The CW Upfronts Reveals News that Any DC Fan Will Love!
Cast members from the network’s hot superhero shows, Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl, which comes to the network from CBS Fall 2016, attended the network’s annual Upfronts presentations in NYC. (May 19). Held each year in New York City, at the Upfronts, the network announces the fall primetime schedule as well as trailers for new shows and details for each returning show’s new season. Presumingly, some of the most exciting news the announcement of an “epic crossover event” by CW network president Mark Pedowitz. Here’s a breakdown of all the superhero goodness from this year’s Upfronts including teasers from cast members on the event’s press line. And make sure to check out the official Superhero Upfront Promo below!
ARROW:
The Green Arrow himself, Stephen Amell, was on hand to dish on the upcoming season four finale as well as the series’ fifth season, which airs at 8|9c. Wednesdays this Fall.
- In an interview with the CW Amell teases the finale revealing that each of the members of Team Arrow will have to choose a new path. And he shares that he believes the episode’s slight tease for season five will upset viewers.
- Amell tells TV Line this season’s finale will feel more like a season finale as opposed to last year, which he thought felt more like a series finale. He says it will be good, give a lot of closure people are looking for as well as teases to get viewers excited for season five. He teases that even though it seems as the finale is set up as its all about rescuing Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards), it is very much not and about how Oliver’s start of mind and his approach. He also adds viewers see Oliver in a way never done before and him addressing Star City.
- In an interview with ComicBook.com, Amell, addresses the supernatural theme of season four as nice for the season, but hopes for season five it returns to doing what it does best, being a super power of the superhero show. In regards to season five potentially the end of the flashbacks, he says it’s going to be interesting how they do that…have them line up with present day Oliver or we just never know. Something he’d like to see explored in season five with Oliver is the public’s perception of him and Amell teases that the finale does give a hint of that.
- Amell teased a new bad guy in season five during an interview with Variety saying, “I’ve heard that our big bad, our villain, is something that you can really only do once you’re in the fifth, sixth or seventh season of a TV show.” When asked for more details, he confesses he does have more information but didn’t want to divulge any more details. He does hint, “As far as I know, they don’t have superpowers. I’ll tell you that.” Amell is excited to get back to the shows roots since the network doesn’t need help launching any new superhero show.
- And regarding the upcoming crossovers, Amell tells Variety, “I’m always interested and it’s always great for fans. I just have to make sure that they balance keeping up the quality of your show — last year when they wanted me to come to ‘Legends’ and play old Oliver, I was like, ‘That would be awesome, but show me how this works on our schedule so it’s not comprising whatever episode we’re working on.’ And it was great and we did it. So I would just like to see a plan.”
THE FLASH:
Stars Grant Gustin (Barry Allen / The Flash), Carlos Valdes (Cisco Ramon), and Jesse L. Martin (Joe West) were on hand for this year’s presentation. Here are some of the details they shared about the upcoming season two finale as well as season three, which airs Tuesdays this Fall at 8|9c.
- Gustin teases the season two finale in an interview with the CW revealing there will be blood, explosions, and lightning.
- In an interview with TV Line, Gustin says Barry is obviously going to get dark following his father’s death. He believes that in season three Barry it will be harder for him to be the optimistic and hopeful character that he’s always been, but he’s going to fight for it and to move forward. Gustin hints that the season two finale will leave Barry vulnerable coming into season three and he;ll come to a crossroads, which will affect all of Barry;s relationships including his and Iris’ (Candice Patton). Gustin confesses he hasn’t thought too much about Barry in season three because the finale was just too emotional but promises to talk to the producers before Comic Con. He does think it’s Supergirl’s turn to visit Central City.
- When ComicBook.com asks Gustin about the upcoming season finale, he confesses ‘there are no words’ and teases it picks right up where the last episode left off.
- Gustin shares in an interview with Variety, “I will be doing more crossovers,” and reveals “I’ve already committed to a handful. I don’t know anything. The way it works is I say I’m down to crossovers and then they do whatever shows they please.”
DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW:
Representing the ‘Legends of Tomorrow,’ cast members Caity Lotz (Sara / White Canary), Brandon Routh (Ray Palmer / The Atom) and Victor Garber (Professor Martin Stein) attended the CW Upfronts. Below are a few things we learned about the series’ second season, which airs Thursdays at 8|9c. this Fall.
- Lotz shares with the CW on the carpet that she’d like to crossover to The Flash or Arrow again She loves doing crossovers because interacting with a new cast and seeing friends on the other shows
- In an interview with TV Line, Lotz explains it was unfortunate to see Snart (Wentworth Miller) go because there’s no longer the relationship potential between Sara and him. Lotz believes the dynamic between Sara and Rip (Arthur Darvill) as a very intense love / hate friendship. Regarding season two, Lotz teases that things are going to be very different and the producers really want to shake things up. Viewers can expect to see new faces especially with the appearance of Rex Tyler aka Hourman (Patrick J. Adams). Lotz looked forward to Sara learning about her sister’s death because she really wanted to give it just and in season two hopes Laurel’s death will have have a deep effect on Sara. And if Sara could hook up with any other CW character she’d chose Iris West.
- In an interview with ComicBook.com, Garber shares he was both excited and terrified to see the growth of Professor Stein, but it was great. He confesses that he has no idea what’s in store for Stein next season. He does like how the writers allow this character to assess the situation and take charge. Garber believes there’s potential growth in season two in all Stein’s relationship especially between Stein and Jefferson (Franz Drameh). He hints a different mix in season two saying there’ll be new people and some characters might not be seen as much. He also thinks it’d be fun to say in one era for a while next season and doesn’t want to travel back too far because the costumes would be too complicated. Regarding the four show crossover, Garber is excited but explains it needs to be very carefully planned.
SUPERGIRL:
Leading lady, Melissa Benoist (Kara Danvers / Supergirl) and Mehcad Brooks (Jimmy Olsen) attended the CW Upfronts. Below are a few things we learned about the series’ second season, which Mondays this Fall at 8|9c.
- Benoist shares her excitement about the upcoming four show crossovers with multiple interviewers, telling Variety, “I think the sky is the limit for crossovers,” she says. “That’s what’s so great about these characters and that we’re all on the same network now and we’re all in the same universe, technically. I think people want to see all of them interact and fight together.”
- Regarding the series move to the CW, she tells Variety, “I can’t say I’m surprised,” Benoist said. “I think it’s logical. I think it’s such a good fit — it feels like the right shoe size now.”
- When asked about season two, Benoist adds “I do know we’ll have the chance to maybe linger on stories that worked so well last season or stories from the comic books and stories that stay true to the mythology, so hopefully we can marinate and spend more time on things like that.”
- Brooks tells Variety, “I was really happy. We had 10 million viewers per week so if that follows to the CW, that’s a great thing for us and the network. I’m going to miss pizza — everyone always has their shirt off on the CW. When I heard it got picked up on the CW, I was like, ‘I better get in shape right now.’ I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be sexier. I think the show fits the network a little better. I’m glad that CBS tried it — and it worked, but a hit on CBS is like 18 million viewers, and people that watch our show don’t watch it live.”
Pedowitz told Variety regarding creative changes for producers with the show moving production to Vancouver to reduce the production budget some there wasn’t much of a new mandate. And for the rumors that Calista Flockhart (Cat Grant) would not continue her supporting role, “I don’t think (the move) will have a major effect on how they actualize what they do,” and shares discussions are in progress with Flockhart, who wants to continue with the series.
CW also released an official series summary for Supergirl as well as a promotional clip for Supergirl’s move to the CW.
SUPERGIRL is an action-adventure drama based on the DC character Kara Zor-El, Superman’s (Kal-El) cousin who, after 12 years of keeping her powers a secret on Earth, decides to finally embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be. Twelve-year- old Kara escaped the doomed planet Krypton with her parents’ help at the same time as the infant Kal-El. Protected and raised on Earth by her foster family, the Danvers, Kara grew up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex, and learned to conceal the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin in order to keep her identity a secret. Years later at 24, Kara lives in National City assisting media mogul and fierce taskmaster Cat Grant. She works alongside her friend and IT technician Winn Schott and famous photographer James Olsen, who Grant just hired away from the Daily Planet to serve as her new art director. However, Kara’s days of keeping her talents a secret are over when Hank Henshaw, head of a super-secret agency where her sister also works, enlists her to help them protect the citizens of National City from sinister threats. Though Kara will need to find a way to manage her newfound empowerment with her very human relationships, her heart soars as she takes to the skies as Supergirl to fight crime.
Based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, SUPERGIRL is from Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Arrow”), Ali Adler (“The New Normal,” “Glee”), Andrew Kreisberg (“The Flash,” “Arrow”) and Sarah Schechter (“Arrow,” “The Flash”).
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