Stephen Amell Explains If Deathstroke In Movies Would Impact Character On Arrow

Following the success of Suicide Squad, DC diehards are looking forward to the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) more than ever before. Those fans’ excitement have grown this year as both Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment continue to tease fans with updates on Wonder Woman and The Justice League. Recently, Ben Affleck even joined in on the conversation and sent fans into a frenzy after he uploaded test footage from his upcoming Batman flick that featured Deathstroke. The mercenary’s appearance stunned fans, but some wondered if the character’s DCEU debut would affect shows like Arrow. But, according to Stephen Amell, those fears are unfounded.

Appearing at Salt Lake City Comic, the actor was asked if Deathstroke’s inclusion in the DCEU would jeopardize the character on Arrow. Stephen answered, saying, “That [question is] actually something that people bring up on a regular basis…that DC has told us you can’t have or you must get rid of [this character]. That’s not how that works.”

“Diane Nelson and Geoff Johns – the people at Warner Bros. on the feature side, the people at Warner Bros. on the television side – are all in the business of making the best products for fans,” he explained. “Just because there may or may not be a Deathstroke in the DC Extended Universe doesn’t mean Manu Bennett can’t exist on our show.”

Having first appeared on Arrow in Season One, Deathstroke stands as one of the biggest baddies of the series. The villain, who started off as an ally of Oliver on Lian Yu, turned against the came to despise the hero. After working as a mercenary for five years, Slade Wilson traveled to Starling City once he learned Oliver Queen had returned home.

Currently, Deathstroke is locked up in an A.R.G.U.S. facility on Arrow, but the sly character can’t be kept down for long. If the character returns, it wouldn’t be too shocking – but Manu Bennett may not reprise the role. After all, he did admit he felt that the show took Deathstroke in the wrong direction, citing the show’s ‘softball’ treatment of the character.

But, in reality, there’s nothing preventing Deathstroke’s return, not even the DCEU. Stephen even said Deadshot could come back to Arrow even though Will Smith recently played the marksman in Suicide Squad. That is, if Floyd Lawton hadn’t been already been killed off.

The actor’s parting words stressed that the two universes play well with one another. “There is no in-fighting,” Stephen said. “here is no war between the two factions. It’s all a collaborative effort and – in the grand scheme of things – I think the television universe has done just fine for itself.”

Arrow will return to The CW for its fifth season on October 5 2016 at 8 PM E.T.