as Oliver Queen and his archery-obsessed alter-ego in Arrow's first season, which first aired in October 2012. He portrayed the DC superhero across a further seven seasons which charted Queen's gradual evolution closer to his comic book counterpart. While Green Arrow cheated certain death on numerous occasions during this time, his luck ultimately ran out in Season 8 when he sacrificed his life during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event.
A spinoff series titled Green Arrow and the Canaries was originally intended to continue the Arrow story. However, Warner Bros. Television and The CW decided not to move forward with the series. Green Arrow and the Canaries would have focused on Oliver's daughter Mia Smoak taking on her father's mantle and becoming the new Green Arrow in the Star City of 2040. Mia was to be joined by Laurel Lance and Dinah Drake, the titular Black Canaries. Episode 9 of Arrow Season 8 served as a backdoor pilot for Green Arrow and the Canaries, but this proof of concept apparently wasn't enough to win over The CW.
Despite Arrow ending and its spinoff failing to materialize, the wider Arrowverse itself is still going strong. That said, cracks in the cross-property franchise are starting to show, now that Supergirl and Black Lightning have both wrapped up, as well. The future of the Arrowverse's current flagship series, The Flash, is also in doubt, following reports that star Grant Gustin is looking to exit the show after the upcoming ninth season. This remains pure speculation, though, as neither The CW nor Gustin himself have publicly commented on his involvement with The Flash post-Season 9.
In more encouraging news for Arrowverse fans, Superman & Lois was recently renewed for a third season. What's more, the CW has yet to officially cancel either Batwoman or Legends of Tomorrow, which means there's still a chance the network will greenlight additional seasons of both shows.
Source: Den of Geek
