While many DC Comics fans are directing their attention towards the upcoming BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE and SUICIDE SQUAD, The CW have been quietly building their own shared superhero universe on television.
After the spectacular ratings and attention received by the epic crossover between Arrow and The Flash, The CW are clearly intent on replicating this success on a long term basis. The currently-untitled companion series to both shows, has so far been met with an equal amount of curiosity and enthusiasm. The brand new series will collect together a team of fan-favourite secondary characters from both Arrow and The Flash, to form a weekly superhero adventure show unlike any other. The spin-off will (so far) star Brandon Routh as The Atom, Victor Garber as (one half of) Firestorm, Caity Lotz as (the currently deceased) Black Canary, Wentworth Miller as Captain Cold and finally, Dominic Purcell as Heatwave.
Now, it has been revealed that Doctor Who‘s Arthur Darvill will be joining the cast as yet another time-travelling hero, named ‘Rip Hunter’. Hunter is said to be roguish and charming (Han Solo-esque?) hero, who shoulders the burden of protecting history as a time-travelling adventurer. On top of that, stage actress Ciara Renée has also joined the cast as Hawkgirl, a character who will be very familiar to fans of the Justice League animated series that ran from 2001 to 2004. Darvill and Renée are two of three new characters joining the ranks of the CW’s superhero universe, with the third heavily rumoured to be Static Shock (or possibly even John Stewart).
While the logistics of these characters becoming a team is currently still a matter of great confusion, Darvill’s role as a time-traveller could shed some light on the situation a little bit. In fact, some have even speculated that The Flash‘ current experimentation with time travel and parallel dimensions could even mean that the series takes place in an alternate universe. At this point it’s best just to wait for some official confirmation on the plot, but expect to hear news sooner rather than later with both parent shows concluding their current season’s very soon.
Source: Deadline
