Arrow Casts J.R. Ramirez As Wildcat

There’s speculation that Laurel Lance will study martial arts, boxing and other combat with Grant, as Black Canary did in the comics.

In the comics, Grant is a former boxing champ who becomes a costumed vigilante and a member of the Justice Society of America. Deadline reports that in Arrow, “Grant will be a former boxer who now runs a gym for underprivileged youth. A man with a mysterious past, he will play a pivotal role in Laurel Lance’s arc this season.”

Grant was announced as a new addition to the cast onstage at the Arrow panel at Comic Con this weekend, but no further information was given at the time.

Earlier this month, speculation around Wildcat popped up when Executive Producer Marc Guggenheim tweeted a photo of a boxing ring. Later that same day, Stephen Amell posted the image at right to his Facebook page, prompting some curiosity as to whether Arrow might be fighting someone there — and whether it, then, might be a villain like Roulette or Sportsmaster, rather than Grant, who popped up on the show.