Synopsis for Arrow

Provided by "Russ"
The series follows Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), billionaire playboy of Starling City, who spends five years stranded on an island following a shipwreck that claims the life of everyone else on board, including his father, Robert Queen, and Sara Lance (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), the sister of Oliver's girlfriend Laurel (Katie Cassidy), and with whom he was having an affair. Upon his return to Starling City, he is reunited with his mother, Moira (Susanna Thompson), her new husband, Walter Steele (Colin Salmon), the former CFO of his father's company who is now the CEO; and his younger sister, Thea (Willa Holland). He is also greeted by his best friend, Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell), the son of successful businessman Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman). Oliver also tries to reconnect with ex-girlfriend Laurel, but she blames him for the death of her sister, Sara.

During the day Oliver plays the billionaire playboy trying to catch up with society after 5 years, who also owns and runs a nightclub; at night he becomes a green-hooded vigilante, following through with his father's dying wishes to right the wrongs of the Queen family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. Oliver's vigilante persona becomes the focus of police detective Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne), father to Laurel and Sara, who is determined to arrest the vigilante and who also blames Oliver for his daughter's death and his wife leaving him, though he remains unaware of Oliver's dual identity. Oliver is constantly flanked by a bodyguard, John Diggle (David Ramsey), who later joins him in his fight for justice. Moira Queen, Oliver's mother is also hiding secrets: she knows that the family yacht that caused Oliver to be stranded on the island in the first place, was actually sabotaged.

Production:
Arrow was developed by Andrew Kreisberg, Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, while the pilot episode was directed by David Nutter, who also directed the pilot for Smallville. The series was picked up by The CW Television Network on May 11, 2012.[13] The series is shot in Vancouver,[14] and Victoria, BC Canada. The series will introduce additional DC Comics characters throughout the season, including: Darren Shahlavi as Constantine Drakon,[15] Michael Rowe as Deadshot,[16] Kelly Hu as China White,[17] Jeffrey Nordling as Frank Bertinelli, Currie Graham as King of the Royal Flush Gang,[18][19] Jeffrey C. Robinson as a man wearing the Deathstroke costume, who is later revealed to not be Slade Wilson,[20][21] and Andrew Dunbar as Firefly.[22] John Barrowman stars as Malcolm Merlyn, better known as just Merlyn from the comics, who is revealed to be "The Dark Archer" in the series.[23][24][25]

In September 2012, Tahmoh Penikett was cast as Nick Salvati, the right hand man of Frank Bertinelli.[26] It was announced in November that Ben Browder would guest star as Ted Gaynor,[27] Seth Gabel was cast as a character inspired by Count Vertigo,[28] and that Janina Gavankar would portray a Starling City vice cop named McKenna Hall.[29] On November 30, 2012, it was announced that Manu Bennett would be playing the role of Slade Wilson, and is contracted for multiple episodes.[30] In December 2012, actor Colton Haynes was cast in the role of Roy Harper.[31]

On February 12, 2013, it was announced that Emily Bett Rickards will be promoted to series regular status at the start of the second season.[32] On March 13, 2013, it was reported that Colton Haynes would be joining the main cast at the start of season 2.[33] On March 20, 2013, it was announced that Manu Bennett will also be promoted to series regular for season 2.[34] Celina Jade joined the show in the recurring role of Shado.[35]

In July 2013, it was announced that Summer Glau would join the cast in a recurring role as Isabel Rochev, the VP of Acquisitions at Stellmoor International.[36] Caity Lotz was cast as Black Canary in July 2013, a recurring role that is "the beginning of the Black Canary story" according to Kreisberg.[37][38] It was later revealed at The CW's Television Critics Association summer press day by CW president Mark Pedowitz that Lotz would be playing Laurel's sister, Sara.[39] Also in July 2013, at San Diego Comic-Con International, it was revealed that Kevin Alejandro and Michael Jai White had been cast as Brother Blood and Bronze Tiger, respectively.[40]

Also in July, it was announced that Berlati and Kreisberg, along with Nutter and Geoff Johns, would be creating a TV series based on The Flash as an origin story for Barry Allen.[41] The character will be introduced in season 2 of Arrow in a recurring role, in three episodes, with the final one acting as a backdoor pilot for the new series.[42] On August 15th, Killing star Bex Taylor-Klaus was announced to play Sin in the third and fourth episodes of season 2.[43]