Marc Guggenheim On 'ARROW' Season 2

Marc Guggenheim On 'ARROW' Season 2

"It's about going from being the Hood to the Arrow to Green Arrow," says "Arrow" executive producer Marc Guggenheim. He confirms Superman and Batman characters are off-limits for now but that the big bad of "Arrow" season 2 is "phenomenally recognizable".

By MarkJulian - Jul 02, 2013 08:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Green Arrow
Source: CBR

In the interview below, "Arrow" executive producer Marc Guggeneim discusses lessons learned in the first season of the show and discusses a few details about the upcoming second season. You'll notice that the baseball cap he's wearing is for the "Starling City Rockets" which the prop department created for Diggle (David Ramsey) to wear. While discussing fictional sports teams in the DC Universe, Guggenheim states an episode nearly had a reference to the Starling City Rockets playing against the Gotham Rogues but the "Arrow" producer stated that they're not quite ready yet to reference the Batman world. He also confirmed that Superman characters are off limits too but added that those characters are only off limits "for the moment."



"This was always sort of the trajectory we planned. This has always been the first two years of "Batman Begins." In fact, last year, around October, right before the show premiered, we had a meeting with the head of the studio and we basically said, it's about going from being the Hood to the Arrow to Green Arrow. We knew all along that it would take us two years to do that. The thing that makes me worried is, the show works well because it has darkness to it. It's not gonna be all sunshine and rainbows in Season 2, I don't want people to get the wrong impression that the show is going to abruptly change, tonally. It's actually consistent in its tone even though Oliver has a more "Aspirational" mission."

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Running Time: 60 min
Release Date: (Season Two) October 9th, 2013
MPAA Rating: Tv-14
Starring: Katie Cassidy, Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Byron Mann, Colin Donnell, Colin Salmon, Paul Blackthorne, Emily Bett Rickards, John Barrowman, Roger R. Cross and Willa Holland
Creators: Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Andrew Kreisberg
Characters: George Papp (character) and Mort Weisinger (character)

"After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine."

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YakeTheSnake
YakeTheSnake - 7/2/2013, 9:18 AM
I wonder if Riddler will be the main villain of season 2...
bailey90
bailey90 - 7/2/2013, 9:23 AM
Would the Riddler not class as a Batman character though?
tacobender
tacobender - 7/2/2013, 9:28 AM
I excite!
comicle199
comicle199 - 7/2/2013, 9:29 AM
i knew that they would go back on the no powers rule
i mean theres really no need for it once you have established green arrow as a worthy hero
GeekyCheekyChic
GeekyCheekyChic - 7/2/2013, 9:31 AM
maybe its just me- but Stephen Amell really grew into the role and I feel looks wise and chops wise- he could totally share the screen with Cavill and the rest in a JL movie. I hope WB takes that chance and puts his version of Green Arrow on the team.
Matchow
Matchow - 7/2/2013, 9:36 AM
Maybe the Superman characters are "off limits" until they nail down exactly what's happening on the big screen. Could be cool.
calin88
calin88 - 7/2/2013, 9:37 AM
Deadshot, Bludhaven.. Aren't these Batmanverse references?
Dayv
Dayv - 7/2/2013, 9:45 AM
The show is very NolanVerse, but they could do Clock King much like Batman: The Animated Series did Temple Fugate.
NightmareB4
NightmareB4 - 7/2/2013, 9:47 AM
@calin88

Thank you. Deadshot, Huntress, Deathstroke, Bludhaven, even the minor villain Brutale. "The Batverse is off-limits...except all of the Batman/Nightwing characters we're using."
gmoney0505
gmoney0505 - 7/2/2013, 10:13 AM
Nice interview. I would have asked him the possibility of connecting this show to DC movies. It can have a movie that do not need an origin story.

Can people now stop bitching at the fact of him not being called Green Arrow as the show runners were always going to show a growing progression of him becoming the hero Green Arrow?

@TheBaroness89
Yep. Amell has really grown into the part. Especially since they been exploring with him pre-island stuff, we got to see a different side of Ollie that is not tormented about the stuff that has happened to him. Just like alot of characters in alot of other shows, it takes a few episodes for actors to get in a certain rhythm.

@HouseOfExtremeSexiness
I agree that Ollie have showcased immense ability of accuracy that is beyond human limits with the quickness of his arrow shooting. Added in the fact that he is probably the second greatest free runner in the world that can leap between tall buildings in a single bound like in the episode of The Savior.

I really enjoyed the show. Upon second viewing of the entire series, I love all the foreshadowing the show did that I dint catch at first. Like the dragon tattoo that Ollie and Shado has on their shoulder. Ollie had that tattoo in the first episode.
PersonOfNoInterest
PersonOfNoInterest - 7/2/2013, 10:21 AM
When they do the Justice League movie, Stephen Amell should get a cameo.
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 7/2/2013, 10:23 AM
Great show hands down!
sinsear912
sinsear912 - 7/2/2013, 10:42 AM
I love this show, but I don't think they can stretch it 10 Seasons. Green arrow is a b list character at best, he doesnt have a rogue gallery like batman or superman. They will have no choice but to use other villains.
ut
thewonderer
thewonderer - 7/2/2013, 11:07 AM
"it's about going from being the Hood to the Arrow to Green Arrow."

I emphasized this time and time again.

Thank you. YES
Supershadowbat
Supershadowbat - 7/2/2013, 11:07 AM
It sounds like they may take Arrow down the super powers road later. WB and the show runners may want to see if he can fit into the DCCU as other projects progress. Great show, it sounds like he will eventually be called Green Arrow.
jojofmd
jojofmd - 7/2/2013, 11:09 AM
It's been good so far. A little rough at first and with the huntress. I still say that his "woodeness" was on purpose. Dude is coming back from 5 years of fighting for his life almost everyday. He's got PTSD not so mention whatever else. So of course he's cold, wooden etc. Once again I think it has to do more with peoples expectations and less of the show/acting itself.
gmoney0505
gmoney0505 - 7/2/2013, 11:15 AM
@sinsear
Any show can be stretched ten years. If the creators can not be limited by their own imagination, they can create their own characters. They are not limited by the comic books. As long as the stories they keep producing are quality like the first season, it can last very long.

@HouseOfExtremeSexiness
Dont think he was wooden at all. Being cold, showing no emotion is not wooden especially after what he been through he was just disconnected with the other world he was brought in to. That is what the script was written for him to be like and that is how it should have played.
GeekyCheekyChic
GeekyCheekyChic - 7/2/2013, 11:17 AM
"phenomenally recognizable"
hmmm...Trickster ? Black Mask ? Tobias Whale ?
admittedly not very familiar with Green Arrow rogues gallery
gmoney0505
gmoney0505 - 7/2/2013, 11:19 AM
Someone should ask him about villains growth as well on the show. Like will we see Chyna White character being a more important deadly foe this season? Will be see Deadshot take on trickery shots like Golgo 13 type stuff.
jaysin420
jaysin420 - 7/2/2013, 11:28 AM
Decent show but I hate how people talk about it like it's a huge hit.

Season 1 of Arrow averaged 3 mil viewers, S1 of Smallville averaged 6mil and then actually went up for S2 while Arrow had a huge drop off at the end of S1.

And it took SV 9 years for the ratings to drop as low as Arrow's first season.
thewonderer
thewonderer - 7/2/2013, 11:30 AM
Cavin,

I'm pretty sure they don't want to overtly reference that Batman exists yet. That is his point. Yes, these are comic Batman villains but NOT within the context of the show as of now.

Referencing Gotham is referencing the existence of Batman. You can argue references Bludhaven is hinting at Nightwing but if there is no Gotham, there is no Nightwing.

And notice that Arrow has referenced Coast and Central City, Just not the big ones.
MJPETTY7
MJPETTY7 - 7/2/2013, 11:39 AM
Sounds good to me!!!
TonyChu
TonyChu - 7/2/2013, 12:08 PM
Character development at its finest!
AdamX
AdamX - 7/2/2013, 12:08 PM
Vandal Savage.
AdamX
AdamX - 7/2/2013, 12:09 PM
Bring on the league of shadows
Himura
Himura - 7/2/2013, 12:57 PM
Lol so many people disappointed that hes called "the vigilante" or "the hood"
At least you didnt have to go through years of Smallville with him being called "Red Blue Blur" or the "The Blur"
JettJagguarrr
JettJagguarrr - 7/2/2013, 12:59 PM
hawkeye movie photo: Avengers 2 newa2poster_zpsc15e1b50.png
mgeoff88
mgeoff88 - 7/2/2013, 1:20 PM
Phenomenally recognizable? That really narrows it down. :P

I love this show! I can't wait for season 2!!!
DaddyTuesday
DaddyTuesday - 7/2/2013, 2:33 PM
Arrow needs to lay off the eye liner. And his spray paint mask is crap. Only up to episode 6 at the moment. It's ok so far but the pilot was shit. That said it has gotten better but the Daddy cop dude needs to learn how to act. It's not great but for me it's ticking along nicely at the moment. Hope it gets better as the season goes on.
TruBeliever
TruBeliever - 7/2/2013, 2:44 PM
Has to borrow from Batman's Rogue gallery? He doesn't have a staple amount of villians? When was the last time some of you read Green Arrow? here is a quick list

Brick
Constantine Drakon
Count Vertigo - already on the show, but poorly done
Cupid
Komodo
Shado
Onomatopoeia
Rainbow Archer - no I'm not making it up
SteelClaw
Death Dealer
Bad Penny
Bull's Eye
Chien Na Wei

I'm sure there are a host more, that I dont even know about.

Tevii
Tevii - 7/2/2013, 4:41 PM
Even though they already introduced Slade, they haven't Officially said he was Deathstroke. I bet Deathstroke will be the big bad and all the flashbacks will show how they become mortal enemies... And Cheshire will probably pop up and make an appearance
TMW1987ProudProWrestlingFan
TMW1987ProudProWrestlingFan - 7/2/2013, 4:55 PM
Love the Show, have done from the start & love Amell in the role of Oliver / Green Arrow.

Absolutely deserves to be a part of the Justice League movie as the character

If they were smart, I'd tie the Arrow TV Show to the planned DCCU.
AUSSYACE
AUSSYACE - 7/2/2013, 9:46 PM
Its a Brilliant show...
SnapperCarr
SnapperCarr - 7/3/2013, 1:25 AM

JettJagguarrr = troll
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