SDCC 2019: 'Arrow' cast praise Stephen Amell for bringing the Emerald Archer to life, Charlie Barnett cast in final season
The 'Arrow' panel was one of the much-awaited sessions at the San Diego Comic-Con 2019. The CW series is all set for its final swan song this October with the eighth season. Actors Stephen Amell, Rick Gonzalez, David Ramsey, Julianna Harkavy and Kate Cassidy along with executive producer Marc Guggenheim spoke about the final season and reminisced about the previous seasons.
Talking about the final season, Guggenheim said the show was meant to end now as it is going out on a high note. "I think we all kind of want to leave the party while the party's still going," Guggenheim said. As reported by CBR, "The whole exercise was 'don't screw it up,'" Guggenheim said recalling the first season. "Hopefully, we didn't screw that up."
Amell was the center of attention as each of the cast members on the panel including Guggenheim paid rich tributes to the actor who has played the Emerald Archer since season 1. Guggenheim said was Amell was the right actor for the job. The focus then moved to Kate Cassidy who plays Black Canary on the show. "I loved the role so much," she said. Amell said he knew when Cassidy got the part because she followed him on Twitter.
David Ramsey's John Diggle has been an integral part of the show since season 1 and the character has grown to be his own superhero over the course of the series. "It has been a great ride," Diggle said.
Guggenheim revealed they have cast the adult version of "JJ" and Charlie Barnett was chosen to play the character. Guggenheim said people would be surprised by the character as he wears a very specific costume that none of the viewers would have expected.
The cast also was lavish in their praises of Amell. "I told him to not f--k things up back on day one, and everyone on the show now sees him as the glue because he led them into that," Cassidy said. Harkavy echoed the thoughts and teared up. Gonzales said it was evident how much hard work Amell had put into bringing the character to life. "He set the bar for the show," Gonzalez remarked.
Ramsey recollected the time when he met Amell back in the first season. "I'm walking down the hallway, I hear someone say, 'Ramsey!' and it was Stephen," Ramsey said. "I walk into the room, and Stephen's there shirtless, and he's talking to me about how happy he is about the show... and how he's excited to be about working me, and all I saw was abs, the picture, physically, of that, was just someone's dedication."
"It extended to the set. I've not worked with anyone who cares more about the fans, about the crew, about the writing, it is all because he cares about it," Ramsey added. "There would not have been any comic book universe, not just DC, on TV after Smallville, without Stephen Amell and Arrow."
Brandon Routh was the surprise guest who walked into the panel when Guggenheim announced the actor would be playing Superman in the Arrowverse crossover episode. "Warner Bros., every time they have a costume, they put it in their archives, and they don't like to let it out. So we won't be able to use your original costume. We're still figuring it out," the EP said.
At this point, Routh unbuttoned his shirt to reveal the logo of Kingdom Come's Superman. The panel ended with Amell announcing that it would be a happy ending for the show. "You know I always tell you the truth in plain sight," he signed off.