Green Arrow Almost Got a Totally Different, Non-Arrowverse S
Jun 3, 2018 13:55:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2018 13:55:22 GMT
Wow. A lot of us knew they were planning on having a 'Green Arrow' spinoff from 'Smallville' and it was the popularity of the character on that show that lead to 'Arrow' but there was apparently another one earlier in 'Smallville' with Oliver and Lois that was going to be called 'Metropolis' that sounds like it would have been very different than what we were expecting. Here are some articles about it and Justin Hartley saying if he would like to appear in an episode of 'Arrow.' What are your thoughts?
Smallville Spinoff Almost Followed Green Arrow & Lois Lane in Metropolis
screenrant.com/smallville-spinoff-green-arrow-lois-lane-metropolis/
Green Arrow Almost Got a Totally Different, Non-Arrowverse Series
www.inverse.com/article/45458-green-arrow-smallville-arrowverse-justin-hartley
'Smallville's Justin Hartley Is Open to Appearing on 'Arrow'
comicbook.com/dc/2018/06/01/arrow-green-arrow-stephen-amell-smallville-justin-hartley/
Smallville Spinoff Almost Followed Green Arrow & Lois Lane in Metropolis
Smallville almost had a spinoff that followed the adventures of Justin Hartley's Oliver Queen and Erica Durance's Lois Lane in Metropolis. Hartley joined Smallville in season 6 as the Emerald Archer. Hartley and Oliver Queen quickly became a fan favorites and the popularity of the character would eventually lead to the creation of Arrow, albeit in an indirect way.
There have been rumors of several reported spinoffs that almost happened since the show ended. Yet it's the newest idea about Lois and Oliver that is perhaps the most surprising and strange of the many adjacent Smallville projects that never materialized.
RELATED: SUPERNATURAL ALMOST HAD A SMALLVILLE CROSSOVER
The news of the Smallville spinoff comes directly from Hartley, who appeared on Inside of You, the podcast of his former co-star Michael Rosenbaum. During the interview, Hartley discussed the plans that were circulating to give his character, Oliver Queen, his own starring series. Hartley explained:
While I was on the show, while I was on Smallville, there were several different spinoff ideas that they had. They wanted to do a spinoff called Metropolis or something like that, I heard whispers of that. It was Lois and Oliver in Metropolis and whatever that was. They were trying to extend the life of the show.
The exact specifics of Metropolis aren't discussed as Rosebaum and Hartley quickly move on to discussing Smallville residual checks and Hartley's daughter. It's unclear when the spinoff was being developed and how it would've worked within the confines of the Smallville universe. Considering Oliver and Lois were going to be the main characters, though, it's likely that the spinoff was being tossed around sometime between Smallville season 6 and 7. During that period of the show Lois and Oliver were in an on-again and off-again relationship. Any time after Smallville season 7, the idea of spinoff focusing on Oliver and Lois would have been even more outlandish than it is already. The two characters moved on from their romance in season 8 with Oliver marrying Lois' cousin, Chloe Sullivan, and Lois, of course, ending up with Clark Kent. Moving Lois and Oliver to their own spinoff after season 8 would've presumably broken up both relationships or at least made them very strained.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Hartley's revelation is that the information of a Metropolis-based spinoff has been circulating in the DCTV community for years. Warner Bros. recently announced that they would launch a series called Metropolis on DC's streaming platform. This Metropolis will focus on Lois Lane and Lex Luthor. The series will happen largely absent of Superman and it will see star reporter Lois Lane team up with scientist Lex Luthor to investigate the strange goings on of the big city.
Metropolis, overall, does feel like something from the Smallville era of DCTV. With the Arrowverse and various unrelated projects, the world of superheroes on TV has become much more ambitious and full of suited heroes, not their civilian counterparts like Lois and Lex. It wouldn't be too surprising to learn that the show Hartley is talking about shares more with the upcoming Metropolis than just the name. Smallville's Lois Lane and Oliver Queen working together to solve crimes is strange but would make a lot of sense in the confines of the Smallville universe and as a spinoff.
It's for the best that the spinoff never happened. Hartley's Oliver and Durance's Lois were popular, but best used as supporting characters on Smallville. To take both away from the Superman mythology, especially Lois Lane, could've ended up being a huge mistake even if The CW did want "to extend the life of the show."
There have been rumors of several reported spinoffs that almost happened since the show ended. Yet it's the newest idea about Lois and Oliver that is perhaps the most surprising and strange of the many adjacent Smallville projects that never materialized.
RELATED: SUPERNATURAL ALMOST HAD A SMALLVILLE CROSSOVER
The news of the Smallville spinoff comes directly from Hartley, who appeared on Inside of You, the podcast of his former co-star Michael Rosenbaum. During the interview, Hartley discussed the plans that were circulating to give his character, Oliver Queen, his own starring series. Hartley explained:
While I was on the show, while I was on Smallville, there were several different spinoff ideas that they had. They wanted to do a spinoff called Metropolis or something like that, I heard whispers of that. It was Lois and Oliver in Metropolis and whatever that was. They were trying to extend the life of the show.
The exact specifics of Metropolis aren't discussed as Rosebaum and Hartley quickly move on to discussing Smallville residual checks and Hartley's daughter. It's unclear when the spinoff was being developed and how it would've worked within the confines of the Smallville universe. Considering Oliver and Lois were going to be the main characters, though, it's likely that the spinoff was being tossed around sometime between Smallville season 6 and 7. During that period of the show Lois and Oliver were in an on-again and off-again relationship. Any time after Smallville season 7, the idea of spinoff focusing on Oliver and Lois would have been even more outlandish than it is already. The two characters moved on from their romance in season 8 with Oliver marrying Lois' cousin, Chloe Sullivan, and Lois, of course, ending up with Clark Kent. Moving Lois and Oliver to their own spinoff after season 8 would've presumably broken up both relationships or at least made them very strained.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Hartley's revelation is that the information of a Metropolis-based spinoff has been circulating in the DCTV community for years. Warner Bros. recently announced that they would launch a series called Metropolis on DC's streaming platform. This Metropolis will focus on Lois Lane and Lex Luthor. The series will happen largely absent of Superman and it will see star reporter Lois Lane team up with scientist Lex Luthor to investigate the strange goings on of the big city.
Metropolis, overall, does feel like something from the Smallville era of DCTV. With the Arrowverse and various unrelated projects, the world of superheroes on TV has become much more ambitious and full of suited heroes, not their civilian counterparts like Lois and Lex. It wouldn't be too surprising to learn that the show Hartley is talking about shares more with the upcoming Metropolis than just the name. Smallville's Lois Lane and Oliver Queen working together to solve crimes is strange but would make a lot of sense in the confines of the Smallville universe and as a spinoff.
It's for the best that the spinoff never happened. Hartley's Oliver and Durance's Lois were popular, but best used as supporting characters on Smallville. To take both away from the Superman mythology, especially Lois Lane, could've ended up being a huge mistake even if The CW did want "to extend the life of the show."
screenrant.com/smallville-spinoff-green-arrow-lois-lane-metropolis/
Green Arrow Almost Got a Totally Different, Non-Arrowverse Series
Before The CW’s big bang of superhero television began with Arrow starring Stephen Amell, the Emerald Archer of DC Comics nearly had a different show set in a different universe: Smallville’s.
On Monday, on the most recent episode of “Lex Luthor” actor Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast Inside of You, actor Justin Hartley opened up about a canceled spinoff of Smallville titled Metropolis. The series, in a twist, would have further explored the onscreen relationship between Lois Lane (played by Erica Durance) and Oliver Queen, a.k.a. the Green Arrow, played by Hartley.
“While I was on Smallville, there were several different spinoff ideas that they had,” Hartley explained in his appearance. “They wanted to do a spinoff called Metropolis or something like that, I heard whispers of that. It was Lois and Oliver in Metropolis and whatever that was.”
“They were trying to extend the life of the show,” he added.
Article continues below
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Though Hartley has moved on from superheroes, the current star of This Is Us had a prominent role in the Smallville era, second to Tom Welling. Long before Jason Momoa became Aquaman on the big screen, Hartley was cast as Arthur Curry in a failed Aquaman pilot. He then portrayed Oliver Queen in a recurring role in the latter half of Smallville’s lifespan.
Smallville Green Arrow
Justin Hartley, as the Green Arrow in the WB/CW series 'Smallville.'
Meanwhile, it appears DC and Warner Bros. are giving the whole “Superman origin” thing another go, and we’re talking about the Syfy series Krypton either.
Slated for 2019 on the DC streaming service DC Universe, another prequel series titled Metropolis will explore the city of tomorrow “before Superman’s arrival.” It is currently unknown if Metropolis will share continuity with any pre-existing TV universe or create a new one.
On Monday, on the most recent episode of “Lex Luthor” actor Michael Rosenbaum’s podcast Inside of You, actor Justin Hartley opened up about a canceled spinoff of Smallville titled Metropolis. The series, in a twist, would have further explored the onscreen relationship between Lois Lane (played by Erica Durance) and Oliver Queen, a.k.a. the Green Arrow, played by Hartley.
“While I was on Smallville, there were several different spinoff ideas that they had,” Hartley explained in his appearance. “They wanted to do a spinoff called Metropolis or something like that, I heard whispers of that. It was Lois and Oliver in Metropolis and whatever that was.”
“They were trying to extend the life of the show,” he added.
Article continues below
Stop scrolling endlessly through Netflix. Get our streaming recommendations sent to your inbox.
Get the Inverse Streaming newsletter
Though Hartley has moved on from superheroes, the current star of This Is Us had a prominent role in the Smallville era, second to Tom Welling. Long before Jason Momoa became Aquaman on the big screen, Hartley was cast as Arthur Curry in a failed Aquaman pilot. He then portrayed Oliver Queen in a recurring role in the latter half of Smallville’s lifespan.
Smallville Green Arrow
Justin Hartley, as the Green Arrow in the WB/CW series 'Smallville.'
Meanwhile, it appears DC and Warner Bros. are giving the whole “Superman origin” thing another go, and we’re talking about the Syfy series Krypton either.
Slated for 2019 on the DC streaming service DC Universe, another prequel series titled Metropolis will explore the city of tomorrow “before Superman’s arrival.” It is currently unknown if Metropolis will share continuity with any pre-existing TV universe or create a new one.
www.inverse.com/article/45458-green-arrow-smallville-arrowverse-justin-hartley
'Smallville's Justin Hartley Is Open to Appearing on 'Arrow'
The Arrowverse may have set itself apart from the comic book television that came before it, but it sounds like one DCTV veteran wouldn't mind joining in on the fun.
Justin Hartley, who played Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on Smallville, was recently asked about the possibility of him making a guest appearance on Arrow. As Hartley revealed, he wouldn't be opposed to the idea, if it was in the right context.
“If it was the right part, yeah." Hartley told Smallville co-star Michael Rosenbaum's Inside of You podcast. "I love interesting characters. Yeah, if it was something that I could get excited about, yeah, of course.”
For diehard fans of Green Arrow, this is sure to be a pleasant surprise, especially considering the different ways Hartley and Arrow's Stephen Amell have portrayed the character. It also would mark one of Arrow's first major cases of "legacy casting", or bringing in actors who previously portrayed DC Comics character.
Over the years, some of Arrow's sister shows have delighted fans with this "legacy casting", from The Flash's John Wesley Shipp to... about half of the guest stars on Supergirl. Hartley would also be the latest Smallville alum to enter the universe, after Laura Vandervoort and Erica Durance both have appeared on Supergirl.
"We love it, and we think the fans love it," Supergirl EP Robert Rovner said of Durance's casting last year. "We love seeing people that we know and are familiar with step into other roles. And what’s great about them is that they’re all wonderful actors as well. So, you get the excitement of seeing them in the new role but they also bring a lot when they take on these new characters."
And as it turns out, those involved with Arrow have thought about bringing Hartley into the fold in some manner.
"I really want to have Justin Hartley on the show in a cameo," former executive producer Marc Guggenheim revealed back in 2012, "and everyone will hopefully laugh and we come up with a clever enough cameo."
Considering what we know about Arrow's seventh season - namely, the ways that it will break the status quo - a cameo from Hartley certainly doesn't feel completely impossible. After all, with Oliver currently stuck in a SuperMax prison following the events of the season six finale, it sounds like the show's ensemble will be in a new spot.
"The idea now is: If Oliver’s in prison, is he actually more protected than the team?” Emily Bett Rickards, who plays Felicity Smoak, explained earlier this month. “The rest of the team is all going to be in danger as well. Where that puts Felicity and William, I mean, we can only do so much to protect them."
Would you like to see Justin Hartley make a guest appearance on Arrow? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Arrow will return Mondays this fall at 9/8c on The CW, following new episodes of Legends of Tomorrow.
Justin Hartley, who played Oliver Queen/Green Arrow on Smallville, was recently asked about the possibility of him making a guest appearance on Arrow. As Hartley revealed, he wouldn't be opposed to the idea, if it was in the right context.
“If it was the right part, yeah." Hartley told Smallville co-star Michael Rosenbaum's Inside of You podcast. "I love interesting characters. Yeah, if it was something that I could get excited about, yeah, of course.”
For diehard fans of Green Arrow, this is sure to be a pleasant surprise, especially considering the different ways Hartley and Arrow's Stephen Amell have portrayed the character. It also would mark one of Arrow's first major cases of "legacy casting", or bringing in actors who previously portrayed DC Comics character.
Over the years, some of Arrow's sister shows have delighted fans with this "legacy casting", from The Flash's John Wesley Shipp to... about half of the guest stars on Supergirl. Hartley would also be the latest Smallville alum to enter the universe, after Laura Vandervoort and Erica Durance both have appeared on Supergirl.
"We love it, and we think the fans love it," Supergirl EP Robert Rovner said of Durance's casting last year. "We love seeing people that we know and are familiar with step into other roles. And what’s great about them is that they’re all wonderful actors as well. So, you get the excitement of seeing them in the new role but they also bring a lot when they take on these new characters."
And as it turns out, those involved with Arrow have thought about bringing Hartley into the fold in some manner.
"I really want to have Justin Hartley on the show in a cameo," former executive producer Marc Guggenheim revealed back in 2012, "and everyone will hopefully laugh and we come up with a clever enough cameo."
Considering what we know about Arrow's seventh season - namely, the ways that it will break the status quo - a cameo from Hartley certainly doesn't feel completely impossible. After all, with Oliver currently stuck in a SuperMax prison following the events of the season six finale, it sounds like the show's ensemble will be in a new spot.
"The idea now is: If Oliver’s in prison, is he actually more protected than the team?” Emily Bett Rickards, who plays Felicity Smoak, explained earlier this month. “The rest of the team is all going to be in danger as well. Where that puts Felicity and William, I mean, we can only do so much to protect them."
Would you like to see Justin Hartley make a guest appearance on Arrow? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Arrow will return Mondays this fall at 9/8c on The CW, following new episodes of Legends of Tomorrow.
comicbook.com/dc/2018/06/01/arrow-green-arrow-stephen-amell-smallville-justin-hartley/