Filming for the pilot ‘Arrow’ will begin next month and from the location of their first shoot, it looks like the visuals of the show will be grand. Word has it that Hatley Castle will double as the home of the illustrious Oliver Queen.

Located on the campus of Royal Roads University in Vancouver Island British Columbia, Hatley Castle is not new to the CW network as it doubled as the Luther estate in the series ‘Smallville.’ It was also Professor X’s School for Gifted Youngsters in the’ X-Men‘ movies. Although details are being kept under wraps, filming at the castle will last two days then the crew will have additional location shoots around the Vancouver area before relocating.

CW executives are already buzzing with excitement about this project describing it as the “Jason Bourne of superheroes.” Thom Sherman, CW Development Head, told Entertainment Weekly that ‘Arrow’ is “very provocative and sophisticated and edgy” and describes the character of Oliver Queen as a clever, physically powerful archer who is a “very grounded” cross between Bourne and Rambo with no superpowers.

‘Arrow’ is set as an hour long drama that will be a modern re-telling of the comic book hero. It stars Stephen Amell in the title role as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, a billionaire playboy who returns after being marooned on a desert island for five years. Using his lethal archery skills, martial arts and technology, he becomes a vigilante superhero fighting crimes in Star City. He returns home to his mother, Moira (Susanna Thompson) who after the “death” of her husband, remarried Walter Steele (Colin Salmon), a former business associate of Oliver’s late father Robert Queen (Jamey Sheridan) and the No. 2 executive at Queen Consolidated. His sister Thea (Willa Holland) is too busy with her “celebutante” lifestyle and is “testing the boundaries of acceptable behavior.” His best friend, Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell) is not too sure of the new Oliver that has returned and who has shed his playboy lifestyle while his former love interest, Dinah ‘Laurel’ Lance (Katie Cassidy) has dedicated herself to help those in need as a legal aid attorney. Her father, Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne)  is determined to bring the vigilante known as the Arrow to justice. David Ramsey has also been added as a bodyguard for hire but it is unclear as to who he was hired to protect at this time.

If the pilot is received well, expect the series to air on the CW network in the 2012-2013 Fall season.

Source: Times Colonist