Arrow star Stephen Amell has had a busy week, commenting on everything from the impending “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event in The CW’s Arrowverse, to which DC villain he’d like to play. Now, the actor has addressed perhaps the most important question for the franchise: when will Batman appear, and how will he fit into the continuity set up by the multiple CW series?
Speaking at the recent Arrowverse panel at MCM London, Amell joked about how the Dark Knight could be handled, asking Superman actor Tyler Hoechlin the following:
“If Batman ever shows up in the Arrowverse, can you do me a favor? Can you fly him into space and just see what happens?”
Not that Amell hasn’t given thought to how Oliver Queen would react to the appearance of Bruce Wayne, commenting in 2013 on potential guest spots on Arrow:
“If I had a number one…well, if I had a number one it would be Batman, of course, because they would hate each other. It would be amazing because so many people have always said that Green Arrow was like a rip-off of Batman.”
Batman’s absence from the Arrowverse may be due to DC and Warner Bros.’ reluctance to distract from the theatrical versions of the character. Introducing Bruce Wayne also has the creates the risk of upstaging the Green Arrow: both characters have key similarities as brooding, wealthy vigilantes with a tragic past, and a remarkable will to achieve physical and mental perfection.
With Arrow launching its eighth and final season on The CW in the fall, there are questions about where the universe built by the Arrowverse will go. The recent “Elseworlds'” arc, and upcoming “Crisis on Infinite Earths” storyline has given the various DC shows license to experiment with new characters though, and this could include a version of Batman from the Multiverse, with the adult Bruce Wayne popping up (sort of) outside the Arrowverse in Titans and briefly in Gotham. The sadly controversial Batwoman series also represents a step forward towards an on-camera appearance for Batman.
We’re not sure whether the Arrowverse is ready for Batman yet, or at least until Amell gets to wrap up Oliver Queen’s arc, but what do you think? As usual, share your thoughts in the comments section below.
