‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ star Chloe Bennet recently voiced her frustration that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has completely ignored the ABC series, even though it was created initially as a tie-in to the films.
Now another TV star is expressing a similar complaint, but for almost the exact opposite reason. Willa Holland, who plays Thea Queen on ‘Arrow’, is upset that even though The CW’s hit shows based on DC Comics are NOT part of the cinematic universe from Warner Brothers, the film division has control over the shows including the right to dictate which characters can and cannot be used.
Holland stated:
“Marvel does it in their own weird way – the mash between Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and the movies and stuff, so it’s a little upsetting because you know it is possible and it can be done and how good it would be if it was done. Basically you’re giving the world two different Flashes all of a sudden.”
The film division is S.O.L. when it comes to ‘The Flash’, The CW’s #1 rated show, which stars Grant Gustin as the Scarlet Speedster. WB is moving forward with an unconnected film starring Ezra Miller in the role and the show will continue untouched. But when it comes to secondary characters, WB is able to call the shots… kill shots to be specific and the victims in question were none other than the Suicide Squad.
WB ordered that the characters Deadshot (Michael Rowe) and Amanda Waller (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) be killed off and also declared that Slade Wilson/Deathstroke (Manu Bennett) was off-limits. Though their plans for Deathstroke are unrevealed as of yet, but Deadshot and Waller are both part of the upcoming ‘Suicide Squad’ film, with Will Smith and Viola Davis taking on those roles. Furthermore, the Suicide Squad can’t be used on the TV shows at all anymore.
Holland reveals that she wasn’t the only cast member frustrated by the edicts, but says that she’s moved on:
“We get it, we’re not going to fight about it anymore. When DC found out they were going to be doing their own movie we had to axe all of the characters before we even got to show them.”
“It was annoying at first and then when Stephen found out there was going to be a Justice League movie it only seemed, rightly so, he would be playing Green Arrow on it as well as Grant playing the Flash. It just seemed like the right normal answer. Once they said no, you can’t really fight against them for it, because they are the people that gave us a job in the first place. You just have to sit there on your hands, like okay, I get it!”
‘Batman V Superman’ director Zack Snyder explained that the logistics of working around the TV shows and their ongoing storylines, while plotting out movies years in advance.
But as an interesting observation, Black Canary (Katie Cassidy) was recently killed off on the show and it was reported last year we learned that WB was eyeing to add the character to their film universe. Hmmmm…
Do you miss the Suicide Squad on ‘Arrow’? Do you think fans can grasp the idea of different versions of the same characters in different media?
‘Arrow’ is on hiatus for the summer but will return to The CW in the fall.
‘Suicide Squad’ directed by David Ayer and starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Cara Delevingne, Viola Davis, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Adam Beach, Jay Hernandez, and Karen Fukahara with Ben Affleck hits theaters on August 5, 2016.
Source: Comic Book Movie
