I am over-the-top enthusiastic to see what Fox is able to do with the Baywatch revival. I feel like I need to point this out first thing. I’m pumped to see Stephen Amell on board, I’ve been genuinely excited about how excited the ladies have been to throw on the infamous red suits and get to work, and I think everyone’s had a sweet attitude despite knowing how tough it can be to actually film this series. Seriously, I’m a fan of what’s coming, but I do think Fox has already made a mistake with the Baywatch reboot. Hear me out.

First, I Think Fox Has Done An Excellent Job Marketing Baywatch

From the second Baywatch was announced, Fox has done a great job with the marketing piece. There was the splashy casting of Amell and several ladies who already have large social media followings like Brooks Nader, Livvy Dunne and Shay Mitchell. After the Baywatch cast rounded out, Fox set up an actual casting call event that inspired thousands of people to show up in costume for a chance at a role on the network TV series.

Our eyes were largely on the show at this point, and it hadn’t even started filming. So, then when the show did get off the ground, the hype was incredible. Right now, people are very interested in the drama from a novelty standpoint, and seeing if the models and social media stars can really pull their weight on the small screen. There are some haters, but in general the goodwill is there, and there’s reason to believe that people will at least tune in to give the series a chance. However, this is where Fox has completely lost me, and the fall 2026 TV schedule is involved.

I Think Holding The Show Until Midseason Was A Huge Miss

The latest tease we got for Baywatch has come during this World Cup Run. In it, fans just get an extremely short clip of Brooks Nader slow motion jogging across the screen. The logo for the series flashes, and we get the show’s premiere date: “Coming January Fox (Next Day On Hulu).”

Listen, Fox. The hype is here now. It’s bikini weather now. People are ready to see what the series is all about right now. You hold this show for the dead of winter, and I’m not sure the reception is going to be as high. Not only am I less interested in seeing fabulous people in tight swimsuits when it’s 20 degrees out Fahrenheit, I just don’t know how the network is going to sustain interest at this level for another six months.

It honestly feels like an impossible task. Most network TV hits the schedule in September. Network programming usually gets 22-24 episodes a season, but this isn’t always the case. Freshman shows in particular sometimes get a partial order, and Baywatch is getting 12 episodes for Season 1.

Something similar actually happened for Stephen Amell’s last series, Suits LA, which only got 13 episodes for its inaugural season on NBC. That series was later canceled, so it never got a full network order run. I don't want that to happen with his new show.

I get it, sort of. With a partial order, the network needed to either pick the front of back half of the season to air Baywatch. There’s less competition in the spring, and I’m sure the thought process was it would be easier to launch when everyone’s already-established favorite shows aren’t returning at the same time.

In the meantime, there’s only so many clips of Stephen Amell riding fake ATVs I can be amused by before I feel like I’ve already mostly seen what the series will offer prior to its release. I still think the show could be a fun breath of fresh air for Fox as a network (which sorely needs more originals dramas), but I really wish it was coming in September.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been nearly a decade since Zac Efron and Alexandra Daddario donned the famous red swimsuits for Baywatch. If we need any evidence that time passes swiftly and that everything comes full circle, just shortly before the movie turns 10, Fox will be premiering its brand new and heavily hyped Baywatch revival TV series at midseason. Ahead of this, Efron is now warning against having to stay so fit.

I would be remiss if I didn’t note it’s well-known Zac Efron’s swimsuit-ready body on Baywatch was a slog for him. He’s spoken out about it before, saying he went so hard in the paint with workouts and eating he got depressed and the experience totally “burned” him “out.” He learned from that experience, and so when he did The Iron Claw a few years later, he figured out how to beef up in a way that was healthier.

These days he has a better perspective on his fitness, and he really wants those working themselves to the limits to take heed, telling Heat Magazine:

While it’s certainly hard to stay Baywatch fit, I do think it’s worth noting the reboot on Fox is in good hands. It stars Stephen Amell, who is known for his Green Arrow physique and whom I have seen doing literal salmon ladders to keep his fitness as in check as possible. If you’ve seen footage of him on the Baywatch set, it’s hard to believe the man’s in his mid-forties; he’s got some Tom Brady genes going on.

People hang onto body fat at different rates, and the diligence it took on the 2017 movie makes it clear the level of consistency and sacrifice it took Zac Efron to maintain was not healthy. He said it took some soul-searching to get to a place where he’s more comfortable with himself and what he wants.

He moved to Australia and away from the Hollywood limelight years ago, and more recently he’s been in the news lately because he’s building a sustainable compound with the help of designer Joost Bakker that’s being dubbed a “Futurecave.” I doubt we'll be getting a cameo from him in Fox's upcoming production given he feels about how he punished his body in the pursuit of physical perfection.

Believe it or not, Baywatch has always been a grueling job; even the OG cast attests to that. But it's also iconic, aspirational, and fun. The idea of the show coming back was so popular that thousands of people showed up for a casting call, and there's a whole new generation of men and women who will "only run in slow motion now" as the show gears up. Hopefully, they have a better relationship with fitness than Efron did when Fox's reboot hits the 2026 TV schedule this fall.

After talks in 2024 about a Baywatch TV project being in development, the upcoming lifeguard-centric reboot series is getting off the ground. So, bring on the red swimsuits, the slo-mo running sequences, and the sun-soaked beach drama that will surely keep audiences afloat (so to speak). Now, just when you thought you couldn’t get enough Baywatch content, priceless BTS footage showed a shirtless Stephen Amell looking pretty serious while hilariously fake-riding an ATV.

If you loved watching Stephen Amell in action on Arrow, then prepare to see him trade his green superhero suit for those red trunks in the upcoming Baywatch reboot. He’ll be playing the adult Hobie Buchannon in this Baywatch cast, who will be walking in the footsteps of his father, the OG character Captain Mitch Buchannon. Now, while the original series was known for its campy content, it doesn’t look like the reboot is far from it, as the footage of a shirtless Amell fake-riding an ATV is absolutely priceless:

So, that’s how it’s done! I’m honestly surprised that the actor can keep a straight face. With a screen in the background showing sandy roads speeding past him, the shirtless Suits star wearing red trunks is just sitting on a stationary ATV.

How the talented actor was able to film this scene seriously, I’ll never know. Based on this footage, it looks like the cast didn’t need any ATV training to pull off the high-speed beach sequences after all.

As the Baywatch reboot won’t be premiering until 2027, footage of the new Fox series has been short but sweet. The first Baywatch footage had no problem showing the new cast in their red swimsuits, slo-mo running towards action. It looks like not only will the reboot series take place on the same beach as the OG, but it will feature similar signature elements that made the ‘90s series such a pop culture sensation.

The BTS set photos are also exactly what I’d hope to see, too: a new generation of lifeguards posing in the sand with sunset landscapes making an appearance. Even new star Brooks Nader showed off her set photos of how she “perfected mouth-to-mouth” with her CPR training.

Through each BTS post we get, it looks like the new series is keeping the familiar elements of the original beachy drama series while also modernizing itself for new audiences. And with Stephen Amell fake-riding an ATV, I also have a feeling the upcoming series won’t steer away from campy action sequences either.

A serious-looking Stephen Amell fake-riding an ATV for the Baywatch reboot may not have been on my Bingo card, but I’m not complaining! If the Fox TV series continues delivering priceless footage like this, I’m fully convinced audiences are going to get a real kick out of the anticipated revival.

While the surfside series may not be releasing until early 2027, there’s still plenty to watch on the 2026 TV schedule that’ll keep you entertained until then. You can also watch the OG series that started it all with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Stephen Amell has already played a hooded vigilante, a wrestler and plenty of square-jawed tough guys, but he's about to embark on his next new TV era, which unfortunately won’t arrive on the 2026 TV schedule. His next big small-screen chapter comes early next year, and it has sand, rescue cans and the sacred Baywatch requirement: slow motion. Naturally, Amell seems fully aware of the assignment, because he had an A+ reaction to the very first footage from Baywatch.

There have been some photos leaking from set, but we now have our first teaser footage from Fox’s upcoming Baywatch reboot, and Amell shared the clip on his Instagram account with a caption that immediately made sense of the whole beachy opera. The video, which you can see below, shows quick flashes of plenty of surf, lifeguards, red swimsuits and his character sprinting across the sand like the ocean personally insulted him:

Honestly, it is about the best you could ask for from a fresh take on Baywatch. The footage knows exactly what people want from this franchise, and Amell’s caption is perfect for so many reasons. He wrote:

That is the only correct response to the footage, and for starring in the show, for that matter. You don’t just run on that show. You enter a red-swimsuit pocket dimension where every emergency unfolds at 40% speed, and everyone looks like they were carved out of sunscreen, gym memberships and dramatic saxophone. Naturally, slow-motion stretches as far as the eye can see.

The footage itself is brief, but those who cut this teaser know exactly what people expect from this franchise. It is not the least bit subtle, but subtlety has never really been the brand here. This is a show built on beach rescues and beautiful people sprinting toward danger while the camera captures them in a stunning Sports Illustrated level of composition.

The Arrow star’s role is a fun one, too, as he is playing Hobie Buchannon, the grown son of Mitch Buchannon, the lifeguard captain famously played by David Hasselhoff in the original series. To that point, Amell isn't opposed to Hasselhoff or other OGs making cameos. The new show sees Hobie now serving as a Baywatch captain, whose life gets complicated when Charlie, a daughter he never knew, arrives and wants to join the family rescue legacy.

That setup gives the reboot a smart way to tie itself to the old show without simply doing a greatest-hits cover band version of it. Hobie was part of the original Baywatch fabric, so aging him into a leadership role keeps the legacy connection intact while giving the new cast room to make their own sunburned messes.

Amell is joined in the reboot by fellow cast members Shay Mitchell, Brooks Nader (who has been taking nods from OG stars Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra), Livvy Dunne, Noah Beck, Jessica Belkin and Thaddeus LaGrone. The production has already leaned into the classic red lifeguard look, with cast photos and footage showing the team in the kind of beachwear that might as well have its own Hollywood Walk of Fame star.

Early reports also claim original cast members Erika Eleniak and David Chokachi are expected to return, with Chokachi reprising Cody Madison and Eleniak back as Shauni McClain for a beach sporting event tied to Amell’s Hobie.

That kind of return makes sense for a reboot like this. Baywatch is such a specific, instantly recognizable piece of pop culture. Sure, it can be a little ridiculous, but it’s also weirdly durable and completely tied to its visual language. You need the red suits. You need the rescues. You need somebody running like time has politely stepped aside. And bringing back members of the OG cast adds some nice legacy gravitas while Stephen Amell steps into those swim shorts, shirtless and more than ready for duty.

The Baywatch reboot is expected to premiere on Fox during the 2026-27 TV season, beginning in January. Check your local listings for showtimes closer to release.

The upcoming Baywatch reboot has begun filming, and the excitement is definitely building, especially since it might be coming on the 2026 TV schedule. There have been some photos leaked from production, which is taking place on Venice Beach, and the new cast is looking as good as ever in the iconic red swimsuits. They’re also already bantering like old friends, and Hassie Harrison had to agree to disagree with Stephen Amell over a beach-related comment he made.

Baywatch kicked off filming in March, and from the looks of the photos, there will be a lot of running, slow-motion running, and saving lives, true to the original series. Even though some photos have leaked, some of the cast have been sharing their own from set, including Amell, who plays Captain Hobie Buchannon, son of David Hasselhoff’s Mitch Buchannon. He shared a photo on Instagram from the beach, presumably in between takes, seemingly trying to convince himself and his followers just how the water feels:

Anyone who has swum in the ocean knows that the water can certainly be unpredictable and often cold, especially during this time of year. Harrison, who portrays Nat, a former Olympic athlete who is now a lifeguard and Hobie’s closest friend and loyal right hand, made sure to take to the comments to share her own opinion on the water’s temperature. And she seems to love to agree to disagree with her co-star:

Considering Harrison and Amell’s characters are close, it would only make sense for the actors to build on that chemistry. And what better way to build a bond than by bantering? The water may be cold, but it looks like things are just heating up on the set of Baywatch. At least the cold is going to be worth it, and it just shows how committed the cast is.

Since production only started a month ago, this series will likely be filming for quite some time, meaning that if the cast isn’t used to the water by now, they are going to have to figure out how to be. There has to be a point where they don’t even feel the cold whenever they’re in the water, but it seems like that has not happened yet...at least for Amell and Harrison.

Meanwhile, it hasn’t been confirmed when the new Baywatch reboot will premiere, but since the show’s gotten off the ground, it’s possible more information will be announced soon. The series has been in the works for a long time and was officially ordered to series in September for the 2026-2027 season. So if not later this year, then the new show will definitely premiere early next year. The wait will be worth it. For now, fans can watch the original Baywatch with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Production on the Baywatch reboot is in full swing, and with all the casting announcements, we thought it would be fun to gather some photos of the future cast members in swimsuits. There is nothing more iconic about the original show than the slow-motion shots of all the lifeguards in their trademark red suits, so we should get an idea of what those shots might look like when the new series hits Fox sometime later on the 2026 TV schedule. Some official photos on Instagram have been revealed, and we dug into all the stars' social media accounts to find some gems, including some behind-the-scenes moments of the show!

Stephen Amell As Hobie Buchannon

Arrow star Stephen Amell leads the cast as Hobie Buchannon (the character played by Jeremy Jackson in the OG show). Hobie, of course, is the son of Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff in the original). He co-captains the lifeguard crew now, and we have to admit, Amell looks pretty darn ripped in red trunks in this video posted on the Baywatch IG account.

Brooks Nader As Selene

Model and reality star Brooks Nader will star as Selene, who is described as another captain of the lifeguard team on Zuma Beach. Nader is probably best known for her time on Dancing With the Stars and her reality show Love Thy Nader with her sisters, which you can check out with a Hulu subscription. A few years ago, in a moment of foreshadowing, Nader appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition in a red suit, and she's also posted from behind the scenes of the new show.

Livvy Dunne As Grace

Livvy Dunne, a former collegiate gymnast, current SI swimsuit model and fitness influencer, will be making her acting debut as Grace, a junior lifeguard learning the ropes. She's posted a few photos on her IG from behind the scenes, including one of her running (presumably in slow motion, of course) on the beach.

David Chokachi As Cody Madison

One returning cast member who has been announced is David Chokachi, who will be reprising his role as Cody Madison from the final few seasons of the original Baywatch. We have to say, for a guy who is nearly 60 years old, Chokachi is making us all jealous and inspiring everyone, at every age, to hit the gym!

Hassie Harrison As Nat

Speaking of Yellowstone, Hassie Harrison, who played barrel racer and eventually, Walker's girlfriend, Laramie, on the show, will be one lifeguards on Zuma Beach, Nat. We haven't seen a great photo of Harrison in a famous red suit yet, but we did find this this photo of her on the beach with her husband, singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham, from a few years ago.

Thaddeus LaGrone As Brad

Another newcomer in the cast of the Baywatch sequel series is Thaddeus LaGrone. The model, musician and former football player is just getting started in Hollywood, and Baywatch is his most high-profile role to date. According to Variety, Brad is a former marine who has returned home and joined the lifeguard team. He certainly looks the part!

Jessica Belkin As Charlie Bale

You might recognize Jessica Belkin, who is playing a lifeguard named Charlie, from Hunting Wives, one of the steamiest shows on Netflix in a while. She's also a supporting character in the upcoming Dutton Ranch, the latest spinoff of Yellowstone, available with a Paramount+ subscription. We don't have a lot of info on Charlie, but, as she said on Instagram, Belkin is "ready for her Baywatch era! So are we!

Shay Mitchell As Trina

Ontario, Canada native Shay Mitchell is a long way from the Great White North (shout out to Doug and Bob McKenzie) on the beaches of Southern California, but she still looks fantastic in her red suit in the behind-the-scenes photo she posted. Like a lot of the cast members, we don't know a ton about her character, Trina, but as she's proving in her social media post that she's working hard to make sure she's "slow mo" ready when shooting.

Noah Beck As Luke

Noah Beck is proving in this photo that the beach can still be a place to relax. He may not be on the clock or in red, but the former soccer player is still looking the part. Beck is another of the long list of influencers who make up a lot of the cast, something that has occasionally drawn criticism from some fans of the original show.

The rest of the announced cast includes:

• Kylar Miranda
• Nadia Gray
• Luke Eisner
• Charlie McElveen
• Ashley Moore

So that leaves one more big question: will we see any of the illustrious alumni from the original Baywatch? We frankly don't know if some of the legendary cast members will be a part of this new production. We're talking about names like David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Kelly Slater, Carmen Elektra (who has said she would love to, so long as she doesn't have to shoot in the water), Yasmine Bleeth and, of course, Jason Momoa, who got his start on the spinoff/legacy series Baywatch: Hawaii.

Those are hardly the only actors who appeared on the wildly popular syndicated show, so the sky's the limit... or the shoreline is the limit? Who knows? We'll just have to wait until this fall when the new show airs.

It's been said that back in the '90s, one of the most popular television shows on the planet was Baywatch. That’s not too hard to believe considering that showcasing pretty people in swimsuits is the sort of thing that can transcend cultural and language barriers. It’s also the sort of thing that is eventually going to lead to a potential reboot.

A Baywatch reboot is on the way from Burn Notice creator Matt Nix and McG, who is set to direct the pilot episode of the new show. We can expect lots of pretty people in bathing suits. However, one thing that fans should not expect when the new series debuts is jokes at the expense of the original series. McG tells Variety:

Honestly, I love this. I’m not a big fan of Baywatch or anything, but I’m generally not a fan of reboots or remakes that seem like they’re laughing at, rather than laughing with, previous entries in the franchise. Was Baywatch corny? Sure, it was, but the show always took itself seriously, and it was incredibly successful as exactly what it was.

Matt Nix tells Variety that the new version of Baywatch won’t be campy either. Stephen Amell is set to play Captain Hobie, the now-adult son of David Hassellhoff’s character from the original series. Plus, actor David Chokachi, who played Cody Madison for three seasons on the original show, will be returning. Suffice it to say that the series is being written as a continuation of the original rather than a full reboot, so it makes sense that the tone would remain the same.

This also opens the door to plenty of Baywatch cameos from the original cast. While nothing has been announced, Amell is very open to that happening. It would be somewhat strange to have a show that pokes fun at the original series if it also trades on the star power of that cast.

This will, of course, be in direct contrast to the last time we saw something new from Baywatch. The movie adaptation that starred Dwayne Johnson and Zach Efron was a comedy first, and it absolutely did make jokes at the expense of the series. The movie did pretty well in theaters, but was absolutely destroyed by critics. The people who made the movie largely didn’t have a great time. Efron has called his body "stupid" and regretted the way he prepared for the movie. Alexandra Daddario has been critical of her experience, and even The Rock has made fun of it.

Not making fun doesn’t mean that the new Baywatch won’t have fun. Matt Nix’s most successful TV series to date was Burn Notice, a spy series that had plenty of action and intrigue, but wasn’t afraid to also have a sense of humor. Baywatch could certainly end up being something similar in tone.

It’s time to get your red swimsuits ready, y’all, because the iconic beach-set series, Baywatch, is headed back to television, and might actually be here in time for the later days of the 2026 TV schedule. We recently found out that Arrow alum Stephen Amell will be leading the slow-mo run this time around, and it turns out that he had a very specific ask when it came to potential cameos from OG stars like Pamela Anderson and David Hasselhoff.

The Request Baywatch’s Stephen Amell Had When It Came To Cameos From OG Stars

Though it seemed rather unlikely that anyone would take another shot at bringing us back to the beach Baywatch-style after the 2017 movie with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron that failed to inspire positive reviews or set the box office on fire, it does tend to be difficult to keep a beloved IP down. Rumblings of yet another take on the property began in early 2024, and those behind the revival are now working on its 12-episode first season, which will air on Fox.

One of the people who’s hard at work to deliver more scarlet-swim-gear action is Stephen Amell, and Us Weekly recently asked him the question every longtime Baywatch fan wants to know: could we see original series stars Pamela Anderson and/or David Hasselhoff appear in the upcoming show? He said:

Alright, Mr. Amell. We get it; you have to keep things like major cameos a big fat secret from the rest of us. But...wait. As his response continued, he actually revealed a cameo-related request he had of the producers, which totally makes a lot of sense for a couple of reasons. Amell continued:

Well, well, well! Honestly? I love this for him. For one thing, as he said, he needs to be dialed into what he’s doing at any given moment, and to do that he feels it’s best to have as few distractions as possible. Knowing way ahead of time that he could be working with either Anderson or Hasselfhoff (Amell is portraying his character’s son) could easily be an unnecessary intrusion, so he’d rather just not know until it’s a done deal and they’re preparing to shoot that episode.

Not being aware of any possible cameos from OG talent also serves the purpose of keeping him blissfully unaware so that he has a much longer time to literally have no big secrets to keep as he does interviews. Sure, he had to keep lots of plot points to himself during his eight seasons on the surprise-filled Arrow, but why tax your secret-keeping abilities if you don’t have to?

We already know that original star Carmen Electra is game to revisit the show, while David Chokachi (who played Cody Madison from Seasons 6-9) is the first Baywatch star to be signed to the revival. So, it’s entirely possible that we do see other actors from the first series show up. Just know that we won’t hear it from Stephen Amell.

Around this time last year, Stephen Amell returned to network TV to play Ted Black in Suits LA, which NBC greenlighted after the original Suits crushed on Netflix. Unlike its parent series, however, the spinoff failed to generate positive buzz and was cancelled after just one season. Now Amell has chimed in with his thoughts on why Suits LA didn’t work.

Amell is no stranger to the TV business, not only for his eight-season run as Oliver Queen on Arrow, but also from working on Heels for two seasons, amidst various recurring and guest roles. So when he was asked on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum about what happened with Suits LA, he admitted that it “wasn’t good enough” and “ultimately, it was a failure.” However Amell caveated that it wasn’t a “complete failure” because it still ended up being ordered to series, whereas there are many TV pitches that never even make it to the pilot stage. He then continued:

Stephen Amell’s Ted Black was an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles who previously worked as a federal prosecutor in New York City. Unfortunately, Amell wasn’t able to spice up the character with his performance, and he considers that to be the main reason Suits LA wasn’t successful. That said, he also acknowledged that even before the spinoff premiered on NBC, there were concerns about its quality due to conflicting visions:

Of course, every show has its growing pains, and Stephen Amell told Michael Rosenbaum that he and the rest of the Suits LA team thought they’d get another season to “work out some of those issues.” Ultimately, NBC decided it wasn’t worth it and pulled the plug. You’re welcome to judge Suits LA for yourself, as it can still be streamed with a Peacock subscription. Overall though, this is yet another example of how just because one show is popular doesn’t mean that success can be replicated in a spinoff, especially if the same kind of premise having to be watered down because it’s on network TV rather than cable.

Fortunately for Stephen Amell, he’s already bounced back in a big way. He’s set to star in Fox’s Baywatch reboot as Hobie Buchannon, the son of David Hasselhoff’s Mitch Buchannon who was first played by Brandon Call in the original Baywatch’s first season, then by Jeremy Jackson for the rest of the series. The reboot has been ordered straight to series, but it hasn’t been announced yet when it will premiere on the 2026 TV schedule.

When Arrow premiered in 2012, it didn’t take long for Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen to find a partner to aid him in his war against crime and corruption in then-Starling City. David Ramsey’s John Diggle (who did not end up becoming a Green Lantern) learned Oliver was The Hood at the end of the third episode, then agreed to work with him in the following one, thus marking, to quote Casablanca, “the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Amell and Ramsey also didn’t have trouble having fun in those early Arrow days eiteher, which started when the latter told a specific raunchy joke to the former to make him break.

David Ramsey told the story while appearing on Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, where he also got into a friendly argument with the title host about whether Arrow or Smallville was DC’s true flagship TV show. As for the raunchy joke, Ramsey it set up with the following after being asked by a fan about one of his favorite moments working in Arrow:

John Diggle was introduced in Arrow as Oliver Queen’s driver/bodyguard. Moira Queen, Oliver’s mother, hired him to look after her son once he returned to Starling City after being thought dead for five years. Diggle’s presence was initially problematic for Oliver, as he kept having to ditch the man in order to carry out his Hood activities. Meanwhile in real life, David Ramsey used this Arrow scene as a way to mess with Stephen Amell, with the actor continuing:

I guess it didn’t take long for Ramsey to strike up a good rapport with Amell on the Arrow set if he felt comfortable making a joke like that so early on. I can understand why he had trouble keeping a straight face, and it was a nice indicator of things to come. Ramsey was the only other actor besides Amell who was a series regular for the entirety of Arrow’s eight-season run. Along with his time on the Green Arrow-focused series, Ramsey also played Diggle in various episodes of The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Batwoman and Superman & Lois, though in the latter show, it ended up being an alternate version of the character.

David Ramsey last played John Diggle in The Flash Season 9 episode “It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To,” which also saw Stephen Amell reprising Oliver Queen for the first time since Arrow ended in early 2020. While the Arrowverse is no more, both actors have appearances lined up on the 2026 TV schedule. Ramsey will soon appear in an episode of Tracker on CBS, and this fall on Fox, Amell will star in the Baywatch reboot.

Following the cancellation of Suits LA, Stephen Amell is setting his sights on another high-profile project, and this one will take him out of the office and into the sand. The Arrow star was recently cast in the highly-anticipated Baywatch reboot as Captain Hobie Buchannan, the son of David Hasselhoff’s Mitch Buchannan. He’s already starting to prep for the show, and that means getting ready to run on the beach shirtless. Despite Amell being know for his physique, I really appreciate his candid take on what's coming next.

Of course, Amell is known for his rigorous training, having spent eight seasons as Oliver Queen/The Green Arrow on The CW. Having also appeared on American Ninja Warrior and done plenty of shirtless scenes for Heels, he's used to being fit. Baywatch will be different, though.

Amell got real about the kind of prep he’ll be going through while speaking with THR, but despite trying for "sustainability" as he hits his mid-forties, it still might not be enough to compete with his co-stars:

It’s definitely tough to be in that kind of position, knowing that you are giving 110%, and someone half your age is able just to go do the same thing with no problem.

Now, Amell is 44, and he looks fantastic. I mean, he probably wouldn't have been cast in Batwatch if producers didn’t think he could look the part. Unfortunately, he also has to look the part while standing next to 20-somethings who can probably chow down on cheeseburgers than don swim trunks with no real concern. But that’s the price of aging, as he said:

It may not seem like much, but it really takes a lot to admit that you aren’t where you used to be physically as you continue to get older. However, Amell can, and he sounds just grateful to be able to throw down with the youngsters decades after becoming famous in Hollywood. If anything, he has proven time and time again that he has the mentality and physicality to really pull off any kind of training -- remember those salmon ladders?! --he’s just a little older now.

At the very least, Amell won’t be the oldest lifeguard on that beach. It was recently announced that OG Baywatch cast member David Chokachi will be returning as Cody Madison, who now runs the bar-and-grill The Shoreline, while still occasionally putting on the red trunks to save lives and serving as a mentor to the younger lifeguards. So it should be fun to see how those two do with the other lifeguards.

As of now, additional casting for Fox’s Baywatch reboot has not been shared, so it’s unknown what other actors will be joining Amell and Chokachi and giving them a slow-mo run for their money. But it will be interesting to see who else will be donning the iconic red swimsuit and what kind of prep they’ll be doing.

Reboots and revivals are still cropping up consistently as part of this entertainment landscape, and another one is on the way. Baywatch is getting the reboot treatment again but, following the 2017 movie adaptation, the franchise is returning to its TV roots. At present, the series is getting off the ground, and casting has started. Now, it's been confirmed that Arrow star Stephen Amell is set to lead the show, and I really don’t mind him trading in the Green Arrow suit for a red swimsuit.

It was recently confirmed that Amell will play Captain Hobie in the Baywatch revamp. This marks his first series since Suits LA, which was canceled after only one season by NBC in 2025. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm excited about the prospect of Amell returning for another show. And, while I loved watching him in that Green Arrow suit for eight years on Arrow, he could definitely look good in red, assuming that the reboot sticks with the franchise's iconic red lifeguard swimsuits. Per Variety, the character description for Hobie Buchannon reads as follows:

For those who are familiar with the original Baywatch, David Hasselhoff portrayed Mitchell “Mitch” Buchannon during the first nine seasons. The head lifeguard-turned-lieutenant-turned-captain had a son, Hobie Buchanon, played by Brandon Call in the first season of Baywatch and then by Jeremy Jackson beginning in Season 2 until Season 9. So I'm curious to see how Hobie will continue his dad’s legacy in this new series. Of course, I'm also interesting in seeing what Amell brings to the role.

Speaking of legacy, there is one piece of Baywatch that certainly needs to be included, and I'm referring to the red swimsuits. It’s hard to imagine watching the series and seeing the characters running on the beach wearing swim gear that isn't red. Even Carmen Electra recently donned the famous red swimsuit after expressing interest in appearing in the new series.

It’s hard to recreate the essence of an IP like Baywatch, and the poorly reviewed 2017 film lends credibility to that notion. So it wouldn’t be surprising if the creative team were to try adding some fresh elements. Despite all that, though, you have to have the presence of red swimsuits is essential in my eyes, and I could certainly picture Amell rocking one.

I’m still curious to see how the Baywatch reboot progresses but, with Stephen Amell on board, I can definitely say the show now has a tried-and-true lead actor. He’s no stranger to taking on projects that are already-established and loved by fans, whether it’s an adaptation, reboot, etc. So this show is right up Amell's alley, and I couldn’t be more excited about it (as long as he’s wearing that red swimsuit, that is).

Hopefully, more updates regarding Baywatch casting will arrive sooner rather than later. In the meantime, check out the OG series and the 2017 movie, which can be streamed with a Prime Video subscription.

From 2012 to 2020, followed by a guest appearance in The Flash’s final season three years later, Stephen Amell played the Arrowverse’s Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow, and it remains his most well-known role. The main Arrowverse continuity came to an end in 2023, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll never see Amell portray DC Comics’ Emerald Archer again. The actor sounds game to reprise him in the DC Universe franchise that launched almost exactly a year ago.

Stephen Amell let this be known while taking part in the Arrowverse Heroes panel at Motor City Comic Con, which was moderated by ScreenRant’s Joe Deckelmeier. He was on stage with fellow Arrow alum David Ramsey, who played John Diggle, and the two of them were asked if they’d want to play those same roles in the DCU or play new characters if the opportunity came along. Amell first said he would be “down to do anything that makes the fans happy,” then continued:

The DCU has already set precedence with keeping certain actors attached to their same DC roles. Peacemaker Season 2 is set in this new franchise, but John Cena, Jennifer Holland and others continue to play the same characters from The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker Season 1, which were set in the now-defunct DCEU. As an example of another franchise, Judi Dench first played M in the Pierce Brosnan James Bond movies, then played a different version of that character in Daniel Craig’s film series.

So it’s not an impossible scenario where Stephen Amell could don the Green Arrow suit again for the DCU. He’s not the only leading Arrowverse actor who’d be interested in doing something like this, as Grant Gustin that he would want to reprise The Flash if James Gunn approached him to star in an upcoming DC movie. The thing to remember, however, is that if Amell and Gustin were play their respecting DC heroes again, these almost certainly wouldn’t be the exact same versions of those characters we followed along with in the Arrowverse.

Sure, the multiverse would technically allow for those familiar versions of Green Arrow and Flash to continue on. However, in Amell’s case, Oliver Queen died in the Arrow’s final season and became The Spectre. You’d have to jump through a lot of hoops to bring him back without those godlike powers.

While it’s good to know that Stephen Amell is enthusiastic about playing Green Arrow again and remaining connected to that fanbase, there’s no indication the character will be introduced to the DCU anytime soon. Instead, next up for the franchise is Supergirl’s release in theaters on June 26, 2026, followed by Clayface on September 11 of the same year, and Lanterns premiering on HBO sometime between them. You can revisit Amell’s run as Oliver Queen by streaming Arrow with your Netflix subscription.

When the original Suits began in 2011, the biggest source of drama was Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Specter hiring Patrick J. Adams’ Mike Ross, who not only never went to Harvard, but also didn’t even have a law degree. Suits LA opted to go in a much different direction with its opening salvo of drama

The pilot that aired a little over a month ago on the 2025 TV schedule saw Josh McDermitt’s Stuart Lane backstabbing his partner, Stephen Amell’s Ted Black. While it was great to hear McDermitt open up about this twist in my recent interview with him, I was even more hooked by him recalling what it was like to act out Amell punching him in the face a few episodes later.

How Josh McDermitt Reacted When Learning About The Suits LA Premiere’s Twist

For those who need a refresher and don’t have the time to stream the first Suits LA episode with their Peacock subscription, it was shown that Stuart and Ted were moving forward with a deal to merge their law firm with the one run by Ted’s ex-girlfriend, Samantha. However, upset by how Ted had treated him during the negotiations, Stuart had secretly arranged for himself and other employees at the Black Lane firm to just go straight to Samantha’s firm, leaving Ted hanging out to dry. McDermitt explained how he reacted to reading this for the first time as follows:

Stuart Lane wasn’t the only main character on Suits LA who’d grown tired of Ted Black’s behavior, as Bryan Greenberg’s Rick Dodson accompanied Stuart to the other firm. Conversely, Lex Scott Davis’ Erica Rollins decided to stay with Ted and become the Head of Entertainment for what is now Black & Associates. But while Stuart had a legitimate reason for distancing himself from Ted, even if the execution left something to be desired, this twist posted a peculiar problem when it came time for McDermitt to do press for Suits LA. He continued:

The Suits LA promos certainly did a good job hiding that it would be following along with people at two law firms, not just one. So while Josh McDermitt had to take extra care not to accidentally spoil this while speaking to the press, he also got a kick out of the reactions to this twist that came so long after he shot the pilot. As he put it:

So that covers the bases on Suits LA’s premiere, titled “Seven Days a Week and Twice on Sunday.”Then along came “You’re on Your Own,” which saw the tension between Stuart and Ted get so heated that the latter punched the former.

What It Was Like For Josh McDermitt To Be Punched In The Face By Stephen Amell

The punch was thrown when Ted showed up at Stuart’s office to accuse Stuart of leaking the transcripts of Valerie Thompson’s divorce proceedings from Lester, who was on trial for murder, to the press, as Stuart was handling the divorce. He denied this, and their argument escalated to the point of fisticuffs, as Stuart then charged at Ted and punched him in the ribs after he was struck on the face. Here’s what Josh McDermitt told me when I asked him what it was like to be punched by Amell:

McDermitt’s mention of Stephen Amell having more stunt experience of course refers to his time playing Oliver Queen on Arrow. But like he also mentioned, he wasn’t lacking in action-related scenes when he was playing Eugene on The Walking Dead. Regardless, it was nice to learn these two had an easy time acting the scene out, with McDermitt adding:

Although Stuart and Ted are on better terms following the conclusion of the Lester Thompson trial, Josh McDermitt mentioned later in the interview he doesn’t think things are “completely resolved” between the characters. Rather, the “seeds of reconciliation” have planted, and there at least isn’t as much “nastiness” between them anymore. Does this mean another physical altercation will follow? I have no idea, but you can follow along with the latter half of Suits LA Season 1 Sundays at 9 pm ET.

After Suits’ record-breaking resurgence on Netflix in 2023, spinoff Suits LA has finally been airing on the 2025 TV schedule. Centering on a new crop of lawyers at an entertainment law firm in the City of Angels, the series expands the beloved franchise and stars Stephen Amell as Ted Black. Although I miss his beard since he’s been filming with a clean-shaven face, the show has had a fun start. And what makes it more fun is the NSFW comment that Amell’s daughter has been humorously helping him with.

Amell initially shared a first look at Suits LA over the summer after the project was ordered to series. However, before the show really started rolling, the Arrow alum admitted to People that he had his then 10-year-old daughter Maverick read lines with him from the pilot for the audition. And there was one line that was particularly NSFW:

To be fair, Amell would have had to know what he was getting his daughter into. Even with the show on NBC, there would have to be at least some NSFW jokes, but at least that one was pretty tame. At the very least, Amell wasn’t too horrified that his daughter heard that line because now, fast forward several months, and the actor says that she just cannot get enough of it, and I can’t say I blame her:

It’s really funny to know just how much that little line has affected Amell’s daughter, and even after all this time, it’s still as hilarious as ever to her. What makes it even better is the fact that she doesn’t even really know what it means, and yet it’s the funniest thing ever. It does make me wonder just how many times Maverick has helped her dad with auditions or just random line readings and if any other NSFW lines have stuck out to her. But this one certainly seems to have taken the cake.

As for the actual pilot that eventually aired on NBC, the Suits LA premiere brought in some interesting reactions from fans, with many saying that the show crammed in too many major storylines at once, not really giving the characters a starting point. It is still early, so it’s possible that things will start to slow down and give viewers the chance to catch up, but going back and forth between 2010 and the present may not be the greatest idea. At least for now.

With new episodes of Suits LA airing on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET and streaming the next day with a Peacock subscription, perhaps one of these days, Maverick Amell will be able to guest star instead of merely helping her dad with lines. Her mom, Cassandra Jean Amell, guest-starred on Arrow back in the day, so why not?

After Suits’ record-breaking resurgence on Netflix, the series is making another comeback with its upcoming spinoff Suits L.A., premiering soon on the 2025 TV schedule. The series will take things to the West Coast, this time at an entertainment law firm in Los Angeles led by Stephen Amell’s Ted Black. Although the show is different from its parent series, with new characters and new storylines, there are still plenty of fans online who think the two are pretty similar by just seeing the promos, and Amell is addressing the commentary.

Suits L.A. doesn’t premiere until this Sunday on NBC, so all that fans have gotten to know about the show is from descriptions, promos, and brief sneak peeks. But it’s enough that they’ve been comparing the new drama to USA Network’s legal series. While speaking with The Los Angeles Times, Amell discussed what fans have been saying and their opinions on the new show, saying that people should wait until it actually airs to say something:

It’s not unusual for people to have opinions and make assumptions for shows and movies before they premiere. And when it comes to Suits L.A., they already have something to compare it to, and even though they really only have promos, it unfortunately has been enough to go off of.

From Stephen Amell's description, though, the promos are only just the beginning, and fans will want to tune in to see just how different Suits L.A. is. Of course, there will probably be some similarities, but it will be exciting to see how the spinoff is its own show. And creator Aaron Korsh can vouch for both shows, saying,

It’s hard to come up with an opinion for a show that hasn’t even premiered yet, and since both Stephen Amell and Aaron Korsh are praising Suits L.A. for how different it is, I'm left thinking it must be true. These characters are completely new, played by new actors at a different law firm on the other side of the country. Even though fans will probably still point out some similarities at first, it might just take a bit for Suits L.A. to really come into its own.

That being said, there will be one striking similarity at one point in the first season of Suits L.A. and that will be Harvey Specter. Gabriel Macht will be returning to portray the powerful attorney for multiple episodes, and he reportedly has a previous history with Amell’s Ted Black. Not too much has been revealed about his upcoming appearance, but it will be exciting to see him return.

People may just want to wait until Suits L.A. premieres on Sunday, February 23 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC before giving their opinions. But it should be interesting to see how it compares to Suits, which people can watch with a Netflix subscription and Peacock subscription to prepare themselves.

Stephen Amell will soon be back on our small screens, as he’s starring as Ted Black in Suits L.A., the Suits spinoff that’s a little more than a week away from its premiere on the 2025 TV schedule. However, it’s still safe to say that most people know Amell best from his time playing Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow, in Arrow and various other Arrowverse series. Arrow brought Amell to prominence, and while he’s grateful for the DC TV shows, he also explained why working on those first few seasons were challenging for him.

In an interview with Variety, Stephen Amell said he felt like he’d been “shot out of a cannon” at the time he was cast as Oliver Queen and began working on Arrow. But looking back, he didn’t enjoy working on the TV show 10 months out of the year, and he described the stress he experienced on the first several years on this integral CW series thusly:

The TV landscape was a lot different when Arrow started airing on The CW. The show’s first six seasons consisted of 23 episodes yet, and Season 7 was just one shorter, while the final season only had 10 episodes. This is the way things work in broadcast TV usually, but these days, the majority of superhero TV shows are either going direct to streaming or airing on one of the cable channels, so there aren’t nearly as many episodes being ordered per season. Basically, if Arrow were to go into production now, chances are it’d only have 8-10 episodes a season and either air on HBO first or go straight to the people who have a Max subscription.

Acting for a 23-episode TV season year after year would be challenging for any actor, but Arrow was also action-heavy, requiring Stephen Amell to perform in these intensive sequences while wearing that tight costume and shooting arrows. I don’t blame him for feeling overwhelmed so early into making Season 1, and while I wouldn’t condone being disrespectful to anyone on set, I probably would also have a short fuse at times. With those long hours and all that was being physically and mentally asked of me, it would quickly become draining.

Following Arrow concluding in 2020, Amell reprised Oliver Queen one last time for an episode of The Flash’s final season. Now he’s back on network TV for Suits L.A., which premieres Sunday, February 23 on NBC, with episodes becoming available to stream with a Peacock subscription afterwards. While the spinoff was surely challenging in different ways, at least it’s not nearly as physically demanding of him and there are less episodes to do in the season. If you’re interested in revisiting his work on Arrow, it can be streamed with a Netflix subscription.

With the 2024 TV schedule winding down, it’s time to look ahead to the 2025 TV schedule, which includes the brand new Suits series. It was announced last year that creator Aaron Korsh was developing a new series in the same universe of the USA Network legal drama after it saw a massive resurgence on Netflix. The upcoming Suits: L.A. spinoff starring Stephen Amell was officially ordered by NBC earlier this year. The Arrow alum kicked off filming with a clean-shaven face, and I'm honestly missing his beard.

Amell took to his Instagram this week to share that Day 1 of Suits: L.A. commenced, and it's hard to take notice of the star's look. Since he hadn't filmed anything in recent months, he’d been growing out his facial hair, as one sometimes does during hiatus. While I hoped that he would be able to keep his look for the new Suits series, his video confirms otherwise. as the actor's face was fresh. Check out the post to see how his character, Ted Black, will look:

For clarity, this isn't the first time the Heels alum has had to shave his beard or mustache this year, since he had to have cleanshaven look for the pilot of Suits: L.A. Yet he managed to grow at least some of his facial hair back afterward. It was expected that he’d have to shave again but, now that he’s actually done it, it’s making me miss the beard.

I suppose that, if anything, any fan like myself who's pining for Stephen Amell's whiskers should just be happy that filming on his new show is finally underway. Plus, he's been sharing some sweet BTS tidbits for fans on social media:

A first look at Suits: L.A. was released over the summer, with Stephen Amell appearing as Ted Black, a former New York federal prosecutor. In the series, Ted “has reinvented himself, representing the most powerful clients in Los Angeles. His firm is at a crisis point, and to survive, he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career.” It sounds like Black's journey could be quite eventful not unlike that of Harvey Specter from the OG show.

The upcoming spinoff isn’t the only series that Stephen Amell is working on either. It was reported in October that he was cast in the upcoming crime drama Underbelly, which is set in the 1000 Islands region. The six-part series will premiere on Canada’s streaming service Crave, and Amell also serves as an executive producer. It seems like he is staying busy ever and, amid that, I hope Amell's beard is grown out again sometime in the future.

As for Suits: L.A., a premiere date has not been announced but, with filming starting now, one would hope that it'll arrive during the early part of the new year. Let's hope that it's worth the wait.

The idea of having roommates has never been more fun thanks to FOX’s comedy series, New Girl. Even though it’s been over and done with for years, it remains one of the most rewatchable TV shows ever. Aside from hitting play on the hilarious sitcom for all the great bits in the loft, it’s also a blast for all the major actors who guest-starred over the years. While there are way too many for this list to hold, we’ve compiled some of the biggest names that appeared on the show.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis guest starred as the mother of Zooey Deschanel’s Jess Day in the Season 2 episode, “Parents.” Curtis was a great pick to match the quirky spirit of the sitcom’s leading character, and she returned to the series five more times after her initial debut on the series in Season 2.

Taylor Swift

When one thinks of Taylor Swift, sure, “actor” isn’t the first title that comes to mind, but over the years the phenomenon of a singer/songwriter has racked up numerous acting credits in projects like The Lorax, Cats and Amsterdam along. Oh, and what about all those epic Taylor Swift music videos? Anyways, Swift made an appearance in the Season 2 finale of New Girl when Cece is getting married to Shivrang. At the altar, the groom calls off the wedding to say that he wants to marry Swift’s character of Elaine instead.

Prince

One of the most memorable moments in New Girl has to be when the cast is invited to go to a party at Prince’s house… and they actually meet Prince. The Season 3 episode came about thanks to the iconic artist expressing interest in appearing in the show as a fan of the comedy. There’s nothing like that scene when Nick and Jess have a freakout when he appears.

Tiffany Haddish

Girls Trip actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish had a small role in the Season 3 episode “Exes” as a date of Damen Wayans Jr’s Coach. She is part of the plotline of Schmidt deciding to get his own apartment and encouraging Winston and Coach to use the place whenever they like for their hookups. In the scene, all three of them have used it at once and it freaks out Haddish’s character of Leslie.

Rob Reiner

All In The Family’s Rob Reiner returned to the sitcom fold as Jess Day’s dad, Bob, in multiple episodes of New Girl. The beloved actor (and director of classics like The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, This Is Spinal Tap and Stand By Me) was in eleven total episodes of the series, appearing in almost every season of the show.

Lisa Bonet

The Cosby Show’s Lisa Bonet guest starred in the Season 4 episode “Teachers” as an education guru named Brenda Brown. Jess and Coach meet the character while attending together. She calls Coach out for his attitude during the presentation that causes him to stop being Jess’s “buffer” while she tries to ignore her feelings for a British teacher she’s crushing on at her school.

Kaitlin Olson

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s Kaitlin Olson (who is back for Season 17 of the comedy) guest starred in New Girl for two episodes in Season 4. She plays Bob Day’s much younger fiancée, who happened to be the high school rival of Jess and Cece back in the day.

Josh Gad

The Book of Mormon and Frozen’s beloved snowman voice actor Josh Gad guest starred in three separate episodes of New Girl (in Season 2, 3 and 4) as a delivery man named Bearclaw who falls head over heels with Jess. He first appears in the episode “Katie” as a blind date gone wrong before also being in “Birthday” and “Walk of Shame.”

Dermot Mulroney

My Best Friend’s Wedding actor Dermot Mulroney is “Fancyman” in New Girl. The actor appeared as a guest star in eight episodes of the show throughout its run after becoming a favorite in Season 1. In the two part episode “Fancyman,” he is introduced as the wealthy father of one of Jess’s students who she strikes up a romance with.

Olivia Rodrigo

Yes, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series actress turned massive pop star Olivia Rodrigo was on New Girl, but it was before reaching mega-stardom. In the Season 6 episode “Young Adult,” Rodrigo plays one of the students in Jess’s school who becomes a huge fan of Nick Miller’s novel The Pepperwood Chronicles. In an effort for her students (including Rodrigo’s character of Terrinea) to like her better, Jess sets up a meeting between a few of the students and Nick.

Megan Fox

In Season 5 of New Girl, Zooey Deschanel was pregnant in real life and since that was not in the cards yet for Jess Day, the decision was made to have her character leave for a while on Jury Duty while Deschanel went on maternity leave. The creators decided to bring in Megan Fox’s Reagan to take Jess’s place and she ended up being part of 15 episodes of the series. Fox is of course also known for being in the Transformers movies, Jennifer’s Body and the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

Alan Ritchson

Before Alan Ritchson starred in one of the best Amazon Prime shows, Reacher, the actor had a memorable guest spot on New Girl in the episode “Micro”. In the Season 4 episode, Ritchson used his comedic chops as a guy Jess is seeing who she struggles with getting past the fact that Ritchson’s Matt has a micro penis.

Henry Winkler

Happy Days and Barry actor Henry Winkler appeared in New Girl (alongside the incredible Julie Hagerty and Taran Killam) in the Season 5 episode “What About Fred.” In the episode, Jess is dating a guy named Fred (Killam), who she finds very boring, but falls for spending time with his charismatic parents Winkler and Hagerty’s Flip and Nancy.

Parker Posey

Parker Posey, aka the “Queen of the Indies,” especially during the best movies of the 1990s, had a great guest appearance in New Girl during the Season 2 episode “Re-Launch.” Schmidt is having a re-branding party for himself and Posey plays a dishevelled shot girl who was not as advertised.

John Cho

Star Trek’s John Cho appeared on New Girl for the Season 5 episode “Jury Duty.” Jess tries to get out of getting on a case for a chance to be acting principal. She asks her friends to help, but fails miserably in front of Cho’s character, who ends up being the man questioning her for the case after they initially have a flirty meet-cute.

Adam Brody

The OC and Nobody Wants This’s Adam Brody was one of Jess’s ex-boyfriend’s, Berkley, in the Season 3 episode, “Exes.” In the episode, Jess tries to prove to Nick that exes can still be friends by introducing him to Berkley, but she’s proved wrong when she finds out his true intentions.

Quinta Brunson

Before Quinta Brunson was the Emmy-winning creator and star of the hit ABC comedy, Abbott Elementary, she had a brief role in New Girl, in the Season 7 episode “Mario.” When Nick is trying to propose to Jess, she unexpectedly adopts a dog, throwing off his plans. Brunson plays a restaurant host that Nick speaks to on the phone as the plans shift.

Stephen Amell

Arrow star Stephen Amell, who played the Green Arrow for eight seasons on The CW, was on New Girl for a couple of episodes in Season 1. He played Cece’s jerk boyfriend Kyle in “The 23rd” and “Valentine’s Day.” Cece ends things with Kyle in the latter episode after realizing she has feelings for Schmidt.

Jessica Biel

7th Heaven and The Sinner actress Jessica Biel stopped by New Girl for the Season 4 premiere “The Last Wedding.” When the gang goes to yet another wedding, Biel plays a single woman who ends up competing with Jess to earn the affection of its best man (played by Reid Scott).

Justin Long

Justin Long had a memorable guest star arc on the first season of New Girl. He plays Paul Genzlinger, a music teacher co-worker of Jess’s whom she starts dating in time for the show’s first Thanksgiving episode. Paul is often thought of as a male version of Jess. After the couple date for about a month and breakup, Long made a re-appearance in Season 4’s “Walk Of Shame.”

Linda Cardellini

New Girl fans got to meet Jess’s sister, Abby Day, in Season 3 through Linda Cardellini’s three-episode arc. The Dead To Me actress plays Jess’s troublemaker older sibling, who is just about completely opposite to the sitcom’s leading actress. Jess is constantly embarrassed by Abby’s behavior when she comes to stay in the loft after Jess saves her from prison.

Alexandra Daddario

Baywatch and The White Lotus’ Alexandra Daddario played one of the neighbors to the New Girl gang in two episodes of the series. Daddario’s Michelle is deemed as one of the “hot” new neighbors that Schmidt, Winston, Coach scramble to impress after their first meeting left something to be desired. Daddario appears in Season 3’s “Mars Landing” and Season 4’s “Goldmine.”

Andy Samberg

For quite a few years, New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine were both big comedies airing on FOX at the same time. So in Season 6, the networks decided to crossover the comedies with a special New York episode for New Girl. While the friends are in the Big Apple, Jess gets some help from Andy Samberg’s Jake Peralta and the other cast. (The cast of New Girl was also on an episode of B99 called “The Night Shift” that aired the same week in 2016).

Peter Gallagher

The OC’s Peter Gallagher was in multiple episodes of New Girl as Schmidt’s father, Gavin. The vineyard owner first appears in the Season 5 episode “D-Day” when Jess is assisting Schmidt with wedding preparations. Gallagher, who has also been in famous movies like American Beauty and While You Were Sleeping, was a great fit to play Schmidt’s absentee dad.

Randall Park

Before Randall Park became the star of Fresh Off The Boat, Always Be My Maybe and WandaVision, he was briefly in a Season 1 episode of New Girl as an employee at a phone company (with frosted tips), who makes fun of Nick for his crazy low credit score.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne is a famous TV actress for her roles in Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll and Poker Face. Prior to those roles, she had a small role in New Girl’s third episode ever, “Wedding.” She played Gretchen Nelson, an acquaintance of Schmidt, who he ends up sleeping with at every wedding they both attend even though he claims he cannot stand her.

Dylan O'Brien

Teen Wolf star Dylan O’Brien plays the guy Jess Day lost her virginity to on the night of her prom back when she was in high school. In the episode “Virgins” from Season 2, Jess runs into him many years after their first meeting, but what could have been a sexual fantasy turns into an embarrassing moment for the two of them.

Brenda Song

The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody actress Brenda Song was in a few episodes in Season 2 (and one in Season 3) as Daisy, a love interest for Winston. It’s a short-lived romance for Winston, but Song is a guest star in what we consider to be No. 1 of the best New Girl episodes, “Cooler.”

Joey King

Before Joey King was the star of Netflix’s The Kissing Booth movies or the numerous 2024 movies she’s been in like A Family Affair, Uglies and Despicable Me 4, she was a popular child actor who was in Ramona & Beezus with Selena Gomez or the Taylor Swift music video “Mean.” She was also in a Season 1 episode of New Girl called “Bully” as one of Jess’s students.

Carla Gugino

Carla Gugino, known for the Spy Kids movies and being in multiple Mike Flanagan horror projects was in three 2012 episodes of New Girl as Schmidt’s new boss, Emma. In the first episode Gugino stars in “Menzies,” Schmidt gets into a sexual contract with her that doesn’t go as planned.

Nick Kroll

The very funny Nick Kroll is known for starring in The League, along with creating the Kroll Show and Netflix’s Big Mouth. In Season 2’s “Chicago,” where the gang goes to Nick’s hometown for his father’s funeral, Kroll plays one of Nick Miller’s brothers, alongside Bill Burr! You can tell Kroll and Burr had tons of fun with the Chicago accent bringing some levity to a rather emotional New Girl episode.

Fred Armisen

Saturday Night Live favorite (who was behind some of SNL's funniest recurring characters) and Portlandia lead Fred Armisen had a brief role in New Girl for the season five episode “No Girl.” While Jess is at jury duty, the gang rent out her room to random people, and Armisen plays a guy named Brandon. His short time there made a huge impression because of how funny he is with the guys. Remember when he read Schmidt his romance writing or dressed up like Jess at one point?

As someone who watched Suits when it originally ran on USA Network from 2011 to 2019, I was delighted to see how successful the legal drama was on Netflix in 2023. In fact, the series got so much attention that NBC greenlit the spinoff Suits L.A., which will star Arrow’s Stephen Amell as lead character Ted Black and is expected to premiere on the 2025 TV schedule. While I’m certainly looking forward to another corner of the Suits universe being opened up, Amell has revealed he has another TV show on the way, and frankly, I’m might be more excited about this small screen offering.

Taking to his Instagram account, Amell shared a screenshot of a Deadline article reporting that he’ll be teaming up with Minnie Driver and Hamza Haq for a crime series called Underbelly, which included a first look at Amell’s character, Officer Henry Roland. The six-part series, which will be housed on the Canadian streaming service Crave, hails from Shaftesbury, the production company behind shows like Murdoch Mysteries and Hudson & Rex. Amell, who’s also one of Underbelly’s executive producers, previously worked with Shaftesbury years before he became known around the world for playing Oliver Queen in the Arrowverse, which he highlighted in his post’s caption:

ReGenesis is the show Stephen Amell is alluding to, as he appeared in two episodes as a character named Craig Riddlemeyer. Now the time has come for him to lead his own Shaftesbury-produced series, and he’s clearly jazzed that it will be released soon, although this is one of those shows you shouldn’t have children watch. Fifth Season is co-financing and distributing Underbelly, and the series is being presented to international buyers at MIPCOM, so hopefully we’ll learn soon which streaming service it will end up on in the United States.

Created by Saving Hope’s Graeme Stewart, Underbelly takes place in the 1000 Islands region, where there’s a river that forms a border between Canada and the United States. Amell’s Henry Roland discovers evidence linking a case of missing illegal substances to Hamza Haq’s Tommy Hawley, Henry’s childhood best friend. As he carries out his mission to save Tommy and find the substances, Henry will run afoul of a British crime family led by Minnie Driver’s Mary Ferguson. Other cast members include Reservation Dogs’ Tamara Podemski, Van Helsing’s Christopher Heyerdahl, Katia Edith Wood, Jeremy Watson and Diego Klattenhoff.

Like I said earlier, I’m eager to watch Suits L.A., but as someone who watches the occasional crime series, Underbelly sounds like it’ll be a gripping watch. Plus, it sounds like this is a limited series rather than ongoing, so six episodes isn’t much of a time commitment. Now I’ll just wait to see where Underbelly ends up once it’s stateside and if I’m subscribed to its streaming home.

Though Stephen Amell doesn’t have any upcoming DC TV shows on his docket — he’s set to star in the NBC spinoff Suits: L.A. — he’ll likely never stop going to bat for Green Arrow, having portrayed the Emerald Archer for eight seasons, providing a cornerstone to The CW’s Arrowverse. And as DC fans await John Cena’s pumped-up return in Peacemaker Season 2, Amell reflected on how James Gunn’s show and others would rather crap on the Arrowverse than honor it.

The Peacemaker Joke

To quickly catch anyone up who isn't already aware, Peacemaker featured a variety of DC character easter eggs in Season 1, with some coming across as more needlessly salacious than others. The streaming action-comedy waited until the finale to go for Oliver Queen’s throat (or another contracting orifice) with this My Little Pony-centric barb:

It was a joke that certainly wouldn’t have flown very far on The CW, which skewed far more family-friendly with its Arrowverse humor, despite going fairly dark with some of the shows’ plots. At the time, Stephen Amell brushed it off, saying he hadn’t watched because he was too busy outclassing John Cena in the wrestling ring, which was…a bit of an exaggeration. But it clearly did get to him at some point.

Stephen Amell's Latest Comments

Stephen Amell popped by the podcast Insight with Chris Van Vilet to talk about Heels hitting Netflix, which has fans optimistic that the streaming service will order up Season 3, as well as his ongoing relationship with the WWE and various pro wrestling superstars. At one point, the host brought up the disparaging Green Arrow comments made in Peacemaker, and the Canadian actor smiled as he not only addressed the joke, but also the idea that the Arrowverse remains a punchline despite its continued popularity. As he put it:

While I’m sure there are plenty of Snyder Cut fanatics out there who would wag a disapproving finger at that assumption, it’s easy to see where he’s coming from. The Arrowverse kept DC fans invested in its conspiracies, time-travel mysteries, Speed Force shenanigans and billionaire vigilantes for nearly a decade without much controversy, pumping out tons of episodes on limited budgets compared to the funding granted to DC TV shows in the years since.

Not trying to come across as overtly pissed off, Stephen Amell did keep his smile going throughout that part of the conversation, and confirmed that this isn’t the kind of thing that still keeps him up at night, even if it may always get under his skin. In his words:

It all comes back to the old adage: if you don't have anything nice to say, go complain about Marvel. Wait, no, it's to not say anything at all. And Amell followed up his complaints by pointing out that he's got nothing but love and respect for John Cena, if not the dude that'll be leading the DCU for the foreseeable future.

I’ve met John a handful of times. There couldn’t be a nicer, more genuine person. If I should be mad at anyone, it should be James Gunn for writing that in the first place, but he could not be a nicer guy. He’s such a good guy. So it’s not a personal vendetta against him.

What superheroes will Peacemaker poke fun at (without any My Little Pony orifices referenced) in Season 2? Will Amell's Suits: L.A. debut feature any Green Arrow easter eggs? We'll have to wait and see.

For fans who need more superhero antics in their lives, all eight seasons of Arrow can be streamed now with a Netflix subscription, while Peacemaker’s first season is available via Max subscription, with Season 2 hitting the 2025 TV schedule at some point.

Following his eight-season run as Oliver Queen on The CW’s Arrow and his short-lived run playing Jack Spade in Heels, Stephen Amell will soon be back on the small screen, this time setting up shop on NBC. Earlier this year, he was cast to play Ted Black in Suits L.A., but had things turned out differently, we might have seen him playing Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the prequel NCIS: Origins instead. While his audition for that show premiering soon on the 2024 TV schedule didn’t end up working out, that missed opportunity and other stresses in Amell’s life ended up helping his Suits L.A. audition.

How Stephen Amell's NCIS: Origins Audition Went

During his latest visit to Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, Stephen Amell recalled to the title host how when both the NCIS: Origins and Suits L.A. auditions came his way this past January, a few months after the writers and actors strikes had ended. As such, he admitted that had Origins come along as an offer, he wouldn’t have necessarily done it, but he was “excited” by the prospect of auditioning for a network show during pilot season, which “doesn’t really happen that much anymore.” He continued:

Austin Stowell was ultimately cast as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in NCIS: Origins, which takes place a little over a decade before the flagship series began. Stephen Amell never learned what precisely led to his Origins arrangement falling through, but it left him frustrated. On top of that, he was also taken care of his two children “solo” while his wife was in Hawaii, and he also got a “shitty phone call” about a “personal business thing” that was also bothering him. So although he’d successfully ran lines for his Suits L.A. audition with his 11-year-old daughter the day before, he wasn’t in the best of moods shortly before it was time for him to try out to play Ted Black.

How Losing Out On NCIS: Origins And More Helped Him For Suits L.A.

In fact, Stephen Amell went on to say in the interview that the combination of all these stresses resulted in him having a “full fucking breakdown in the car” on the phone with his wife, which included him screaming. As he laid out:

Between taking that laid back approach and learning after the audition that he wasn’t testing against anyone else, clearly it all worked out for Amell in the end, as it was announced in February that he would be leading the Suits L.A. pilot. Then in mid-July, it was announced that the spinoff of USA Networks’ Suits was officially happening at NBC, and the first look at Amell as Ted Black was released. He’s joined in the main cast by Josh McDermitt, Lex Scott Davis and Bryan Greenberg. As with the original Suits, Aaron Korsh created the spinoff and is serving as showrunner.

It hasn’t been announced yet when Suits L.A. will arrive on NBC, but NCIS: Origins will begin its run on CBS Monday, October 14, airing immediately after the NCIS Season 22 premiere. Keep visiting CinemaBlend for more coverage on both these shows and other NBC, CBS and broadcast network offerings.

Heels arrived on Starz in 2021 as the first big TV gig for Stephen Amell following eight seasons of Arrow and for Alexander Ludwig after five seasons of Vikings. The show would ultimately only run for two seasons before being unceremoniously cancelled on a major cliffhanger in 2023, with uncertain fates for Jack and Ace after the elder Spade brother's serious injury. As it turns out, though, that Starz cancellation might not be the end of the road for Heels... if the stars have their way, anyway. Both actors recently shared almost exactly the same message with fans, and it's clear both are on board for a third season beyond the 2024 TV schedule.

The stars are active on the Heels front again with their show just weeks away from arriving on streaming for Netflix subscribers, and a big question is if the show could experience a surge of popularity like Suits did before it. Stephen Amell, who previously had a more cryptic message for fans hoping for Heels to be uncancelled, posted this on Instagram about the Netflix news:

Amell is on board to "make more" of the wrestling TV show, despite the fact that he is currently slated to star in NBC's Suits: LA series that received a straight-to-series order. While the earliest I can imagine the Suits spinoff being ready for premiere would be midseason 2025, Amell presumably will be busy with that gig for the foreseeable future.

Alexander Ludwig shared almost identical sentiments on his own Instagram page. He wrote:

Ludwig is also attached to a different project, although not an ongoing TV series like Amell. The Vikings alum was cast in the horror thriller Night Comes, which will be the feature film directing debut of former Magnum P.I. star Jay Hernandez. Still, he's clearly down to play Ace Spade again, given the chance.

But will there be a chance? It's certainly not unprecedented for a show or franchise to receive new life with a streaming boost. It happened in short order for NBC's Manifest on Netflix (and a spinoff could still happen), and Suits: LA likely wouldn't be in the works at all if the original series hadn't become such a hit both among Netflix subscribers and Peacock Premium subscribers. Netflix success for Heels could open doors for a third season.

As for the question of whether Suits: LA would be too time consuming for Amell to reprise his co-lead role as Jack Spade, showrunner Mike O'Malley (whose Extended Family was cancelled earlier this year) told this to EW:

Mike O'Malley seems to be banking on Suits: LA becoming a hit in that statement, although it is probably a safe bet that Amell will have more eyes on him on NBC than he did on The CW as the lead of Arrow or on Starz. Amell would also presumably be very busy if Heels is rescued and he's filming a wrestling drama while on hiatus from his legal drama, but it's clear that the drive is there.

For now, a lot undoubtedly depends on how many people are willing to stream Heels on Netflix. Both seasons will be available on the streamer starting on September 15; with only sixteen episodes of the whole series, a binge-watch at least wouldn't be as much of a time commitment as shows like Suits and Manifest were.

You can also find more of both Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig on Netflix, with all seasons of Arrow and of Vikings already available streaming.

With every television season that passes, we lose some great shows. While there have already been a number of beloved series which were canceled or set to end in 2024, fans can rejoice about a great cable show finally joining one of the best streaming services when it comes to those with a Netflix subscription. And, I’m really hoping it eventually gets the Suits treatment.

What Great Cable Show Is Finally Coming To Netflix?

There’s no reason to keep you in suspense any longer, as former Starz series Heels (which was canceled in 2023 after its second season finale), starring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig, will be heading to Netflix, with both critically lauded seasons hitting the streamer on September 15, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The drama focused on Amell and Ludwig’s characters (Jack and Ace Spade, respectively), two professional wrestlers and brothers, who are struggling to keep their father’s small-town promotion afloat after he dies.

Even though the drama was centered around the frequently wild world of pro wrestling, many critics and those in the show’s small but dedicated fanbase loved that you didn’t need to be a diehard fan of the WWE or wrestling in general to enjoy the series. Heels’ major themes of right vs. wrong, good vs. evil (with both stars loving and excelling at playing the villain), familial, relationship and business strife were very easy for anyone to pick up on and become enthralled by.

That said, y’all…Heels is about pro wrestling! So, if you do happen to be a fan and like getting behind the scenes looks at how such a wild sport comes together, as well as some insight into what it’s probably like to work for a very small promotion that’s always attempting to up its game, this show is for you! As someone who only recently became a devotee of sports entertainment (i.e. professional wrestling) and has been binge watching WWE (and having some really weird thoughts about this crazy/lovely form of pro athletics), I’m definitely going to check this drama out, and I already want it to get the Suits treatment.

Why Should Heels Get The Suits Treatment From Netflix?

It’s been a little over a year since the popular legal drama Suits became one of the best shows to binge on Netflix, and did so by becoming a dominant streaming hit and reaching more people than it had when it was originally released on USA. That success led to talks of a revival, which in turn led to a new series called Suits: L.A. quickly being pitched and eventually picked up to series by NBC. Not only will that show debut on the 2024 TV schedule, but Heels star Stephen Amell leads the upcoming drama. If both shows end up being successful, we could get a lot more of the former Arrow star on TV!

There’s also one other, not so small, reason why I want the show to become popular on Netflix and be allowed to return for at least one more season: it ended on a cliffhanger. Showrunner/co-star Mike O’Malley previously told EW that he was looking for a way to bring the series back, and with its release on the streaming giant imminent he still thinks there’s hope, even with Amell now leading a new show. As O’Malley recently said:

I’m not giving up hope for a streaming revival of Amell’s last drama, so here’s hoping Netflix agrees and he can basically find a way to film two shows at the same time!

While it’s still unclear whether or not Netflix will tag with Jack Spade for a third season of the wrestling drama Heels, that drama’s star Stephen Amell is 100% heading back to network TV now that NBC confirmed its series order for the legal drama spinoff Suits: L.A. series order. The spinoff to USA’s hit legal drama (whose surge of streaming popularity on Netflix in 2023 sparked calls for a follow-up) unveiled its first look at Amell’s new character Ted Black, but the actor’s fans were positively green with Arrow references.

Having filmed the pilot over the spring in Vancouver, nearly 12 years after suiting up as Oliver Queen, Amell is no doubt pumped to get his latest TV show in front of audiences, even though it won’t be arriving before the 2024 premiere schedule concludes. But it’ll seemingly take some time before his fanbase fully transitions from Arrow-based reactions to Suits-adjacent comments. Check out his Instagram post below.

With a whole sunlit city seen through massive windows behind him, Stephen Amell’s Ted Black could feasibly be a superhero alter ego, but it’s not a super-suit he’s wearing for NBC’s newest legal dramedy. And he likely won’t be donning any masks, either, barring any COVID-related plotlines. But fans don’t need visual connections to remember what will possibly go down as Amell’s most celebrated role.

Easily the most popular reply to Amell’s pic is a spin on a classic Arrow quote from the CW/DC drama’s first season:

The Hood was addressing criminals and other evildoers with his ominous phrase, but it’ll be interesting to see which side of the moral line Ted Black falls to, and whether or not he’d be an aid to a local superhero or a hindrance. Not that Suits: L.A. or any other NBC shows will feature superheroes, but one can dream.

Now here’s a smattering of other Arrow-centric comments from Stephen Amell’s fans.

• Once Oliver Queen, always Oliver Queen:))) - @r7raha
• Excited to see this series. I confess, I still watch Arrow on Netflix every day. My daughter makes fun of me, but I don't care.👏 - @doeraeheart
• I thought this was a screenshot from when Oliver was Mayor 🤣🤣 - @mirroredbrandie
• Does he fight crime by night and wrestle on the weekends? - @dinny_cork
• If there's no slamon ladder scene I'm losing it - @ashwin.vardhan
• Billionaire playboy to a Corporate lawyer anyways I'm excited - @minor_muku
• Oh my god I thought this was Oliver Queen and my heart skipped a beat - @itsssnoemii
• Where is the beard, Stephen??? - @benneyendoni

And yes, there were certainly plenty of other comments with other forms of "You have failed this..." jokes, with no doubt plenty of others on the way once more pics and trailers are released. Heaven help us all if Ted Black happens to find archery to be a soothing pastime, or if he happens to enjoy wearing bad wigs.

Not that it was solely TV fans who chimed in on Amell's post. His wife Cassandra, Superman & Lois' Elizabeth Tulloch and an Arrow actor also shared their support, as seen below.

• Pretty hot. - @cassandrapants
• Congrats my friend 🙌🙌🙌 - @bitsietulloch
• First time ever on set I worked with this man. I was a Bratva gangster trying to kill him in the Russian fight club scene. Arrow season 7 episode : Prochnost - @joebergfilm

Suffice to say, Stephen Amell has a ton of support behind him going into his first season as Ted Black. And if NBC or Peacock happens to go into development on Suits: Central City with Grant Gustin in a title role, we'll all know what the deal is.

The former federal prosecutor that the actor is playing will be surrounded by other characters who are aiming to keep his firm afloat during a period of crisis. Those characters will be portrayed by the likes of Josh McDermitt, Lex Scott Davis, Alice Lee, Bryan Greenberg, and Troy Winbush.

Expect to find Suits: L.A. hitting NBC's schedule during midseason premieres, and be sure to catch up on the O.G. series streaming with a Netflix subscription.

Stephen Amell is returning to network primetime TV later in the 2024 TV schedule, but his new starring role won't be on The CW or involve dressing up as a superhero to fight crime like his eight seasons of Arrow. After he was cast in the pilot for the Suits spinoff that was developing back in February, NBC has ordered the project to series and revealed the official description. Now, as any Suits viewer can surely guess, this show definitely isn't going to be set in a world of bow-wielding comic book heroes and villains, but I got some unexpected Arrow and Oliver Queen vibes from the newest info.

NBC announced the series order for Suits: L.A. on July 19, listing Stephen Amell as the top-billed actor and confirming Josh McDermitt, Lex Scott Davis, Bryan Greenberg, and Troy Winbush as cast members. (McDermitt's casting was initially announced not long after Amell's was in February.) Original Suits creator Aaron Korsh remains on board the Los Angeles-set spinoff as creator and executive producer.

But none of those details are what had me flashing back to my days of covering Arrow up until it ended in 2020. NBC also released the official description of the series and what Amell's character will be motivated to do. Take a look:

Do I think that Ted Black's backstory in New York that led to him reinventing himself in L.A. will be anywhere near as grim and bloody as Oliver Queen's backstory that led to him reinventing himself as the vengeful Green Arrow? Of course not, and I foresee far less green leather in Stephen Amell's future in the world of a legal drama than as star of the show that launched the whole Arrowverse.

But as somebody who did cover Arrow back in its heyday, I did have to laugh when I read about Stephen Amell's new character reinventing himself and embracing a role he never would have in his former life. An ensemble of characters whose loyalties are tested with bleed beteween their personal and professional lives? Talk about Team Arrow vibes!

Even though there may not be a ton of overlap between former Arrowverse viewers and NBC legal drama fans, it would be fun to get an Easter egg or two. Stephen Amell seems to have fond memories of his time as the Green Arrow, as he reflected on shooting the Arrow pilot as he was traveling to Vancouver to shoot another pilot back in March, which was presumably Suits: L.A.

If he was referring to Suits: L.A. in that post, it's curious that it was filming in Vancouver when the show is quite obviously set in Los Angeles. It's not unusual for series to film in British Columbia, but while it was easy to pass Canada off for the fictional Star(ling) City in Arrow, Vancouver and L.A. aren't quite interchangeable. The original Suits – which was set in New York City – did film in Canada.

For now, it hasn't be confirmed that he was headed north to film Suits: L.A.'s pilot in that post, and we can only speculate. The odds do seem good that the Suits spinoff getting a series order means that any dreams of Heels coming back are likely dead. At the time of writing, NBC hasn't announced when exactly to expect the show, and it wasn't in the lineup when the network confirmed the premieres of its two remaining Law & Order shows or any of the rest of its series.

NBC's Instagram post about the series order did say that Suits: LA is "officially coming your way on nbc and streaming on [Peacock] this fall." As the wait begins for the new show, you can always rewatch the original Suits with a Peacock Premium subscription and/or Arrow with a Netflix subscription.

In 2012, Arrow premiered on The CW and kicked off a shared universe of DC Comics properties on television. The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Batwoman and Black Lightning followed, and for nearly a decade, this franchise delivered interconnected stories that channeled the same appeal that their comic book source material had been doing for decades. Many superheroes were featured in the Arrowverse, but we’re here to talk about 32 that had major roles in the franchise.

Before going further, there are some stipulations to point out. First, these characters need to have been established in the comics as superheroes before they were introduced in the Arrowverse, hence why characters like Nia Nal/Dreamer, Sara Lance/White Canary and John Diggle/Spartan aren’t on here. Second, these characters need to be chiefly known as heroes in the comics, which is why the likes of Captain Cold, Heat Wave and Killer Frost won’t be mentioned. Finally, we’re only covering the six live-action shows that made up the main Arrowverse continuity, both pre and post-“Crisis on Infinite Earths,” so don’t go looking for people from shows like Superman & Lois and Stargirl.

Green Arrow

Arrow starred Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, and while he initially went by The Hood and The Arrow, this version of Oliver finally started going by Green Arrow in Season 4. In addition to his eight seasons leading Arrow, Amell’s Oliver participated in all the biggest Arrowverse crossover events. He died in “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” but fans got to reunite with him in the Arrow series finale and The Flash episode “It's My Party and I'll Die If I Want To.”

The Flash

Oliver Queen may have ushered in the Arrowverse, but it wasn’t until Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen got struck by that bolt of lightning that this franchise started getting truly fantastical and fully embracing its superhero roots. Barry protected the citizens of Central City for nine seasons of The Flash, and he was also present for every big Arrowverse crossover event. This Barry also had the unique privilege of being the only Arrowverse hero to cross over with the DCEU, as he met Ezra Miller’s Flash in “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

Supergirl

Although Supergirl originally debuted on CBS, it was established to take part in the wider Arrowverse continuity when Barry Allen traveled to the Earth of Melissa Benoist’s Kara Danvers late in Season 1. Those ties only grew stronger once the show moved to The CW, and from there, Kara rounded out the Arrowverse’s main trinity of superheroes with Barry and Oliver Queen. At the end of “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” Kara’s Earth merged with the franchise’s main Earth, so Supergirl concluded its six-season run in the same world where the majority of her superhero cohorts now live.

Batwoman

Initially Batwoman starred Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, the same character who holds the mantle in the comics. However, following Rose’s exit post-Season 1, Ryan Wilder (seen above) was created to take over as the vigilante, with Javicia Leslie being cast to play her. Batwoman only lasted three seasons, but both Kate (later played by Wallis Day) and Ryan still stood out as important heroes before, during and after that time, with the former appearing in both the “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths crossovers,” and the latter both reprising her role on The Flash and playing an evil speedster version of Ryan called Red Death early in Season 9.

Black Lightning

When Black Lightning came along, there was absolutely nothing connecting it to the Arrowverse. Jefferson Pierce’s return to superheroing unfolded in its own corner of the multiverse, but then “Crisis on Infinite Earths” came along and merged his Earth with the main Arrowverse Earth and Supergirl’s. Cress Williams would later reprise Jefferson for an episode of The Flash Season 8, but it was across Black Lightning’s four-season run where he shined best, with no one but the allies in his immediate circle on hand to help him out.

Black Canary

Five individuals held the Black Canary mantle in the Arrowverse: Sara Lance, the Laurel Lance from Earth-1, Evelyn Sharp, Dinah Drake (seen above), and the Laurel Lance from Earth-2. Of those five, the two Laurels and Dinah were able to unleash a sonic scream on their enemies, although Earth-1’s Laurel’s came from a device rather than as a metahuman ability like the other two. There had been plans for Katie Cassidy and Juliana Harkavy to continue respectively playing Earth-2 Laurel and Dinah alongside Katherine McNamara’s Mia Smoak in a Green Arrow & The Canaries spinoff, but it was never picked up.

The Atom

Brandon Routh’s Ray Palmer debuted at the beginning of Arrow Season 3, where he would unveil his A.T.O.M. exosuit. After initially having been presumed dead by the end of the season, Ray resurfaced in Season 4 having been revealed to be shrunken to the size of an atom, and he was able to incorporate shrinking into his exosuit. From there, he became one of the founding Legends of Tomorrow and stuck around on that show as a series regular until midway through Season 5.

Arsenal

By Arrow Season 3, Colton Haynes’ Roy Harper, who’d already appeared in the first two seasons, had taken up archery and joined Oliver Queen in fighting crime as Arsenal, though he was also called Red Arrow by the media. Although Roy had to leave Team Arrow that same season after he masqueraded as The Arrow and faked his death, he would still pop in and out of the show throughout the rest of Arrow’s run to help out his friends. He also followed in his comic book counterpart’s footsteps by gaining a cybernetic arm.

Speedy

The second Speedy in the comics was Mia Dearden, so it was only appropriate that Willa Holland's Thea Queen, who was a loose adaptation of the character, also received that name. When Roy left Star City, he left his Arsenal costume behind, and she made adjustments to it so she could wear it out in the field and join her brother Oliver as a bow-and-arrow-wielding superhero. Eventually she embarked on a personal crusade to battle the Thanatos Guild.

Vibe

Carlos Valdés’ Cisco Ramon was already a valued member of Team Flash at the beginning as its tech genius, but after he discovered he was a metahuman capable of manipulating dimensional energy, he became Vibe. Cisco took a metahuman cure in Season 5, but he continued to fight crime as Mecha-Vibe using a suit that provided him with some of his former powers until he left in Season 7 to join A.R.G.U.S.

Superman

I know, I said I wouldn’t include anybody from Superman & Lois on this list. However, in this case, I’m talking about the Superman from Earth-38/Earth-Prime. In other words, this is the Clark Kent who appeared on Supergirl and participated in “Elseworlds” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” We’d assumed he was also the one leading Superman & Lois until it was revealed that show is set on another Earth.

Martian Manhunter

Originally Supergirl viewers thought David Harewood was playing Hank Henshaw, the man who became Cyborg Superman in the comics. But early in Season 1, it was revealed that his character was actually J’onn J’onzz, a.k.a. Martian Manhunter, who assumed Henshaw’s identity to try and do good as the director of the Department of Extranormal Operations. Harewood would later play the sinister Henshaw for a few episodes, but it was J’onn who stuck around for all of Supergirl as one of Kara’s most important allies.

Elongated Man

Ralph Dibny gained his elastic powers from The Thinker’s machinations in The Flash Season 4, and after being stabilized, he joined Team Flash to help them fight crime as Elongated Man. Hartley Sawyer portrayed the character through to the end of Season 6, but after the actor was fired from the show, a stand-in performer was used for the Season 7 premiere. While healing from some major burns, Ralph decided to leave Team Flash to travel the world with Sue Dearbon and dismantle various criminal organizations.

Vixen

Although Mari McCabe, the Vixen from the comics, was played by Megalyn Echikunwoke in the Vixen and The Ray animated web series, as well as an episode of Arrow, it was the character’s grandmother, Amaya Jiwe (seen above), who got more attention in the Arroverse. An original character created for Legends of Tomorrow, Amaya, played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers, was active as Vixen during World War II as a Justice Society member, and after traveling through time with the Legends for a while, she returned to her original time period at the end of Season 3. Richardson-Sellers then stuck around a few more seasons as a shapeshifter named Charlie.

Firestorm

Just like in the comics, the Arrowverse’s original Firestorm duo consisted of Robbie Amell’s Ronnie Raymond and Victor Garber’s Martin Stein, with the two being recurring characters in The Flash Season 1. However, after Ronnie died in the Season 2 premiere, Stein merged a few episodes later with Franz Drameh’s Jefferson “Jax” Jackson (seen above), and the two went on to join the Legends of Tomorrow. That’s where they stayed until Stein died in the “Crisis on Earth X” crossover, prompting Jax to leave and resume his normal life.

John Constantine

Although NBC’s Constantine series only lasted one season, Matt Ryan was able to keep playing the trenchcoat-wearing sorcerer in multiple other ways, most notably in the Arrowverse. Following a guest appearance in Arrow Season 4, he returned two years later in Legends of Tomorrow, where he eventually became part of the team and hung around until the end of Season 6. Even then, Ryan remained on the series to play Gwyn Davies, the inventor of time travel.

Kid Flash

Depicted as Iris West’s long-lost brother rather than her nephew like in the comics, Keiynan Lonsdale’s Wally West was introduced midway through The Flash Season 2. After Season 3’s premiere showed him as the Kid Flash of the Flashpoint timeline, the main version of Wally gained super speed when Doctor Alchemy restored his powers from that other reality. Wally exited as a series regular at the beginning of The Flash Season 4, but would later make guest appearances in Seasons 6 and 9, as well as appearing in the latter half of Legends of Tomorrow Season 3.

Jay Garrick

After it was revealed that the Jay Garrick that viewers had been following along with in The Flash Season 2 was really the sinister Zoom, the real Jay was revealed at the end of that season to be a doppelgänger of Henry Allen from Earth-3. With John Wesley Shipp having played Barry Allen in The Flash TV show from 1990 (whom he also reprised in “Elseworlds and “Crisis on Infinite Earths”), it was only fitting that he also play this veteran speedster as well.

Thunder/Blackbird

If you’re making a show about Black Lightning, then it’s only appropriate that you include his superhero daughters too. The first of them was Nafessa Williams’ Anissa Pierce, a.k.a. Thunder, although there were also various instances where she went by the moniker Blackbird. Unlike her father and sister, Anissa didn’t generate and manipulate electricity, but rather was able to manipulate her density with her breathing, giving her super strength and durability.

Lightning

Like her superhero name clearly indicates, not only did Jennifer Pierce inherit the same kind of powers as her father, but she also had the added ability to generate electricity on her own rather than just manipulate it like Jefferson. China Anne McClain played Jennifer for the majority of Black Lightning’s run, but for a good chunk of Season 4, Laura Kariuki took over the role, though this was later revealed to be an ionosphere entity who stole her identity.

Mister Terrific

After being introduced in Arrow Season 4 as a Palmer Technologies employee who worked closely with Felicity Smoak, Echo Kellum’s Curtis Holt (rather than Michael Holt, like in the comics) officially joined Team Arrow at the beginning of Season 5, taking the identity Mr. Terrific, which had previously belonged to his favorite wrestler. Curtis stuck with the team until the end of Season 6, and from there he briefly worked for A.R.G.U.S., then took a job in Washington D.C.

Wild Dog

Instead of using Jack Wheeler from the comics, Arrow gave that superhero identity to the original character Rene Ramirez, played by Rick Gonzalez. Although frequently hotheaded, Rene was nonetheless another valued member of Team Arrow for many seasons, though there was a period where he, Curtis and Dinah formed their own group. Eventually, Rene retired from being Wild Dog and became mayor of Star City by the end of the show.

XS

While XS is indeed a character from the comics, The Flash’s version of her is a melding of her and Barry Allen’s daughter, who was known as Dawn in the comics. In this show, while it’s implied that’s what Jessica Parker Kennedy’s character used to be named too, changes to the timeline led to her being named Nora, after Barry’s mother. The original version of Kennedy’s Nora was erased from the timeline after Cicada’s dagger was destroyed, but fortunately, a new version of her came into being afterward.

Impulse

Rather than being Barry Allen’s grandson like in the comics, Jordan Fisher’s Bart Allen, a.k.a. Impulse, is depicted as Barry and Iris West’s son, i.e. Nora’s sister. Introduced towards the end of Season 7, and a speedster just like his father and Nora, Impulse shared a special connection with Jay Garrick and had already made an enemy out of Godspeed from his time period.

Guardian

In Supergirl, the Guardian mantle was held by the Olsen siblings rather than Jim Harper or Mal Duncan. James Olsen first started fighting crime as Guardian in Season 2, with Winn Schott making him his suit and shield. Then in Season 6, one season after Mehcad Brooks stopped playing James as a series regular, Azie Tesfai’s Kelly Olsen (seen above) took over as the new Guardian, although James did don his costume one last time in the series finale.

Citizen Steel

Nick Zano’s Nate Heywood joined Legends of Tomorrow at the beginning of Season 2, gaining the ability to transform his body into steel from an experimental serum. This power is more like Colossus’ from the X-Men than the Nate from the comics, but it was a welcome one to have until mustard gas eroded the steel in Season 7, which led to him retiring from the team. This version of Nate also simply went by Steel rather than Citizen Steel, not to be confused with the John Henry Irons Steel.

Mon-El

Hailing from Daxam, a planet populated by Kryptonian offshoots, Mon-El gained the same kind of superpowers as Supergirl when he landed on Earth. However, because he was a spoiled prince from the Daxamite monarchy, it took a while for him to start behaving like a hero. Mon-El and Kara fell in love, but while Chris Wood and Melissa Benoist married in real life, it wasn’t meant to be for the characters. Mon-El ended up traveling to the 31st century and joined the Legion of Super-Heroes.

Batwing

When Batwoman began, Luke Fox initially started out working behind the scenes to help Kate Kane out, having already been keeping Wayne Tower secure on Batman’s behalf. Then in Season 2, Campus Johnson’s character began his own superhero journey, one which culminated in him constructing a supersuit and becoming Batwing, just like in the comics.

Brainiac 5

Brainiac 5 was one of Mon-El’s teammates in the Legion of Super-Heroes, and together with Saturn Girl, they traveled back to the present day in Supergirl Season 3. By the end of that season, Winn Schott decided to travel to the future to stop an AI-killing virus, Jesse Rath’s Brainiac 5, a.k.a. Brainy, stayed in the present and became one of Supergirl’s most valued allies. He also formed a romantic relationship with Nia Nal.

Hawkgirl

Although both Hawkgirl and Harman appeared in Legends of Tomorrow Season 1 following their introductions in the “Heroes Join Forces Crossover,” Ciara Renée’s Kendra Saunders unquestionably had the bigger role. After her version of Carter Hall was killed by Vandal Savage, she joined the Legends to help try to defeat the villain across time. By the end of Season 1, Kendra and a later incarnation of Carter left after Vandal was finally killed for good.

Rip Hunter

Arthur Darvill’s Rip Hunter, one of DC Comics’ greatest time travelers, assembled the Legends of Tomorrow to help him stop Vandal Savage. Season 2 saw him bring brainwashed by the Legion of Doom, but fortunately, their programming was erased, and he then decided to leave the Legends after realizing he had nothing left to teach them. He then spent the next five years of his personal timeline forming the Time Bureau, but by the end of Season 3, Rip sacrificed his stop the demon Mallus.

Jesse Quick

Rather than being Jesse Chambers like in the comics, The Flash’s version of Jesse Quick was Jesse Wells, the daughter of Earth-2’s Harrison Wells. Violett Beane's character gained her super speed after being exposed to dark matter during an attempt to restore Barry Allen’s own speed. By Season 3, she began fighting crime on Earth-2, and occasionally on Earth-1, as Jesse Quick. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though Jesse was restored to life in the new multiverse created during “Crisis on Infinite Earths.”

While the Arrowverse is over, these 32 will be remembered as some of its most prominent superheroes, and there are plenty of others we could spend time talking about. They’re just among the many reasons why this franchise will continue being enjoyed for years to come.

Despite Starz's cancellation of Heels back in 2023, Stephen Amell had a lot to celebrate anyway in the new year thanks to his casting in the upcoming Suits spinoff pilot. More recently, however, the former wrestling series is rumored to return for a third season following the Season 2 finale cliffhanger as it is set to arrive on streaming, and now Amell has a response for fans.

Stephen Amell starred in both seasons of Heels on Starz and ended Season 2 with the reveal that his character was unable to move after a maneuver went wrong in the ring, suggesting a serious back or neck injury. When the finale aired, Starz had not yet announced a cancellation or renewal, but the show was axed in late September of 2023. Now, with Heels set to arrive on Netflix and potentially score a Season 3, Amell took to Instagram with a message:

While that doesn't mean that fans should start prepping their viewing parties for Heels Season 3, Amell's choice of words – "KICK OUT!!!" – do give reason to hope that the Starz cancellation only seemed to be the end for Jack, Ace, and the rest. Co-star and executive producer Mike O'Malley responded in the comment section with "'Imma gonna get you Jack Spade!!!'" and Amell referenced the Season 2 finale cliffhanger in his answer:

So, why exactly are there rumors that Heels could find a second life, when the show was cancelled more than six months ago and Stephen Amell returned to Vancouver for the Suits spinoff as his first major TV project following the wrestling series' end? THR reports that the show has been licensed to Netflix by Lionsgate Worldwide Television Distribution, giving the streamer non-exclusive rights to the series. This does not mean that Netflix has ordered a new season, but that is reportedly possible if Heels does well among Netflix subscribers.

At the time of writing, Heels has not yet arrived on Netflix, so it's impossible to say if it will receive the same explosive enthusiasm that Suits did back in 2023 or Brooklyn Nine-Nine earlier this year, with star Melissa Fumero even responding to the latter making Netflix's Top 10. It's also worth noting that a lot of stars would have to align for a third season. Not only is the Arrow alum set to star in the Suits: L.A. spinoff if it's ordered to series by NBC, but his Heels co-star Alexander Ludwig is also set to star in the sci-fi drama Earth Abides for MGM+.

On the whole, it's hard to say if Stephen Amell is encouraging fans to hold out hope for more Heels or just acknowledging their support more than half a year after the show was cancelled, but he clearly has seen all the fresh buzz with the Netflix deal. For now, we can only wait and see whether the show's arrival on the streamer will result in the kinds of numbers for Netflix to order a third season. In the meantime, you can find some upcoming viewing options on our 2024 TV schedule.

While it is now a somewhat distant memory, the Arrowverse took both DC comics fans and those who loved The CW by storm for over a decade. Viewers were able to enjoy six (sort of) interconnected shows centered around popular comic book superheroes, and the genesis of that TV universe came from the beloved Arrow in 2012, which starred Stephen Amell as the embattled titular vigilante. Now, he’s headed back to Vancouver to film another pilot “almost 12 years to the day” after he filmed the pilot that made him famous. But, this time he’ll be suiting up in a very different way.

What Did Stephen Amell Say About Filming A New Pilot And What’s He Working On?

After eight seasons of triumphs, tragedies, fighting, friendship, love and a lot of weirdness, Stephen Amell was finally able to give Oliver Queen a happy ending in early 2020. The years since saw him suit up to play a wrestler on the Starz drama, Heels, for two seasons, and now he’s headed back to Vancouver to film a brand new pilot, telling fans on Instagram:

I can bet that it really is “surreal” for the actor, who basically made a home of the Canadian city while filming his DC hit there from 2012 through late 2019, when the stars shared lots of heartfelt farewells after they wrapped on the series finale. Now, he’s “so excited” to be back in British Columbia, but he did leave fans hanging on what exactly it is that he’s filming.

Luckily, while he didn’t confirm it, his new project is hardly a huge mystery, as the salmon ladder champ was recently announced as the lead of the new Suits spinoff, Suits L.A., and seeing as how it was scheduled to start filming in the city he happens to now be in at the time Amell is now there, well, it’s not hard to put together that his time as a Los Angeles legal eagle has probably begun!

As we likely all know by now, Suits had a massive run last year after the first eight seasons became a hit for those with a Netflix subscription in the summer. That led to a huge amount of interest in creator Aaron Korsh revisiting the world in some way, and he came through with an idea set in Los Angeles, with brand new “amazing looking people in great clothes” starring.

It was in mid-February that we found out that Amell landed another TV gig in the form of the lead in Suits L.A. He’s portraying Ted Black in the pilot, a “charismatic force of nature who puts his own needs above others,” and started his entertainment/criminal law firm 15 years prior to the events of the potential series with his best friend, Stuart Lane (who’ll be played by The Walking Dead alum, Josh McDermitt).

I know everyone is just as excited as the star is for Suits L.A., but it’s important to remember that, as of right now, NBC has only ordered a pilot for the drama, but we’ll surely hear about whether or not we can expect a full series of the spinoff in the coming weeks.

Stephen Amell has become recognizable over the past decade or so for his role as Oliver Queen (a.k.a. Green Arrow) in the CW’s Arrowverse, as well as for playing wrestler Jack Spade on Heels. Meanwhile, you’ve seen Robbie Amell in the Amazon comedy Upload and the CW’s The Flash. With their superhero backgrounds, the cousins teamed up in 2019 for Code 8, which ultimately went from indie underdog to one of Netflix’s most popular movies. Now, they’re back for Code 8: Part II, so what are critics saying about the sequel?

Code 8: Part II is available to stream now with a Netflix subscription and centers around Connor (Robbie Amell) and Garrett (Stephen Amell) aiming to help 14-year-old Pav (Sirena Gulamgaus) elude the corrupt police force and their robotic K9s. Marya E. Gates of RogerEbert.com says the movie is cheesy but fun, however, the sequel doesn’t find the same balance between its action and the emotional stakes as the first offering. Gates gives the movie 2.5 stars out of 4, writing:  

"Part of the problem is that the plotting is not as tight as the first film, which was penned solely by Chris Paré. Here he shares writing credits with Chan, Sherren Lee, and Jesse LaVercombe, and there may well be too many cooks in the kitchen. However, Chan's visual world-building remains sharp. The whole film has big, dilapidated Rust Belt vibes, from the rundown community center where Conor works as a janitor to the greasy spoon diner where he meets up with Garett. Everything here is gray and cold and bleak."

Alex Maidy of JoBlo, however, finds the sequel better than the original, rating it a “Good” 7 out of 10 for its fun action and better story. In fact, the critic says Code 8: Part II is better in every way, praising Sirena Gulamgaus for holding her own alongside her adult co-stars. In Maidy’s words: 

"With a better story, better special effects, and better character development, Code 8: Part II builds on the core concept of the original film and expands the action. Stephen Amell and Robbie Amell deliver on characters they have come to know well for a movie that is reminiscent of late 1980s/early 1990s sci-fi action movies. Code 8 Part II is familiar and fairly formulaic but still delivers a solid collection of action sequences that keep the pace moving from beginning to end. With a setup for a third film, Code 8 Part II could kickstart a solid genre franchise that would be worth revisiting every few years for new tales. "

Felipe Rangel of ScreenRant seconds the above opinion, also writing that Code 8: Part II elevates the story’s game in every way, from thrilling visual effects to exciting action to well-developed characters. Rangel rates the film 4 out of 5 stars and says: 

"While Code 8: Part II manages to outdo the original movie in its sci-fi elements, that is not the only improvement that can be seen in the sequel. Part II hinges on a script co-written by Chris Paré, Sherren Lee, Jesse LaVercombe, and director Jeff Chan. While it presents engaging action, it only hits as hard as it does due to the movie's slower, character-focused moments. The sequel tells a compelling story that gives plenty of chances for its main stars to shine, adding depth to returning characters and introducing interesting new players."

M.N. Miller of Geek Vibes Nation gives the movie a 7 out of 10, noting that it succeeds on the juice of the Amell cousins’ edgy chemistry. There’s surprising depth in this sci-fi world, Miller writes, making this “gritty, underground and raw” sequel worth watching. In the critic’s words: 

"Directed by Jeff Chan, this follow-up is a very good sequel that puts a premium on themes of unethical policing, institutional corruption, and the use of community activism as a beard to illegal activities. The script, written by Chan, Chris Pare, Sherren Lee, and Jesse LaVercombe, builds a world where those with powers are persecuted. In a post-social justice world, the PWPs begin to fight for what is rightfully theirs."

Alice Lange of Martin Cid magazine gives it 3 out of 5 stars, assuring fans of the first movie that they will not be disappointed in the sequel. While the new flick doesn’t break any new ground in the sci-fi or superhero genres, Code 8: Part II is a “great success,” Lange says, writing: 

"This second installment follows the formula of the first one, with a similar pace and aesthetic, but with better effects, a bigger budget, and identical plot lines. It is less surprising in terms of the dystopian narrative it presents, but more impactful visually, improving upon the first movie."

Most critics who have seen the Amell cousins’ sequel seem to prefer it to the original, which is great news for anybody who enjoyed the superhero flick while being stuck at home during the pandemic. Code 8: Part II is available to stream now on Netflix, and be sure to see what else is new and coming soon to Netflix. You can also start planning your next trip to the theater by taking a peek at our 2024 movie release calendar. 

We’ve known for months that the 2025 TV schedule would bring us new episodes of returning favorites, as well as new shows, but there was a time when no one would have expected that Suits L.A., starring Arrow alum Stephen Amell, would be one of them. It’s not often that a series wraps up its final season after a long run, and then becomes way more popular a whole four years after that finale, but that’s exactly what happened in the summer of 2023 when the USA drama Suits debuted for everyone with a Netflix subscription.

Though the legal show (which starred Gabriel Macht, Sarah Rafferty, Meghan Markle, Patrick J. Adams, Gina Torres and more) definitely had fans and ran for nine seasons, it eventually became the streaming success of 2023. Even better, those huge streaming numbers led to talk of a Suits spinoff in October 2023, and a new show set in the same world, Suits L.A., was ordered to series after quickly entering production in the spring of 2024. Here’s everything we know so far about Suits L.A.!

What Is The Suits L.A. Premiere Date?

Suits L.A. obviously got some pretty good news after filming a pilot, and we now know that it will premiere on February 23. TV in 2025 just got a lot more...legal. YAY!

The Suits L.A. Trailer

It was in late January 2025 that we finally got a good look at the action and players who will populate Suits L.A., and as you can see from the above clip, we're in store for a lot of politicking, intense partnerships, unexpected relationships, surprising cases and more! This includes the appearance of someone that fans of the original series will remember well, which we'll get into in a bit.

What Is Suits L.A. About?

Even though what fans new and old would probably like is to catch up with Donna, Harvey, Mike, Rachel and the other legal aces they know and love, this spinoff will not focus on any previously established characters from O.G. Suits. Instead, the new drama is simply set in the same world, and will follow a brand new character named Ted Black in Los Angeles, and the assorted other “amazing looking people in great clothes” he's acquainted with.

Though we did get a synopsis early in 2024 for the upcoming show, when the spinoff was ordered to series in July, we got another official report from NBC that tells us important details about Mr. Black, a former federal prosecutor who’s relocated from New York and now works for incredibly influential clients at his firm, which specializes in both entertainment and criminal law, and his West Coast story:

We’ve already got everything we need here. A somewhat haunted/troubled lead dealing with a big current problem, while being surrounded by colleagues who “mix their personal and professional lives.” Gimmie it!

The Suits L.A. Cast

Let’s take a look at who we know will populate the Suits L.A. cast when it finally hits the small screen:

Stephen Amell As Ted Black

February 2024 saw Suits L.A. nab its first official cast member, in the form of former Arrow and Heels lead Stephen Amell, who’ll bring Ted Black to life. TV Line offered up additional details about the character when announcing the news, and said that Ted is known as a “charismatic force of nature who puts his own needs above others,” something that the Oliver Queen actor definitely knows how to play.

Josh McDermitt as Stuart Lane

Shortly after Amell was announced as the lead, the network revealed that actor Josh McDermitt would take on the role of Stuart Lane, Ted’s old friend who formed the firm Black Lane Law with him 15 years before the start of the series. Stuart is described as being “energetic, powerful, focused and self-absorbed,” but we don’t know how he’ll fit into the overall story just yet.

If Josh McDermitt’s name sounds familiar to you, it’s likely because you’ll recognize him from his time as one of The Walking Dead cast members who was in the most episodes, as eventually-capable survivor, Eugene.

Lex Scott Davis as Erica Rollins

Another cast member and their character was announced a few days after McDermitt and his Stuart, and that is Lex Scott Davis as attorney Erica Rollins. According to NBC, Rollins is billed as a “savvy and strong-willed rising star at the firm who is shrewd enough to test the loyalty of her associates only to admire some of them for not having any.” It absolutely sounds like she’ll be a force to be reckoned with!

Davis has been in a number of shows and movies, including the Training Day series, The First Purge, The L Word: Generation Q, Rebel, Florida Man and Ricky Stanicky.

Bryan Greenberg as Rick Dodson

The network also announced that Bryan Greenberg will play Rick Dodson on the drama. When speaking with Entertainment Weekly in December 2024, the actor opened up about his character (who's in competition with Rollins to be named head of entertainment at the firm) and called Rick "the moral compass of the show," adding:

Greenberg has starred in numerous television series and films over the years, including How to Make It in America, October Road, The Mindy Project, The Vince Staples Show, and Friends with Benefits. He might be best known for portraying Jake Jagielski on One Tree Hill.

Other cast members who’ve been announced are Troy Winbush (The Goldbergs, Chicago Fire), and Alice Lee (My Adventures with Superman, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), but their characters haven’t been revealed just yet.

Original Suits Cast Member Gabriel Macht Will Be A Recurring Guest Star

Ooooooo! This is what the fans were looking for, right? It was in late November that Gabriel Macht teased via an Instagram post that he was returning as Harvey Specter, which was confirmed by NBC soon after. The brief trailer lets us know that he was actually a friend of Ted's when he was still in New York, with Amell explaining to EW that they "came up together in the D.A.'s office" and saying that he believes "that dynamic is something the viewers will really enjoy."

How Many Episodes Will There Be In Suits L.A. Season 1?

OK, this one is an unfortunate unknown right now, because no information on how many episodes we’ll get in the first season have been released. On top of that, it’s hard to make a good guess, as while network series tend to get seasons of about 22 episodes, it’s not uncommon for the first season, at least, to be given more like 12-13 episodes to see if it really connects with viewers.

The good news is, if the drama starts on the lower end of that scale, NBC can up the episode count during Season 1 if it proves to be a Suits-on-Netflix level smash hit. We’ll just have to see what the future brings.

Suits Creator Aaron Korsh Is A Writer And Executive Producer On The Spinoff

When the potential spinoff went into development in October 2023, Deadline reported that Aaron Korsh, the man who created Suits, would be the one bringing us this new story. Not only did he executive produce (alongside fellow Suits EPs Doug Liman, Dave Bartis and Gene Klein), and also write the pilot, but he’s also listed as the creator, and a writer/EP of the series overall. So, fans should be comforted to know that even though they’ll be treated to new characters and a different setting, the story will still feel like the one they already love.

We Don't Know If Other Original Cast Members Will Appear, But Many Of Them Are Open To It

If you’re hoping to see some of the other original characters and cast members pop up on Suits L.A., know that there aren’t any confirmed plans for that just yet. But, several of the actors from the parent show have said that they’d be down to bring their characters back for some more action, if asked.

People caught up with Gina Torres (Jessica Pearson), Rick Hoffman (Louis Litt), and Sarah Rafferty as they filmed a 2024 Super Bowl commercial, and Rafferty said of the pilot filming:

In 2024, Patrick J. Adams joined Gabriel Macht to present at the Golden Globe Awards, filmed a funny spot for a different Super Bowl commercial and joked about advice they’d give the new cast, so it seems likely that, if asked, Adams would be willing to bring Mike to Los Angeles.

To top it off, Wendell Pierce, who portrayed Rachel’s dad, Robert Zane, recently said he’d “love to come back,” so if the spinoff does well on NBC, it sounds like there’s hope for future appearances from the original gang of legal eagles!

The premiere of Suits L.A. is so close we can almost feel the L.A. sunshine, and I know viewers can't wait to check out the new series!

Following Suits’ massive success on Netflix last year, work has begun on expanding this universe. In January, NBC gave a pilot order to Suits L.A., and earlier this month, it was announced that Arrow’s Stephen Amell will lead the spinoff. Now word’s come in that The Walking Dead’s Josh McDermitt has joined Suits L.A. to play someone closely tied to Amell’s character.

As previously revealed, Suits L.A. will see Amell playing Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor from New York who moved to Los Angeles 15 years ago to form a law firm specializing in criminal and entertainment law with his best friend Stuart Lane. Deadline reports that McDermitt has been cast to play Stuart, who’s described as “being energetic, powerful, focused and self-absorbed.” Ted represents some of the City of Angels’ most powerful clients, but when his and Stuart’s firm hit a crisis point, Amell’s will have to, as described in the official logline, “embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career.”

Josh McDermitt is best known for playing Eugene Porter in The Walking Dead, with the character being introduced in Season 4 and managing to survive all the way to the end of the show. Prior to coming aboard the AMC program, the actor led the short-lived TV Land sitcom Retired at 35, and his other notable small screen credits include Mad Men, the Twin Peaks revival, The Kids Are Alright and Creepshow.

Suits aired from 2011 to 2019 on the USA Network, but when the show’s first eight seasons were made available to Netflix subscribers, its popularity soared to heights never reached during the original run (if you want access to all nine Suits seasons, you’ll need a Peacock subscription). Although USA might return to making scripted originals, NBC decided to get in on the Suits action and move forward with Suits L.A., which Aaron Korsh, the original series’ creator, is putting together. He’s executive producing alongside David Bartis, Doug Liman and Gene Klein, and Victoria Mahoney will direct and executive produce the pilot.

Suits L.A. will begin production in Vancouver in late March, but to be clear, it’s not guaranteed to become a series just yet. After the pilot is shot, NBC will decide whether or not to order Season 1 or shelve the project. We’ll learning in the weeks ahead who will join Stephen Amell and Josh McDermitt in Suits L.A.’s main cast, with the logline also saying that the characters in Ted Black and Stuart Lane’s sphere will test their loyalties and start mixing their professional and personal lives together.

While we wait for more news on how Suits L.A. is coming along, browse through the 2024 TV schedule to learn what shows are currently airing or will premiere/return soon.

It started with Netflix. When the streaming service began pushing out original TV series more than a decade ago, the pilot process was interrupted. At the time, network television was still following the traditional format: Make a pilot, see if it’s a fit, and then move forward to series if audiences react positively. It was expensive to create these, and Netflix, ever the disruptor, made a change. Now, years later, many brands aren’t making pilots anymore. This has been a big problem for new actors in the industry. 

While you’d think between the many streaming services and traditional network and cable TV there would be a glut of work out there, as it turns out that’s not necessarily true about the upcoming TV schedule. A bombshell report over at Deadline notes the general gist the outlet is hearing consistently about the availability of work out there. To be honest, it sounds pretty bleak.

In short, there’s less work to go around. 

What Happened To Pilot TV Season?

To give you perspective on this issue, if your pitch is getting picked up by Netflix, what will happen is the streamer will typically sign on for an entire season of your show instead of a pilot. Then, the streamer will make the whole thing available for binge-watching and will allow that series to live or die by its own merits. This is why so many shows at Netflix are canceled after one season. 

Perhaps the show didn’t really work, or only had a niche fanbase, but instead of testing a pilot, the fans get a chance to check it out and really see if it’s a good fit. The pros of this are fans get a chance to see more series on their TV screens. The cons of this are that quality control is lesser and a ton of Netflix shows get canceled way too soon, or at least it feels that way. 

While this Netflix format definitely has pros and cons, it’s one that has started to be adapted elsewhere in the industry. The Deadline report notes that 10 years ago, around 100 pilots would be in the works right now to be whittled down into greenlighted series come May sweeps. In comparison, the outlet only knows of three actual pilots being created in 2024, right now, and all three of those are set up at NBC.

So, even if there are more shows getting greenlighted straight to series now, it’s not making up for that massive amount of supplementary content that used to be a good way for actors to get work on their resumes and start out their careers in Hollywood.

Other Problems Leading To Fewer Acting Gigs

It’s not just pilots weighing into the problem. The outlet cites the strikes as also being an issue for helping young talent to garner work, as union rates went up and productions shut down. Also, notably, a ton of TV shows have been canceled recently, including some stuff that had already earned renewals like Glow, much of that due to the strikes. 

I’d also assume compounding this problem is the fact streaming has caused the lines between TV and movies to blur considerably. The thought of Reese Witherspoon headlining a TV series 20 years ago would have been unthinkable: she was a movie star. Now, she’s appeared in myriad TV projects from Big Little Lies to The Morning Show and others in between. Today, even the likes of Mark Ruffalo, John Cena, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, and many, many more have done shows for TV. 

Way fewer episodes of television programs are also being produced per season in many cases, and that has to have a major impact on salaries, even for people who actually manage to land a longterm TV gig, as well. 

While the big news over the last couple of weeks was Stephen Amell landing his big Green Arrow follow-up with Suits: LA, due to all of these factors, TV work is getting a bit scarce, potentially even for industry vets. With margins also drying up in terms of revenue television programming is bringing in thanks to the streaming model (look no further than Bob Iger admitting Disney+ isn't profitable) and fewer people watching linear TV, I can’t see a future where this gets any less “brutal,” to paraphrase the comment made earlier. At least not until something major changes. We'll see. 

After years of guest starring in shows like NCIS: Los Angeles, The Vampire Diaries and New Girl, Stephen Amell hit the big time in 2012 when he was cast to play Oliver Queen in Arrow. Amell played this take on DC Comics’ Emerald Archer for eight seasons of that show, plus various appearances on other Arrowverse shows, then he was tapped to lead Starz’s Heels, which only lasted two seasons. Now Amell has landed another TV gig, and I’m especially excited to see him bring this role to life.

Following Suits’ massive success on Netflix last year, a Suits spinoff entered development, and in January, NBC gave the project a pilot order. Now outlets like TV Line have revealed that Amell has been cast in the officially-titled Suits: L.A. to play the lead character, Ted Black, who’s described as a “a charismatic force of nature who puts his own needs above others.” A former federal prosecutor in New York, Ted teamed up with his friend Stuart Lane 15 years ago to build a Los Angeles-based law firm that specializes in criminal and entertainment law. However, as stated in the official longline, “his firm is at a crisis point, and in order to survive, he must embrace a role he held in contempt his entire career.”

Stephen Amell confirmed the casting on Instagram with the below amusing comment about his suit size:

Assuming that Suits L.A. gets picked up to series, this will mark Stephen Amell’s return to network TV. In fact, while I suspect the actor will always be best known for playin Green Arrow, there’s a chance that Ted Black could become his second biggest role depending on how successful the spinoff is. Amell’s other notable credits include playing Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and Garrett Kelton in the Code 8 movies, with Code 8: Part II coming out later this month.

Suits originally aired from 2011 to 2019 on the USA Network, but the show was catapulted to new levels of popularity when the first eight seasons were released to Netflix subscribers. Now we wait to see if NBC will keep the Suits universe going through Suits L.A., or if the network will pass on the pilot. The roles of Stuart Lane and the female lead named Erica will reportedly be cast soon.

Behind the scenes, Suits creator Aaron Korsh is writing the pilot and executive producing alongside David Bartis, Doug Liman, Gene Klein and director Victoria Mahoney. Production is scheduled to being in late March in Vancouver, Canada. Of course, if Suits L.A. makes it to air, episodes will surely become available to Peacock subscribers afterwards, and that platform is also home to all of Suits’ nine seasons.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more news on how Suits L.A. is coming along. For all your inquiries related to current programming or shows arriving in the next few months, head to our 2024 TV schedule.

While Stephen Amell may be known mainly for his acting work, he also has a solid following amongst pro wrestling fans. This is partly due to his work on the two-season Starz series Heels but also because of the high-profile wrestling matches he's participated in over the years. Amell recently shared a wild story about his match at WWE SummerSlam in 2015 and how Warner Bros. asked him to pay to promote Arrow at the event. 

WWE superstar Cody Rhodes may be at the top of the wrestling food chain these days, but back in 2015, he was a mid-carder still putting in the work to establish himself as a standout talent apart from his legendary father, Dusty Rhodes, and equally famous half-brother, Goldust. He found a way to do so with a feud with then-CW star Stephen Amell, which eventually led to a guest-starring role on Arrow that Rhodes took pretty seriously. 

With the two squared against each other in the ring at SummerSlam 2015, one would think The CW would do all it could to promote the appearance of the Arrow star. As Stephen Amell recently revealed during a virtual live signing event with HighSpots Superstore, they wanted him to pay for it:

It's wild to hear that Warner Bros. wanted Stephen Amell to pay to be able to walk out to the Arrow theme song, especially for a massive WWE event like SummerSlam. While his tag-team match with Neville against Stardust and King Barrett, currently available to watch with a Peacock Premium subscription, wasn't the headlining event, the fact it took place at one of the WWE's biggest events of the year was pretty noteworthy. Perhaps WB banked on the wrestling company paying the fee for Amell or just wanted someone to pay regardless. 

As such, Stephen Amell did not get to use the Arrow theme for the big match; instead, it was music made by the team at WWE. The actor was fine with what was written but expressed regret that he wasn't able to use the iconic show theme for his big wrestling moment:

Stephen Amell won the match, but Cody Rhodes has moved on since then and isn't begging for a rematch. Instead, he's hoping to "finish the story" and beat undisputed champion Roman Reigns after falling short at WrestleMania 39. It's expected the two will have a rematch at WrestleMania 40, and little chance of Amell showing up to aid Reigns in taking out his old rival. 

Though he hasn't fought with Cody Rhodes, Stephen Amell has stayed connected to the world of pro wrestling. In 2018, he appeared at AEW's All In to fight Christopher Daniels and also worked with recently-returned WWE superstar CM Punk on Heels. With Punk's growing feud with Rollins, could Amell be worked in to serve as a piece in helping Punk's quest for a major title at WrestleMania or another upcoming WWE event? I know that I would be up for seeing it happen, but the WWE might be more focused on the immense talent pool it already has. 

Stephen Amell is several years removed from his stint on Arrow, the hit CW show that launched the Arrowverse (and is available for Netflix subscribers to stream). However, the series and those involved still seem to hold a place close to the actor’s heart. That shines through in the way that he continues to discuss the superhero series and pay tribute to it. Unfortunately, Amell recently found himself in the position of having to memorialize one of his colleagues. He revealed that a crew member (and his friend) Dave McLean died. With that, the star lovingly paid tribute to the man who he says “literally kept the lights on.” 

It was on Saturday that the 42-year-old Canadian star took to his Facebook account to announce his friend and colleague’s passing. The star – who portrayed Oliver Queen during the show’s eight-season run – explained in a video that his buddy was with the program starting in the first season. He also shed some light on what the late crewman’s job was on set and why it was important for the production. From there, the Heels alum also emphasized the father of two’s commitment to his role:

According to Stephen Amell, Dave McLean went missing after his 50th Birthday and explained that he’d hoped for the best with the situation. Sadly, as the visibly emotional Amell himself conceded, that didn’t prove to be the case. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles star didn’t get into specifics regarding the circumstances of McLean’s death, though he did stress the importance of talking to someone if “you’re feeling down.” With his caption, he also encouraged fans to donate to a GoFundMe page set up for the late genny operator’s wife, Linnea, and their two kids:

The star deftly portrayed a do-gooder for nearly a decade, and Stephen Amell could play even more superheroes as time goes on. Despite that though, I don’t think he could be any more noble than he was when sharing this video. Not only was this a sweet tribute to someone who was integral to producing the Arrowverse’s inaugural series, but the appeal to fans to seek out help, if needed, was also admirable. It’s also commendable that he used his platform to aid the McLean family in the midst of their loss. 

Stephen Amell definitely has no problem sending out messages to his fans via social media, regardless of what the reason is. Some of his most notable ones, though, have involved the comic book-inspired show that made him a true star. He shared an emotional address ahead of Arrow’s series finale in 2020. He also dropped a message confirming his return for The Flash’s final season, which was part of the 2023 TV schedule. You have to appreciate the fact that Amell doesn’t mind getting raw with his fans, especially when it comes to honoring friends.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Dave McLean during this time.

The CW is looking towards something of a rebrand and, with that, the network that was once known as a place for teen dramas, supernatural fare and superheroes isn't the same. The end of The Flash earlier this year marked the end of the Arrowverse, which was started by Arrow back in 2012. The Stephen Amell-led series ran for eight seasons and officially came to an end in early 2020. However, Amell recently revealed the show wasn't always going to run as long as it did.

Stephen Amell appeared at the Cincinnati Comic Expo on September 23, where he revealed a very interesting fact about the show that solidified him as a star. Fan account flashfacts4real posted a video to Instagram from the actor’s panel. It seems  a fan asked him when he knew it was time to end the show, and Amell then admitted just how long Oliver Queen’s journey was supposed to last:

It sounds like Arrow has something else in common with Supernatural, as the 15-season show was also supposed to end after Season 5, which still blows the creator's mind. The reasoning for the superhero show's extension is unknown but, looking back at its run, it would have made sense for the series to end after the fifth season. It's worth mentioning that the flashbacks had been such an important part of the series since the pilot episode. When they finally concluded in that season's finale,  with Oliver going back to Lian Yu, it marked a true full-circle moment.

That’s not to say that it was a bad thing for the show to go on for three additional years. Because of that, fans were able to see more crossovers within the Arrowverse, were introduced to additional characters and more. The flashbacks may have been  pivotal for the first five seasons, but it was refreshing not to have them during Season 6 and beyond.

Arrow's increased run also allowed the series to help welcome Batwoman to the sprawling superhero franchise and have Oliver Queen meet Superman. Those are actually two of Stephen Amell’s favorite Arrowverse memories. So sure, it might've been appropriate if it ended after five seasons as planned. However, fans surely could've missed out on more than a few major developments had that come to pass.

And while it’s been over three years since the show's finale aired, it’s been just over five months since Amell last appeared in the Arrowverse. The actor returned as Oliver Queen for The Flash’s final season and even cleared up an issue from the last episode of his own show. Stephen Amell and co. should be proud of the work they did over the years, and you can check it out by streaming all eight seasons of Arrow with a Netflix subscription.

The second season of Heels comes to an end on September 15, and the future of the Starz series starring Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig is currently uncertain. The network has not yet announced whether or not Heels is heading toward a third season or will wrap for good with the Season 2 finale. Still, we can look at what news and data has been released so far to speculate about whether the Spades and Co. will come back for another round of episodes. 

Unfortunately, interviews with actors and writers in recent months have been few and far between due to the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike, so there have been no official statements about the odds that a Season 3 will happen. Stephen Amell, who made waves over the summer with his comments about not supporting striking, didn't drop any clues even when he was the talk of the town. So, let's look at what we do know.

What The Ratings Tell Us

Fans should probably hope that Starz is looking at more than just the ratings to decide on the future of Heels. While Starz ratings are never likely to rival those of bigger networks and a limited number of totals are available publicly, the Live+Same day numbers – a.k.a. the people who watched on the first day an episode is available – aren't too encouraging.

TV Series Finale reports the show's Live+Same average for Season 2 on Friday nights is a rating of 0.01 and audience of 0.039 million, which translates to 39,000 viewers, in the key 18-49 age demographic. According to the outlet, the third, sixth, and seventh episodes tied for the highest rating with an 0.02 each, while Episode 5 is given a rating of 0.0. The largest Live+Same audience is for Episode 6, with 0.056 million, or 56,000 viewers.

To contrast, Starz's Power Book IV: Force – which airs ahead of Heels on Friday nights –is averaging 0.05 rating and 0.2 million viewers, according to TV Series Finale. And just for fun, Outlander – which aired Season 7 on Friday nights before its eventful midseason finale – averaged 0.03 rating and 0.342 million audience, according to the outlet. Basically, Heels Season 2 isn't Starz's top Friday night showing in summer/fall 2023 with its averages of 0.01 and 39,000 viewers.

What Starz Has Been Doing Lately

Of course, viewership numbers aren't everything, but it's worth noting that Starz hasn't been handing down a lot of renewals lately. The most recent were back in January, starting with BMF scoring an early renewal for Season 3 and Outlander getting the renewal for an eighth and final season (as well as the prequel spinoff being greenlit). Power Book II: Ghost was renewed for Season 4 just weeks later. The network also renewed Dangerous Liaisons in late 2022, but reversed that renewal into a cancellation in December of last year. 

That's not to say that Starz has made a habit of reversing its renewals lately. Hightown, P-Valley, and The Serpent Queen are all still expected to produce new seasons, and Power Book III: Raising Kanan has a Season 3 premiere date set in the 2023 TV schedule. So, even if the network hasn't been announcing renewals en masse, it also isn't moving away from scripted fare entirely. 

Heels also fans don't need to take it as a bad sign that Starz hasn't announced the show's fate just yet. The drama was renewed for Season 2 back in November 2021, nearly a full month after the Season 1 finale on October 10 of the same year. The second season finale airing without news of Season 3 is no different than Season 1 ending without confirmation of Season 2. 

The Verdict

In any other September as the summer TV season transitions into fall, I might feel confident predicting the future of a show based on numbers and trends. Unfortunately, the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes mean that the futures of many shows that would otherwise feel safe are unclear. Streamers in particular have been cancelling shows left and right, but we may just have to wait for Starz to make an announcement or an update from a member of the Heels team not currently on strike. 

While I'm not overly confident about Heels being renewed for Season 3, it really is a waiting game at this point with so much uncertainty throughout the entertainment industry. For fans holding out hope, now may be the time to start crossing your fingers!

As the SAG-AFTRA actors strike and WGA writers strike continue to see Hollywood professionals on the picket line rather than working on film productions, some comments from Arrow’s Stephen Amell about the situation over the weekend sparked backlash. After the actor shared that he did “not support striking,” he came back around on Tuesday to clarify what he said in a lengthy statement. 

When Amell spoke at GalaxyCon on Saturday, he shared some dissatisfaction with the ongoing strikes, saying he found the situation a “reductive negotiating tactic.” Now that the comments have run around, the Arrow actor seeks to clarify his original words. As he shared, in part, on Instagram: 

Amell went on to go through each of the comments he made and clarify them. For example, he quoted himself saying “I do not support striking” and shared that this is what he meant in full context: 

It sounds like the actor was misinterpreted for saying he didn’t support strikes because he didn’t support those striking, when apparently he was speaking more to the concept of striking itself. When clarifying his statement calling striking “reductive,” he said this: 

Amell also went on to say he is “simply sad” that he was not able to promote the latest season of his series Heels with his cast and crew, including close co-star Alexander Ludwig. During the SAG-AFTRA strikes, actors are not allowed to do promotion for their movie and TV projects. As Amell said in the statement, he “figuratively” and “literally” broke his back for Heels and he’s not allowed to talk about it. Stephen Amell posted the full statement on his Instagram. Check it out below:

The Hollywood strikes have been going on since May 1 when writers decided to take to the picket line after negotiations with execs did not meet their demands for change in the industry. As of July 14, the SAG-AFTRA strike has been going on as well for the same reasons. In the age of streaming, writers and actors have been citing unfair wages for their work. 

The result of the Hollywood strikes has already taken an economic toll on the industry, and is leading studios to pause and delay major productions such as Deadpool 3 and Gladiator, which recently began filming. Additionally, in recent weeks a number of movies have received sizable delays on the 2023 movie schedule along with the 2023 TV schedule.  

Amell’s comments speak to the frustration of being an actor at this moment in time when they cannot take work or even speak about the shows or movies they spent months, or sometimes years, filming and making a reality. 

The end of an era happened on television in 2023 with the series finale of The Flash on The CW, which effectively ended the Arrowverse that had begun with just one show all the way back in 2012. At its prime (and not counting the divisive "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event), the superhero universe was comprised of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and Batwoman. It's therefore fitting that Stephen Amell – a.k.a. Oliver Queen, the superhero who kicked off the Arrowverse – dropped a wonderfully nerdy Easter egg about The Flash's series finale. 

No, it's not that Amell somehow appeared in the background of the episode and nobody noticed to follow up on his appearance earlier in the final season, although he did name his first appearance on The Flash as one of his favorite Arrowverse memories. The Flash finale Easter egg wasn't one for the eagle-eyed, but for those with an ear for music. Speaking with ComicBook.com, Amell shared this about the finale of the Scarlet Speedster:

Yes, composer Blake Neely titling his final cue to fit the number of Arrowverse episodes he scored was a fabulously obscure Easter egg that makes me want to revisit the Flash finale and listen a little more closely. The show fortunately didn't end on any huge hanging cliffhangers to make it frustrating to rewatch that last episode, even though the door is seemingly open for possible spinoffs. 

As somebody who needed an episode of The Flash to address an issue leftover from the Arrow series finale, I know I was glad that Barry and Co. got a batch of happy and mostly closed endings all around. And kudos to Blake Neely for delivering 641 episodes of memorable music over the years!

I also get a kick out of Amell as the source of the trivia about Blake Neely and the series finale of The Flash, as I can vividly remember watching the very first Arrow/Flash crossover back in 2014 and thinking that the score to Oliver and Barry's fight was phenomenal. 

In fact, part of why I'd rank the Green Arrow vs. Flash showdown from The Flash Season 1 as one of the most memorable fights of the Arrowverse is because of the music in the background. Plus, I hope I'm not the only one who nerded out just a little bit when Neely brought some of the Arrow sounds back to The Flash for Amell's appearance in Season 8. 

You can rewatch the good old days of both Arrow and The Flash streaming with a Netflix subscription now. The CW isn't totally out of superheroes yet despite the end of the Arrowverse, as Superman & Lois has been renewed for Season 4, although with a much reduced cast and shorter episode count than usual. The Tyler Hoechlin- and Bitsie Tulloch-led series is the last superhero show standing for the network, as Gotham Knights was cancelled after one season.

The Flash is done at The CW, and with its end, Stephen Amell is feeling nostalgic about what could be the final months of the Arrowverse. There's still no word on whether Superman & Lois will return for Season 4, and even if it did, it takes place on another Earth than Earth Prime (the home of almost every Arrowverse show). Amell may not be thinking about all of that, but he was thinking about his favorite moments from his run as Oliver Queen.

Stephen Amell was recently asked about fond memories related to the various Arrowverse crossovers, and the actor had quite a few. Amell gave EW a list of his standout crossover moments from his time as Green Arrow and made me want to bust out my Netflix subscription to revisit a few of them:

Stephen Amell sounds like just as big of a fan of heroes crossing paths as everyone else is. I know I was just as hyped when Barry and Oliver met for the first time as I was here recently when they teamed up for the final time. There was always fun to be had when heroes teamed up, which might've played into why Amell enjoyed those moments so much. 

The former Arrow star mentioned a lot of moments but did single out one experience as one that was of particular note. Amell talked about what they did when filming Ruby Rose's debut as Batwoman for the crossover Elseworlds, which involved a special plane ride: 

The CW traditionally filmed Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl in Vancouver, Canada, so one can understand why flying a private jet to Chicago would stick out to Stephen Amell. Especially for something as monumental as the debut of Batwoman – even if Ruby Rose ultimately left the role after one season of her series. Not that I'd expect that fact to sour Amell's memory of a private jet flight to Chicago because, seriously, how cool is that?

It's bittersweet to hear Stephen Amell speak so fondly of his time in the Arrowverse, knowing that the peak era of superheroes on The CW is over. There isn't even another show right now that Superman & Lois could crossover with if it wanted to, though the possibility of former actors appearing isn't out of the question. Perhaps one day we'll see a big reunion crossover for all of the Arrowverse heroes past and present, though, at present, it seems like that era might be coming to a close unless The Flash sets up a spinoff. 

Stephen Amell is no longer in the Arrowverse, but those looking for superhero action on The CW can watch Superman & Lois on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. It's certainly a show capable of delivering the level of hype the early seasons of Arrow did, so I'd highly recommend anyone who hasn't watched to check it out. 

Warning! SPOILERS ahead for The Flash Season 9's ninth episode, “It’s My Party And I’ll Die If I Want To.” Read with caution!

It was a long time coming, but Stephen Amell finally returned to his vigilante roots and reprised his role as Oliver Queen in the latest episode of The Flash. Still The Spectre, Oliver helped Barry defeat Ramsey Rosso (who was threatening the multiverse) before he turned the world into controlled zombies. It was an emotional reunion between Oliver and Grant Gustin's Barry Allen, to say the least, but if the hero were to return again, what would a movie focused on him look like?

In an interview with TV Line, Amell, who portrayed Oliver for eight seasons on the Arrowverse flagship series Arrow, opened up about whether or not he’ll play the character again. In regards to the recent episode of The Flash, Amell was asked if this was his last time suiting up, and while he gave a short answer, it gives fans just enough hope:

While it sounds like Stephen Amell isn’t opposed to suiting up again in the future, don’t count on Arrow being revived. The actor mentions that the series had a good run on The CW, but 20+ episodes per season is a lot to handle (probably more so with a family), and it likely won’t happen like that again, though the final season of Arrow only had 10 episodes. However, there are other ways for him to reprise the role. 

It's possible that Arrow could still come back in some way if not another season. Amell did express interest in a limited series-type return or through a movie, especially if it means more freedom or time for the stunts and action sequence, as he said about the final fight sequences on Arrow:

It’s clear that Oliver Queen is still close to Stephen Amell, maybe more now than ever due to his return on The Flash. Even though it’s unlikely the show itself will come back, especially with The CW going through so many chances, there’s always the hope of a revival movie, whether it be on streaming or network TV. Shows like Arrow are definitely limited in terms of what they can and can’t include when it comes to scenes like action sequences, and it sounds like Amell has it all worked out in his head on how the series could return if given the chance. 

As of now, it doesn’t seem like an Arrow movie or limited series will happen, but it has only been a few years since Arrow ended Olivee Queen's main story, so nothing is out of the question. At the very least, depending on whether Superman & Lois continues next season, possibly while still part of the 2023 TV schedule, even if it’s not technically part of the Arrowverse, maybe Oliver Queen take can a trip down to Smallville. Anything can happen.

Spoilers ahead for Episode 9 of The Flash Season 9, called “It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To.”

The episodes are counting down until The Flash ends its nine-season run on The CW, and the latest threw Barry a birthday party that was an excellent excuse to bring in some familiar faces from across the Arrowverse. The most notable, of course, was former Arrow star Stephen Amell, whose Green Arrow is responsible for launching the entire superhero universe that spanned six series at its peak after the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover. The Flash had to revisit that Crisis to bring back the late Oliver Queen, and in the process addressed an issue of mine with the Arrow series finale that has been lingering since that show ended in 2020. 

As fans will undoubtedly remember, Oliver actually died (twice) and became the Spectre in the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover, with two episodes of Arrow left to go before the final credits rolled. He didn’t even appear in the penultimate episode, which was the “Green Arrow and the Canaries” backdoor pilot that ultimately was not picked up to series. Most of Amell’s screentime in the series finale was via flashback until the very end, when he had an afterlife sequence with Felicity after they’d spent decades apart. 

At the time, I was divided on whether or not he got a happy ending, but it just didn’t feel right to me that Oliver Queen – the founder of the Arrowverse – was killed off in “Crisis,” absent from his show’s penultimate episode, and barely had any non-flashback moments in the series finale. In fact, his role in The Flash’s “It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To” on April 26 gave him more substantive screentime than his own finale. Admittedly, I haven't kept up with watching the Arrowverse regularly in recent years, but it was enough to fix my problem that Arrow ended without giving the Green Arrow a real goodbye with him on screen. 

Plus, the episode touched on some leftover questions from the series finale. When Barry, upset at the fact that he had been killed by Wally under the influence of Ramsey Rosso, accused Spectre-Oliver of bringing back everybody he loved once he got his powers, Oliver pointed out that it was “not everyone,” because he didn’t bring back his father. He continued:

Hearing straight from Oliver why his dad wasn’t brought back in the Arrow finale like Moira and Tommy were was far better than the speculation from that episode… and a nice confirmation that Oliver knew better than to set off his own Spectre version of Flashpoint like when Barry brought his mom back. 

Plus, Oliver got to reunite and spend some time with Diggle, which was so great that I decided to stop worrying about the details of how and why this was at all possible even in the rule-breaking world of The Flash. In the process, he cleared up what that green box from the Arrow finale actually meant, and it should stop any speculation that there’s a Green Lantern ring meant for Dig out there. According to Oliver: 

Dig went on to say that Oliver is his family, and he’s just glad that he got to say goodbye this time. As an Arrow loyalist even to this day, I’m with Diggle on that one! Sadly, there was no Olicity reunion, but Oliver did at least mention why he couldn’t visit his wife and their kids. When Dig asked if he was going to see her, Oliver got emotional and responded: 

While that doesn’t make the bittersweet ending to Arrow any less bitter on the Olicity front given what had already been established back in the Season 7 finale, it did result in an update on the kids from Diggle: William is in college, and Mia has mastered the salmon ladder. Throw in Oliver getting back in the Green Arrow suit, an epic action sequence without superpowers, and one last “You have failed this city,” and I was satisfied that the character finally got a worthy goodbye from the Arrowverse.

Was it occasionally cheesy? Sure. Will I always and forever hate it when Oliver is called "Ollie" by anybody other than his sister in the Arrowverse? Evidently, yes! Do I wish that he’d gotten more screentime in the present in his own finale than in this episode of The Flash? Of course, but I’m just glad that The Flash was able to bring Stephen Amell back one last time as the Green Arrow. Even Grant Gustin hadn’t been sure that it could happen! 

So, will “Crisis on Infinite Earths” go down as the best thing that the Arrowverse did, the most ruinous thing the Arrowverse ever did, or something in the middle? That’s a matter of opinion (and I know that I’m not a fan when looking back), but this episode of The Flash addressed some of my Arrow-centric issue with that crossover and how it affected the Arrow finale. The episode also may have secured the survival of the Arrowverse in DC’s future plans. 

For what remains of the Arrowverse at this point, keep tuning in to The CW on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET for the final episodes of The Flash. You can also revisit the highs and lows of Arrow streaming with a Netflix subscription.

The Flash is in its final season on The CW, and while the series hasn't been able to bring back a number of its former stars over the years, it will bring back a very big one soon. Stephen Amell will reprise his role as Oliver Queen in the upcoming episode "It's My Party And I'll Die If I Want To," which is a character return that star Grant Gustin didn't see coming. Having previous posted behind-the-scenes photos together, both actors recently spoke about the reunion ahead of the episode and shared some details about the return. 

Barry Allen will reunite with Oliver Queen in an adventure involving returning villain Dr. Ramsey Rosso, who crashes Barry's birthday party. It's not entirely clear how Stephen Amell's Oliver will return in The Flash, which might be why Grant Gustin confessed to TVLine he wasn't sure it would happen. Gustin talked about the return and how he didn't believe Stephen Amell's return was actually possible:

Arrowverse fans might've felt it was impossible for Stephen Amell to return as Oliver Queen as well considering he's dead. Of course, the DC universe has any number of ways to bring a hero or villain back from the dead, and The Flash only adds to the number of possibilities. We've learned that Barry will actually team up with the original Oliver from the afterlife, which is a new one, even for this series. 

What was it like for Stephen Amell to get back into the saddle after leaving the Arrowverse? The actor has managed to stay busy with his series Heels since the end of Arrow, but that didn't make the return to The CW any less stressful for him:

Stephen Amell had some jitters when he first showed up to the set, but once he had some time to get back into the swing of being on an Arrowverse set, he was comfortable. I wouldn't have expected anything differently given he was a fixture on the network for the better part of a decade.  

Overall, Stephen Amell is happy that he was able to return for the final season of The Flash and to share scenes with Grant Gustin. Amell talked about the experience briefly, and confirmed how great it was to be on the show: 

Stephen Amell is just one part of what looks to be an exciting final stretch of episodes for The Flash. Among other things, it's looking like we'll finally get to see Cobalt Blue and some more returning villains. After being disappointed by some of the earlier surprises in this season so far, I'm hoping the show can finish strong with this appearance by Stephen Amell and others toward the end. 

The Flash airs on The CW on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm ET. This season is hurdling toward the finish line, so be sure to take a look at our 2023 TV schedule to see what new shows are on the way after it's over. 

There are just five episodes left to go in The Flash’s final season, and while the series will take a few weeks off after airing this week’s episode, titled “Partners in Time,” the one after that is set to be an especially big deal. “It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To” is bringing back some familiar Arrowverse faces, including Stephen Smell’s Oliver Queen, a.k.a. Green Arrow, who hasn’t been seen on the small screen since Arrow concluded in 2020. Now we finally know why Oliver will be brought back into play for this episode of The Flash.

The basic premise for “It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To” has been established thanks to the trailer shared by TVLine. A surprise birthday party is held for Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen, and among those in attendance are David Ramsey’s John Diggle and Keiynan Lonsdale’s Wally West, the latter of whom hasn’t appeared on The Flash since Season 6. Diggle gives Barry Oliver Queen’s bow as a present, but the party comes quickly crashing to a halt afterwards when the attendees start falling unconscious.

The person responsible for this is Sendhil Ramamurthy’s Ramsay Rosso, a.k.a. Bloodwork, who was the main antagonist in the first half of The Flash Season 6 and we’ve known would be back for Season 9 since last summer. Bloodwork crashed the party because he’s aware that the events of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” produced a new multiverse thanks to Oliver Queen’s actions as The Spectre, and now he has some scheme in motion that puts these other realities in danger. In order to stop him, Barry will need to team up with Oliver, and this trailer clarifies that this is the version of Stephen Amell’s character from the afterlife, rather than a past version of him, a doppelgänger from another Earth, etc.

After reuniting on with each other on Lian Yu, a location near and dear to Oliver Queen’s heart (though I suspect this is a simulation of the island rather than the real deal), he and Barry Allen will need to team up to stop Bloodwork, who has used his creepy abilities to once again possess people, including some of Barry’s allies. While it’s unclear exactly what Bloodwork is hoping to specifically accomplish in “It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To,” it ties back to his greater goal of trying to eliminate death as a concern in everyday life. This time around though, his actions affect the rest of the multiverse, and this is bad enough that Oliver has to personally get involved.

Shortly after it was announced that Stephen Amell would guest star in one of The Flash’s final episodes, the actor shared that he didn’t even need to hear Greg Berlanti’s pitch for bringing Oliver Queen back, as he was already game to do it. That said, Amell later shared that he made a specific request for his character, though we don’t know what it was, so hopefully he sheds light on that after the episode airs. At the beginning of March, Amell shared a sweet behind-the-scenes photo of himself alongside Grant Gustin, and since this will likely be the last time we see these two paired together in the Arrowverse, fans of Arrow and The Flash should get ready to experience all kinds of emotions.

“It’s My Party and I’ll Die If I Want To” airs Wednesday, April 26 at 8 pm ET. Keep track of other programming with our 2023 TV schedule, and remember that you can stream all of Arrow and past seasons of The Flash with a Netflix subscription.

Since Arrow closed out its eight-season run on The CW, its central (city-visiting) lead Stephen Amell hasn’t been nearly as publicly active as Oliver Queen, despite having recently reprised the role while filming for The Flash’s final season. But that doesn’t mean everything has been hunky dory on the home front in recent years, with the actor getting embroiled in disputes with some of his neighbors. Some may remember that ol’ chestnut from Summer 2020 when Amell went off and accused a neighbor of taking a shit on his roof. More recently, he’d filed a lawsuit against neighbors for allegedly using their Laurel Canyon abode as an animal rescue. 

As fans await his return to the role of the dad-buff Jack Spade for Starz’s wrestling drama Heels, Stephen and wife Cassandra Jean Amell are the focus of a cross-complaint that was recently filed by two of the people behind the nonprofit Rescues Rock Inc. The legal filing took place in Los Angeles Superior Court as an official response to the couple’s lawsuit from September 2022. In the official release, which refers to the Amells as “Hollywood B-listers,” attorney John S. Vishneski III of the law firm Reed Smith addressed the previously filed suit as well as a video that the Arrow vet allegedly sent to Kristen Stavola, the Executive Director behind Rescues Rock. (The team at Reed Smith stepped in to handle the case for on a pro bono basis.) In Vishneski’s words:

Stephen Amell, whose prior complaints about another neighbor’s barking dog were addressed in the lawyer’s statement above, has said he attempted to squash a larger dispute with Kristen Stavola and property owner Jeremy Gardiner by talking to them directly regarding complaints about disturbances over animal noises, off-putting smells coming from the non-profit, and other issues. The Amells have also accused Rescues Rock of not having the proper permits to run a shelter, but the press release refers to the org as a “legally permitted nonprofit,” which could be part of why this quarrel has largely gone against the couple’s favor so far.

The initial attempt to request an injunction to shut down Rescues Rock went unsuccessful in court in September, inspiring the nonprofit to start a crowd-funding campaign to account for legal fees. Things also went in the defendants’ direction in November when a judge stated in court that the Amells were “not likely to prevail” with their efforts if the case went to trial, saying that they were actually doing more public wrong in the situation for attempting to shut down an animal shelter. 

At this point, Rescues Rock filed the cross-claim as a way to block Stephen and Cassandra Jean Amell from further damaging the organization’s reputation publicly, and from further delaying its ability to care for animals in need. The paperwork echoes some prior reports that other neighbors in the area have complained more about the Amells than the shelter, indicating that the Code 8 star is a “bully.” In fact, the counter-claim purports that seven people who reside near Rescues Rock have filed paperwork in opposition to claims the Amells have made concerning loud noises and emanating smells. 

Outside of all things court-based, Stephen Amell will pop up in the coming months for one presumably final performance as Oliver Queen on The Flash, with Season 2 news for Heels hopefully also surfacing in the coming months.  

The final season of The Flash is now airing on The CW, and as production winds down for the last ever episode (at least filming, if not post-production efforts), the reality is really setting in that the Arrowverse will be tying off its 11-year existence. Luckily, it will go out with a varied assortment of bangs, with Season 9 welcoming back familiar faces spanning the superhero drama's entire run. That of course includes the man who started everything: Oliver Qu..., er, Stephen Amell. The Arrow alum previously confirmed his return, and is now celebrating the end of an era with a sweet behind-the-scenes photo. 

Cast posts started pouring onto social media regarding The Flash's final episode being filmed, and Stephen Amell wasn't about to get left out. He took to Twitter to share the BTS photo seen below of him and Barry Allen portrayer Grant Gustin, which appears to be from a previous crossover episode, but is still making me think of what we used to have while anticipating scenes yet to come.

Amell and Gustin have always enjoyed a close bond, which always made it a treat when Arrow and The Flash crossovers happened, since their chemistry helped strenghten Oliver and Barry's on-screen bond. With Amell guest-starring in at least one upcoming episode, we will all likely be bombared with all those feels again, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we get tons of new behind-the-scenes photos to pore over after the episode airs.

Even after Arrow ended, Stephen Amell still kept Oliver and Green Arrow close to him, whether by permanent tribute to the hooded vigilante or posting throwback training videos on occasion. The fact that he also said yes to appearing on The Flash one last time, albeit with an understandable request, seemingly proves that he will never turn his back fully on his DC past, so long as it makes sense narratively for him to return.

The ever-changing crowd of Arrowverse cast members has always appeared to keep close with one another, with one example being Supergirl vet Melissa Benoist’s favorite crossover memories including Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin. To say nothing of the endless love shared by stars from Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman and other shows. So seeing any number of flashback photos as The Flash wraps up filming will inevitably make me nostalgic, and I miss the golden time of the Arrowverse. But it looks like the bond and relationships that have been formed over the years will not go away.

The Flash’s final season was initially announced last year, and premiering later than usual gave fans more time to prepare for the inevitable. However, we're getting only 13 episodes as opposed to the usual 20, meaning some storylines were cut that would have been wild to see. But it seems like there will still be plenty to look forward to, including, oh I dunno, Oliver Queen's post-death return!

Don’t miss a second of The Flash's nostalgia tour when the drama airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on The CW as part of the 2023 TV schedule!

The CW’s The Flash is gearing up for quite the big farewell season, with more than a few major Arrowverse returns being announced ahead of the highly anticipated premiere. Among the returnees is Stephen Amell, who's set to reprise his role as Oliver Queen three years after Arrow’s series finale, even despite Oliver’s story ending somewhat permanently during the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event. Showrunner Eric Wallace is opening up about how he nailed down Amell, who really had one request that needed to be fulfilled.

Eric Wallace gave TVLine the down low on how the process went as far as securing Stephen Amell for the final season of The Flash. The reunion between the superheroes will apparently be epic yet emotional for all involved, which possibly played into Amell's decision to return, though he had his own stipulation. And Wallace claimed he was immediately on board with the idea, saying:

When Stephen Amell was initially announced to be returning for The Flash, he got honest about reprising the Green Arrow and made sure that fans knew how happy he was to be returning in any capacity, though he obviously couldn't divulge any details at the time. And if Eric Wallace was just as quick to say yes to Amell's request as the actor was to sign on for another appearance, it will surely be one for the ages. (Specifically whatever ages Barry didn't time-bungle at any point.) For now, the specifics behind his request aren't being shared, but we can only assume it'll be obvious when the time comes.

Just because Stephen Amell is returning as Oliver Queen, don’t think that it’s going to erase what happened in the final season of Arrow. It’s unknown exatly how Oliver will come back, but Eric Wallace confirmed that Arrow’s eight seasons are still very much canonically intact. And went so far as to say Amell's episode will definitely require some Kleenex:

It’s not surprising to hear that the episode is going to be emotional, since Barry and Oliver’s friendship was always an Arrowverse highlight. Stephen Amell has kept the Green Arrow close to him since the finale aired, even getting a tattoo tribute in honor of his hooded vigilante. While it was a surprise to hear Oliver would be returning, it only makes sense that Amell would be involving with closing out a fictional universe he helped to conceive, and I wouldn’t want it any other way, no matter how the return goes down.

Season 9 of The Flash will see the return of numerous Arrowverse characters, including Reverse-Flash 1.0 and some version of Eddie Thawne, and it’s very likely that more will be announced in the coming weeks and months. Since the series is the last remaining Arrowverse show, with Superman & Lois existing outside that reality, rounding up as many alums as possible only makes sense. they can just make sense. It should also be noted that David Ramsey will be returning as John Diggle for the same episode as Amell, which should be another emotional reunion to look forward to.

The ninth and final season of The Flash premieres on Wednesday, February 8 at 8 p.m. EST on The CW, so make sure to watch to see Stephen Amell and other Arrowverse stars return in an upcoming episode! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2023 TV schedule to see what else to look out for this year.

DC Comics no doubt know that 2023 marks the end of an era, as The CW’s Arrowvverse will take its final bow via The Flash Season 9. It’s a somewhat sad occasion for fans of the long-running superhero TV universe, but the show is seeking to close things out on a high note. The Grant Gustin-fronted show is bringing back a cavalcade of franchise alums, including beloved Arrow star Stephen Amell. The news seemed to come as a surprise to some fans, and Amell has since gotten honest about his return. Additionally, he dropped an f-bomb while making an appeal to those awaiting the episode.

Stephen Amell has been plenty busy since he hung up his bow when Arrow closed out its run in 2020. The 41-year-old actor has participated in some wrestling engagements, and that passion spilled over into his Starz sports dramedy Heels, which premiered in 2021. So with other gigs on his plate at the moment, what made the actor want to don his jade outfit once more? When taking to Instagram, he shared a video, further confirming his reprisal. And when asked why (and how) he’s getting back into the superhero fold, he suggested that fans shouldn’t worry much about that: 

I think the actor summed all of that up quite nicely. But he wasn’t finished there because, as mentioned, he threw in an f-bomb for good measure while asking the fans for one thing. And you can honestly understand where the entertainer is coming from on this one:

And that’s that. It’s nice to get further confirmation from the actor himself, who also acknowledged his return using a Twitter post. There are still plenty of variables to consider here, however, with the biggest being that Oliver Queen died near the end of Arrow as a result of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” crossover event. Perhaps he’ll re-appear courtesy of a flashback or maybe even a supernatural dream sequence. Whatever the case, I’m sure the writers have put a lot of thought into this major development. 

As previously mentioned, Stephen Amell – who discussed another turn as Green Arrow just recently – isn’t the only Arrowverse alum returning to send The Flash off in style. David Ramsey will reappear as fan-favorite character John Diggle, and Keiynan Lonsdale will once again suit up as Wally West/Kid Flash. The villainous Ramsey Rosso a.k.a. Bloodwork, played by Sendhil Ramamurthy is set to rear his ugly head in Season 9 as well. If that weren’t all, Supergirl alum Nicole Maines is playing Nia Nal/Dreamer again, while Batwoman’s Javicia Leslie is returning as a new character.

There’s a lot to look forward to in this last stretch of episodes, and Stephen Amell’s return as Oliver Queen is just the icing on the cake. Hopefully, the show not only provides him with a meaningful guest spot but can also close out this final leg of its TV race strong.

The Flash’s ninth and final season airs Wednesday February 8th at 8 p.m. ET on The CW as part of the 2023 TV schedule. You can also stream the show, alongside Arrow, using a Netflix subscription.

Following Smallville’s 10-season run from 2001 to 2011, The CW kicked off a new DC Comics continuity with Arrow, starring Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, who initially went by The Hood and The Arrow, but then later permanently adopted Green Arrow as his superhero moniker. By the middle of Arrow Season 2, Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen was introduced, and less than a year later, he was off on his own adventures in The Flash. The Scarlet Speedster’s series is now about to begin its ninth and final season, and word’s come in that Amell’s Oliver have an “epic-yet-emotional” reunion with Gustin’s Barry in this last stretch.

Fresh off yesterday’s news that David Ramsey’s John Diggle/Spartan, Keiynan Lonsdale’s Wally West/Kid Flash and Sendhil Ramamurthy’s Ramsey Rosso/Bloodwork will all appear in The Flash Season 9’s ninth episode, it’s been announced that Stephen Amell will guest star in that same episode. No details about Oliver Queen’s involvement have been disclosed, but The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace had the following to say about looping Amell in (via Deadline):

Stephen Amell has previously appeared in eight episodes of The Flash, including the pilot and each installment of the wider Arrowverse crossovers from years past. The last time Oliver Queen and Barry Allen saw each other was in Part 4 of the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event, in which Oliver delivered some parting words to Barry and Caity Lotz’s Sara Lance before dying as a result of restoring the multiverse with his Spectre powers. Barry and Sara were then seen attending Oliver’s funeral in the Arrow series finale, and by the end of that episode, we got to see Oliver in the afterlife with Emily Bett Rickards’ Felicity Smoak. So this will be Amell’s first time playing Oliver since Arrow concluded in early 2020.

Now that we know Stephen Amell will reprise Oliver Queen in The Flash Season 9, question emerge. How will he fit into the episode? Are we simply getting a flashback of Oliver, or will he somehow come from the afterlife to aid Barry Allen and Team Flash? And on a slightly lesser note, will Amell also be reuniting with David Ramsey? After all, John Diggle was an important character on Arrow for the entirety of its run, so it’d be a shame if we couldn’t see these two together one final time.

Whatever the answers to these questions are, the announcement of Stephen Amell appearing in The Flash’s final season comes just a few days after the actor was heard on the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast talking about what it would take for him to reprise Oliver Queen, saying:

In addition to Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen and the other characters mentioned earlier, The Flash Season 9 will see Batwoman’s Javicia Leslie reprising Ryan Wilder (though it hasn’t been officially clarified yet if we’ll be seeing the main Ryan or a doppelgänger), Supergirl’s Nicole Maines reprising Nia Nal/Dreamer, and Andy Mientus reprising Hartley Rathaway/Pied Piper, one of Flash’s enemies-turned-allies. Season 9 will also bring in Richard Harmon as Owen Mercer, the new Captain Boomerang. As far as the show’s leading lineup goes, Jon Cor’s Mark Blaine/Chillblaine has been upgraded to main cast member, while Jesse L. Martin will only recur as Joe West in the final season.

The Flash Season 9 premieres Wednesday, February 8 at 8 pm ET on The CW. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on these final episodes, and don’t forget to read our 2023 TV schedule to see when your other favorite shows are airing.