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Torchwood’s Captain Jack Joins The CW’s Arrow

Date: Aug 15, 2012 | Author: David Wharton | Category: Sci-Fi

Doctor Who continues to grown in popularity these days, but the future doesn’t look nearly as bright for fans of the spin-off series, Torchwood. The disappointing Torchwood: Miracle Day series took an interesting concept and killed it with molasses-slow pacing, an ironic feat for a show about a man who can’t die. Given that Miracle Day didn’t exactly light up the ratings for Starz, there’s some question whether we’ll get anymore Torchwood or if it is well and truly dead. But take heart, Torchwood fans: even if you can’t get more of the show, you can at least get more of the cast. Actor John Barrowman — Captain Jack himself — is joining the CW’s upcoming superhero action series Arrow.

Based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow, Arrow gives the character the Smallville/Batman Begins treatment, showing Oliver Queen’s path to becoming an emerald-hued, arrow-slinging vigilante. The show stars Stephen Amell as the hero, and EW reports that Barrowman will be playing a “well-dressed man … as mysterious as he is wealthy … he is an acquaintance of the Queen family and a prominent figure in Starling City.” That doesn’t exactly tell us much, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s playing some existing DC character and they’re trying to keep the lid on his identity until the show eventually reveals it. Sadly, the story also fails to explain why they’ve decided to change the name of Green Arrow’s hometown from “Star City” to “Starling City.” Who the hell names a city after a starling?

Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim are writing for the show, and that could be good or bad news, depending on your opinion of the Green Lantern movie, which they also penned (along with Michael Green & Michael Goldenberg). Either way, the show’s got a high bar to reach — in longevity, if not in quality — if it’s going to fill the (super) boots of its predecessor, Smallville, which ran for 10 seasons.

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Comments

  • Jeremy Nichols

    Love John Barrowman, love DC Comics, but will skipping this one.
    ‘Starling City’? Really? What was wrong with Star City? Even as much
    as Smallville smacked and beat the Superman mythos around, it was still
    Smallville and Metropolis. There is a reason the comics are popular.
    I’m tired of Hollywood and entertainment execs feeling like they have to
    change the characters and locales around to make a ‘new’ product. Take
    a note from Avengers and Dark Knight. Those crews figured it out and
    now we’re all smiling and they’re all rolling in it.

  • Anonymouse

    Mr. Wharton, as counsel for the Union of Starlings, it is my duty to inform you that you shall be receiving a legal notice about our impending libel suit regarding your aforementioned view of our members. And if you read this story aloud, we’ll add slander as well.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=827859671 David Wharton

      Bah, the Union of Starlings are a bunch of lame ducks.

  • http://www.facebook.com/thatcreepydude Stephen Shepherd

    i loved the torchwood showtime series [though not as much as the bbc one] but paced thoughtfull dark shows are not for the mainstream… american tv is for the most part LAME every good show gets the axe!

  • Open but Skeptical Fan

    I just want to put it out there that there was one really good DC story arc where the Manhunters had a member in Star City. With any luck (IMO) Barrowman may well be playing Chase Lawler who became the Wild Huntsman. Just speculation, but it would be quite fitting for the actor. Who knows… Maybe we’ll get something worth while out of this series.

  • Chelsea Green

    John Barrowman is such a great addition to this cast! The
    gals from my office at Dish and I have already been swooning over Stephen Amell
    as the main character, so I can’t wait to tell them about Barrowman! As I hear
    more and more about this show, I can’t help but get excited about it. I wish it
    was October already! I’ve been dying for a new superhero show ever since
    Smallville. I’m going to have to resurrect past seasons of that show to keep me
    preoccupied until Arrow premiers. Luckily, all ten seasons are available from
    the Blockbuster@Home service through my Dish account, so I won’t have to trek
    all over town trying to track down every DVD. Like you said, Arrow has a lot to
    live up to when it comes to filling the superhero shoes of Smallville!