Celebrities
‘Arrow’ and ‘The Flash’ using DC movie characters? Stephen Amell sets the record str…
The world of DC films and TV shows is a very confusing one. They exist in different universes but share variations of some of the same characters. While TV may have a Flash in Grant Gustin, the film side went ahead and cast Ezra Miller in the role.
Meanwhile, it’s been reported in the past that a Suicide Squad storyline was dropped from “Arrow” due to the film division looking to launch a movie about the villainous heroes. So what’s the deal?
RELATED: Could Prometheus destroy Oliver’s legacy in ‘Arrow’ Season 5?
Luckily, that’s where “Arrow” star Stephen Amell comes in. If anyone’s going to be able to get to the bottom of it, it’s the Green Arrow and he’s done just that. During an appearance at the Salt Lake Comic-Con — during which he stumped for getting a shot on “American Ninja Warrior” — Amell set the record straight.
“That’s actually something that people bring up on a regular basis … that DC has told us you can’t have or you must get rid of [a character],” he says. “That’s not how that works. [President of DC Entertainment] Diane Nelson and [Chief Creative Officer] Geoff Johns -– the people at Warner Bros. on the feature side, the people at Warner Bros. on the television side -– are all in the business of making the best products for fans. Just because there may or may not be a Deathstroke in the DC Extended Universe doesn’t mean Manu Bennett can’t exist on our show.”
RELATED: Oliver and Felicity have very different ideas about ‘Arrow’s’ new team
For proof of that, look no further than Superman appearance on “Supergirl.” Tyler Hoechlin is joining the series as a much different take on the Man of Steel than in films like “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” He’s doing that while Henry Cavill continues to play Superman on the big screen because all sides of DC were able to agree on it.
So in reality nothing if off limits. Although chances are you won’t be seeing Batman anytime soon. The Caped Crusader hasn’t been seen on TV in a live action form since the Adam West series from the 1960s.
RELATED: Who was Harley Quinn before ‘Suicide Squad’? A history of The Joker’s mad love
Given what The CW is doing with their online programming — “Vixen” and the upcoming “Freedom Fighters: The Ray” — perhaps original animated Batman shorts can play a role in the Arrow-verse, though.
In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled because you never know who is going to show up on “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl” or “Legends of Tomorrow.” After all, you may already realize that Harley Quinn technically exists in this universe.