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The Arrowverse's first hero returns in a way in DC's new series. There have been many shared universes in the superhero medium over the years. Marvel has become famous for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it has also had success with animated shared universes. The same goes for DC. There was the DCAMU, the Tomorrowverse, and more in terms of animated franchises.
As for live-action shared universes, three immediately come to mind when the subject is DC. One of them is James Gunn's DC Universe, which is still getting started with several movies and TV shows on the way. The other was the old DCEU movie timeline, which was spearheaded by Zack Snyder and ended up releasing many divisive projects over the years.
On TV, DC brought the Arrowverse to life. Named after its first show, Stephen Amell's Arrow, the shared universe was for years the main live-action DC franchise. While the DCEU faltered, the Arrowverse continuously grew, adding major heroes like the Flash, Superman, Supergirl, Martian Manhunter, and many more. It was extremely ambitious, with many multi-layered crossover events spanning multiple shows.
While the Arrowverse grew to feature several DC heroes, Amell's Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow, was always at the center of the franchise. Arrow was a show that went through multiple phases, with many agreeing that its first couple of seasons were pure superhero goodness. DC Comics' Absolute Green Arrow is currently releasing new issues, and it brings back Arrow's early spirit.
DC Comics Is Pulling An Arrow With A Twist
At the beginning of Arrow, Amell's Oliver Queen starts to operate as a deadly vigilante with a list of names to cross off. The Hood, as he was known back then, had no qualms about killing the many corrupt men and downright villains he found on his path of revenge. It was then that Amell's most famous line as the DC hero originated, with Oliver firmly stating to his targets, "You have failed this city." Now, in the pages of DC Comics, fans of the Arrowverse's first hero can get a similar experience through Absolute Green Arrow.
Absolute Green Arrow makes a few crucial changes to Arrow's initial story. Instead of Oliver Queen, who was murdered before the book began, there is a mysterious archer taking over the Green Arrow mantle, and that vigilante is the one going after and violently murdering the powerful, corrupt elite. Dinah Lance takes center stage as the one trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, which fixes one of Arrow's biggest issues, which was its treatment of Black Canary. As such, DC's new comic book series pulls some of the best aspects of early Arrow and does something fresh.
What Is Next For Green Arrow In Live-Action?
At this time, there has been no indication that Amell will return as Green Arrow. That said, the actor previously revealed that he would be open to returning, though he would want to read a script first to make sure it was the right fit. For years, fans have been asking for James Gunn to cast Amell's Arrowverse co-star Grant Gustin as the Flash of the DCU, with the DC Studios co-CEO saying that he would love to work with Gustin in the future. As such, hope remains that if Gustin returns to DC, so could Amell.
The actors could even play their Arrowverse heroes through a multiverse crossover, which Peacemaker season 2 opened the door to with its exploration of alternate dimensions. That said, as far as the DCU Green Arrow goes, Gunn has yet to announce any project where the character could show up. The most realistic scenario would be for a new actor to take on the role whenever Oliver Queen enters the fold. At least through Absolute Green Arrow, Arrowverse fans can get a similar story to that of the franchise's first hero, with a murder mystery/horror tinge to make it fresh and exciting.
