Coming off a fantastic season where Slade Wilson transformed himself into Arrow’s greatest adversary to date, there has been a lot of speculation about who Oliver Queen will have to test himself against in Season 3.
The first clues have finally presented themselves in this regard.
Arrow executive producer Andrew Kreisberg recently addressed the rumours about the show’s new villain.
“Slade had a very specific agenda—he was out for revenge and had set up this elaborate five-year plot,” Kreisberg told EW. “What’s interesting about the villain in season three is that he doesn’t necessarily disagree with [Oliver]. He doesn’t have any personal animus towards the Arrow, and he actually in some ways has a very similar worldview. [But] the Arrow is thinking too small.”
Kreisberg continued: “In some ways, as Oliver is struggling with whether or not he can be the Arrow and Oliver at the same time, the villain of season 3 is saying, ‘Being Oliver Queen is what’s holding you back from fulfilling your true destiny.’ So it’s a very interesting dynamic, but it is tied in the same way that Oliver last year was wrestling with, ‘Am I a hero or a killer?’ The theme of identity is tied up very much in how the villain is presented to Oliver.”
The internet has been abuzz with rumours that the villain will be Ra’s al Ghul (as he has already been referred to on the series). Kreisberg said that the casting for the show’s new villain will happen soon.
It has been confirmed that a Flash/Arrow crossover episode will happen in November and will be the eighth episode for both shows.
“It’s really going to be an adventure with the Arrow and Flash on both episodes. Watching the two teams come together and fight alongside each other, it’s one of the most fun parts,” says Kreisberg. “We just don’t believe in waiting. We really believe in accelerated storytelling and especially for those first nine episodes of the season—for both shows—hopefully we’ve designed it so that none of these [make you say], ‘Well, I missed that one, it’s fine.'”
The Flash premieres on October 7 on The CW. Arrow’s season premiere airs on October 8 on The CW.
