Arrow Executive Producer Speaks About Laurel Lance's Return

01/10/2017 01:22 pm EST

Arrow season 5 is returning from Midseason break with some big mysteries in tow - the two biggest being "Who is Prometheus?" and "How is Laurel Lance back from the dead?"

Arrow's producers and showrunner haven been keeping coy when it comes to the subject of who is under Prometheus' mask, but they have been willing to talk more freely about the subject of Laurel's return - and what it means for the entire CW DC TV Universe, not just for Arrow.

Speaking with CBR recently, Arrowverse producer Greg Berlanti reiterated that Laurel's return is something they planned for - an opportunity to grow the character beyond the confines of one show. As Berlanti said:

"We made a deal at the end of [season 4] to bring her back for a bunch of episodes. Katie is a part of the fabric of the show. Because the show, like a comic book, can move in different ways, and characters go and come... There's the capacity for her to be [in all four shows]. At this moment, she's in three of them."

As an acting ensemble, the key members of the Arrowverse have been fortunate that the nature of a shared DC TV universe allows their stints to evolve and continue through other venues. Legends of Tomorrow is a great example of a show that has recycled guest stars and recurring characters into an increasingly successful headlining series.

If anything, Laurel was one of Arrow's earliest missteps - the character that went through all sorts of (sometimes absurd) drama, in order to bolster the superhero fantasy. Inevitably, she became a lightning rod for fan criticisms, even when she finally suited up as Black Canary II. With her resurrection, we've been teased with a new Laurel, with a new set of powers, and a wide-open path to walk across the DC TV Universe. Sounds good to us.

NEXT: Is Felicity the New Black Canary?

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Based on the characters from DC, ARROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (The Flash, Supergirl), Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters), Andrew Kreisberg (The Flash, Supergirl), Wendy Mericle (Desperate Housewives, Eli Stone) and Sarah Schechter (Supergirl, Blindspot).

The midseason premiere of Arrow, which is titled "Who Are You?," will air Wednesday, January 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.

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