Arrow EP Discusses Season 5 Flashbacks And Dolph Lundgren's Role

Arrow season five will seek to fill in many of the blank spots in Oliver's past, including his past dealings with Bratva.

The Bratva is a Russian crime syndicate, and their inclusion allows the show to go in some incredibly dark and twisted directions if they so choose. Showrunner Wendy Mericle has expressed that they are taking advantage of that in the new season (via TV Line).

"We really wanted to go gritty, dark, and make it feel very real. We're dealing with the Bratva, and the Bratva is, as we all know, a pretty interesting and messed-up institution. I might get shot for saying that, but hey!" she adds with a laugh.

The team did their share of research, with Mericle adding "Everyone on staff watched [the 2007 film] Eastern Promises. I watched documentaries about Bratva and how they operate in Russian prisons."

Eastern Promises is a film that was released in 2007 Directed by David Cronenberg. In the film, a pregnant Russian teenager dies during childbirth, with only the baby surviving. The midwife Anna (played by Naomi Watts) discovers her diary, which leads her through the girl's history with the Russian mafia, and it is far from pretty.

That won't be the only part of Oliver's past that is explored in the new season. Fans will also see Oliver throwdown with a new government enemy played by Dolph Lundgren.

"[Dolph's character] is a government strongman," Mericle previews. "He is scary and formidable — and he had a role in some stuff with Taiana's family last season. He's a bit of a badass."

That doesn't even mention the chaos that Star City finds itself in during the present, as the city has hit an all time high in gang and overall crime. Oliver is certainly going to have his hands full.

Arrow returns for its fifth season on October 5th on The CW.