SDCC 2014: Arrow Star Stephen Amell Talks Season Three, Olicity and The Atom

Just hours before the big reveal that Ra's al Ghul will be the Season Three Big Bad on Arrow, series star Stephen Amell was among those who joined the press to look forward to the upcoming season, tease what he could and dodge questions he couldn't.

ComicBook.com was on hand to talk with him about The Flash, The Atom, "Olicity" and more.

It seems like, with the crossover happening, the biggest conversation, the biggest emphasis sometimes is on crossover episodes.

Stephen Amell: Sure.

How do you feel about that conversation, that being that it seems to dominate a lot especially during the finales this way?

Amell: Well, I mean, consider that for a second. My first Comic Con was in 2012 and I was here, and there was one comic book show that was about to be on the air, and it was us.

So last night at the WB party you know, there are five DC properties on television this fall. The fact that we're able to talk about crossovers is because we took -- I mean, granted 99% of it is Grant Gustin but we took a character that people really identified with in Barry Allen, and BOOM! He got his own show. I think that's awesome.

Being in The Flash pilot – spoiler – was so cool, you know what I mean? The opportunity to do a big two night crossover event? Awesome, man. I mean, it's one of those things that you want to have happen on TV as a viewer and as a fan. I actually came up with an idea for a crossover on The Flash that's going to be much less publicized, you'll know it when you see it, and, remember, it was my idea.

So can you tease it out a little bit? Just a little?

Amell: A character that in Starling City is going to appear in Central City. We know they're there, and they're going to...reference something that teaches us an Arrow lesson, okay?

I know the fans have a lot of questions about the fake declaration of love for Felicity in the season finale...

Amell: Was it fake?

Well, it was a bait and switch, anyway. How do you feel about that?

Amell: I'm glad that viewers who felt like maybe they were faked out, they are getting a full resolution. Because telling the truth was the line --- you have to wait one more episode, I'm sorry that it's in October, but you get a full explanation as to what that meant.

What do you think about Brandon Routh's character? What was he do to the dynamic?

Amell: Very exciting. That's an element to the show that we haven't had. He's funny, I found myself in our first scene together, he's giving this big speech, and I found myself giggling. As Oliver I'm supposed to be pissed, but in my head I was giggling a little bit. He's great, super-professional, really good actor, and it's an element to the show that didn't have before. I'm excited.

Season Three adding something like Brandon, and adding the Hong Kong element to the flashbacks – it's important, it keeps everything fresh.

What are your feelings on all the strong female characters on Arrow?

Amell: Yeah! Hey, listen one of the coolest things on the show is introducing a character like Canary and having Caity Lotz just be such a bad ass. She kicks ass, and let's get as many people on the show that can kick ass – men, women, gay, straight – let's get as many people who kick ass as we can.

One of my favorite things on the show is – true story – I love when I was getting the s--t kicked out of me on the show. It's one of my favorite things! Oliver's not blessed with powers, we have to believe he is fallible, that he is vulnerable, that the world is dangerous. Because it takes mistakes of the show and raises [he says "rises,"] them up.

I wanted to ask you about the Emmys...

Amell: Yeah! Us not getting nominated for stunt-coordination is such horse s--t, okay? On such a high level.

I don't want to talk down on the other shows, but Jesus Christ, like, c'mon guys! The only thing I will say about the stunt-coordination is, every once in a while, we simplify it.

For example, in our second episode, I'm interrogating a guy. He's a...fringe character, he's not important to the central story, but I'm trying to get information out of him. And it was written as, "Oliver places him in crazy martial arts wrist lock and twists it and bones crack." And I'm saying to Bam Bam, "Dude, how 'bout instead of that, I ask for information, he doesn't give it to me, and I punch him in the stomach as hard as I can, and then I ask him again, and he doesn't do it, and I take the bow and I crack him in the leg?"

So, every once in awhile, we simplify things, but I'm very very proud of our stunt work.

How do you feel about Thea, and where her arc is going?

Amell: So fired up. You know, Willa is so capable, and such a wonderful actor, and the fact that we've had her for forty-six episodes, and haven't had a Thea-centric episode?

We've cultivated this character, the audience has come to know this character for two years, and we're going to give her the car keys for this year.

Season three is her graduation – metaphorical, not actual. I'm so fired up for her. Our third episode is flashbacks for her, and she's going to nail it.

Talking about keeping up your character's vulnerability, there are so many people now who know his real identity...

Amell: That's true.

Is there any point when that vulnerability comes into play, where he's trying to protect people who don't know – there's so few left now. Does that have anything to do with--?

Amell: Well, knowing now – knowing, not knowing – my periphery is just loaded with danger. That's a theme we address in the first episode this year.

I really hope we get to a point in the show where I pull a Tony Stark at the end of Iron Man, be like "Hey, hey guys: I'm the Arrow everybody!" Hood down, mask off – and that way, I wouldn't have to get the eye makeup anymore.