Arrow Casts Wildcat — Will He Train Laurel to Become the New Canary?
The “mystery” man about to enter Laurel Lance’s life has been unmasked.
RELATED Arrow Season 3 Scoop on Felicity’s New Beau
The CW’s Arrow has cast Emily Owens alum J.R. Ramirez as the DC Comics character Ted “Wildcat” Grant, who in his TV incarnation is an ex-boxer who runs a gym for underprivileged youth in Starling City, our sister site Deadline reports.
Per DC Comics lore, Ted, as a member of the Justice Society of America, trained assorted crimefighters — including Black Canary. And as EP Marc Guggenheim recently told TVLine, in talking up Katie Cassidy’s Season 3 story arc, “There will be some interactions with a new character that we haven’t announced yet…. Her fans will be really, really happy.”
VIDEO Extended Arrow Trailer Reveals Season 3’s Big Bad — Cast the Role!
In addition to his run as Emily Owens‘ Dr. Aquino, Ramirez’s TV credits also include Starz’s Power, House of Payne and Hacienda Heights.
Want more scoop on Arrow, or for any other show? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
so it seems that slowly they are steering towards Laurel becoming Black Canary; at least I hope they do;
Bummer. I can’t stand Katie Cassidy in this role. I would have preferred Sara to become the Black Canary. Didn’t her Tibetan nickname mean as much?
Me too
Sigh. As a Black canary fan Im sort of happy and sad at the same time, any Black canary on TV is a good thing to me but I also want the Best Black Canary. I do think Katie Cassidy was miscast, I dont hate her, Im just not happy with her. Why does Black Canary has to have so much misfortune on live action, its either bad casting, too little screentime or bad writing.
Anyway congrads to the new wildcat, hope he makes us proud.
Yeah well tough. The gods of tv aren’t here to grant your favors. You’re just along for the ride. This is their direction. Get over it.
Awww. Cry me a river loser.
Again, could we not name-call and be nasty? I mean, really. It’s one thing to make your point, it’s quite another to belittle someone. Doing the latter gives the fandom itself a bad name. Here’s an idea: How about we *clean up* the comments section? Then we can have some intelligent discourse for once.
Sara and Oliver had to deal with life or death situation and they were doing this over the course of years, in Sara’s case, she was also trained by The League of Assassins, which is no small feat. So, to have Wildcat come “train” her, over the course of what, months, and magically, she’s gonna be fit to become The Black Canary. Over the course of the series, her character has proven to be weak at most times and to think she will become the Black Canary is ridiculous. Not only is her character not worthy, nor will she be spending years acquiring the skills(unless they set season 3 years later), but it would water down the affect that Oliver and Sara had to get where they are. So please, do not make Laurel, the Black Canary. This show does not need her in that role anyway. You could eliminate her from the entire series all together and nothing will change. We all want Oliver with Felicity anyway, so why elevate a character that most don’t care fo
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Ah the self entitled whining of the shipping community. It’s always nice to hear the rantings of a shipperThey never get old. But I am curious why you feel that being stranded on an island and being trained by assassins is the only way to become a super hero? You are aware that there are many different ways and means for someone to gain a certain set of skills right? Captain America wasn’t stranded on an island. In fact he got his skill set from a serum created in a lab during the WW2 era. Spider-man was bitten by a radioactive spider-man and acquired his skills through that. So for you to think that she can’t become Black Canary through different means just makes you sound silly and nonsensical. What makes you think someone needs to spend YEARS acquire skills? This is a SUPER HERO Tv show. A Realm not grounded to the rules of reality.
One more thing. Last I checked Arrow’s episodes bring in an average of 2 million viewers per episodes. How many of those people do you honestly give a hoot about this “olicity” nonsense.
Here’s a hint. The average viewer does not care about ships. They watch the show for the show. You’re in the minority sunshine.
kassidy is misscast.
2.50 million views last episode. If she was a miscast the ratings would be way down.
Awesome! Great character and hopefully something interesting for Laurel to do. I like the idea of her training with someone not on Oliver’s team. Black Canary isn’t a sidekick after all.
Yes finally Katie gets a storyline worthy of lead actress. Can’t wait to see Laurel’s arc.
Agreed. Finally it’s Laurel’s damn time to rise. I root for Katie so much. Hope this season can shut up those Laurel/Katie haters.
Though when you hate something, no matter how awesome they get, they’ll still find a reason to hate.
So haters gotta hate and potatoes gotta potate…
So stoked for this season!
No wonder the actress was training so hard… Awesome. Lookin forward to some Green Arrow and Black Canary team ups… they’ll definitely be kickin ass together.
I wanted Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the role he would have been awesome
Yes he would. But he is currently starring in Texas Rising, about Rangers.
Not who I had pictured for the part but ok. If Laurel has to be BC then they better do this right.
I’m presuming from his younger age that he will also be the new love interest for Laurel that they’ve mentioned.
Yeah, definatly getting love interest more than a student/mentor type relationship from him. This is still a CW show.
Can’t wait! Katie Cassidy is my favourite part of the show! So excited to see her become the Canary.
Dude, this post HAS to be a joke, right?
Dude, people are allowed to like whomever they want :) I’m happy that the OP is getting what they want out of the show even though I feel the exact opposite :p
SO MUCH AMAZIMG ARROW SCOOP!!!! I don’t know if I can make it till October. I’m way too excited for this season to start. Season 3 will be amazing!
Is the character older in the comic books and just younger so that Laurel gets some lovin this season?? Hope they do a good job of this and this strengthens the show and no more bad blood between different fans. CANNOT WAIT FOR OCTOBER. Crazy amount of buzz for the show. No pressure at all….lol!!! Hope it gives the ratings a significant boost when they come back!!!
In the comics, Green Arrow is older as well… old enough to have grown children. Wildcat is older, with a grown son and having trained some of the DC superheroes. So timeline wise… it’s hard to say what’s what with any of them I guess.
Well, generally comic book heroes do seem to be somewhat ageless. But yes, thanks to his powers he’s 70 years old (active since 1945) and still in peak physical condition in the comic books.
Laurel deserves some depth this season, I suspect much of the hate she receives comes down to her character not really having that much of a purpose, she’s just there. Sara for example came along and was built up a bit as a heroine, she got a following because she kicks butt and is somewhat likable. I see no reason why they can’t do this, in time, with Laurel.
I like to see her do some training and dating with this guy! Just as long as it keeps her away from Oliver for some time….I know a lot of people think Arrow and BC belong together,but for me those two just don’t have any chemistry together and are hard to watch when they are together!
Personally, I think some of Katie Cassidy’s best scenes are with Stephen Amell. I was a B student in Chemistry, so I don’t really know if that’s what ‘chemistry’ means or not. :P
And I think some of her worst scenes are with him, such as that awful (IMO) “I know you in your bones” scene in City of Blood. So, you know, we all have different opinions.
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I actually think that some of her best scenes this season have, ironically, been with Caity Lotz. I thought they were actually pretty good together in Birds of Prey, and I liked her scene with Caity in Streets of Fire when Sara finds out that Laurel knows she’s the Canary. So I’m hopeful for more Laurel/Sara scenes in season three and less Laurel/Oliver scenes.
Yep I agree. Didn’t like when she found out about Oliver – it felt forced and the way they had her dismiss Diggle and Felicity did nothing to help win her any fans. When she was working/bonding with her Dad and Sara I began looking at her differently. Didn’t see her in SPN but thought she was the best thing about 90210. Hopefully they stay away from depressing feeling sorry for herself story lines and keep it strong for her.
Laurel didn’t dismiss diggle and felicity. Gosh you guys just want any reason to hate this character. She asked them to give her and Oliver some alone time so she could talk him out of killing himself!
When she asked Diggle and Felicity to give them a minute that’s the way it played as though she was dismissing them. I think you’ll find that I didn’t criticize KC acting I was referring to the way the scene was written. I praised her scenes with her Dad and Sara. In general I think people who were always on the bitch and complain wagon want to see this storyline work and for Katie have a storyline that plays to her strengths. And I praised her as an actress when she was on 90210. This season is gearing up to be really good so you’ll find that I want everyone’s story’s to work Katie’s included. I’m sure you have your scenes or characters that you thought were weak over the past 2 seasons. Criticism can be constructive not always bitchy and I thought that was the opinion that I shared.
One of Katie’s best work in my opinion is in Harper’s Island. I’m instantly a fan after watching her there.
In Arrow, she’s just not being given decent plot and how can you deliver a line like “I know you like my own name.” well?
Caity Lotz make everything look good. My Queen and Black Canary.
No offense to Katie Casssidy, I doubt she will ever measure up, that girl was born to be a superhero. Some roles are better for other people than others, equal but different. Just like KC would be a better fit for a fashion model like character than Caity would be.
I would personally far prefer to keep Sara as our Black Canary. I’m a major Sara fan. But I’ve kind of had my delusions on this point shattered, so I’m just trying to enjoy Sara as long as we have her on the show this season, and not think too much about the Laurel!Black Canary thing until it actually happens. :(
Interpretation IS everything. Opinions vary greatly; it is known. The hallway scene in ‘Time of Death’ is their best and most memorable in my opinion. It’s really the one I’m talking about since it sticks with me. As for that line in ‘City of Blood’, it’s just bad dialogue. Anyway, that’s in the past. Time to look forward to bigger and better things (Season 3).
I was referring to the entire (IMO) terrible scene rather than one specific line of dialogue, though I’ll agree it was a bad line. I wasn’t overly impressed with the Time of Death scene either. I thought Amell did good, but I got nothing from Cassidy. But yes, mileage varies. And yes, hopefully season three is better on all fronts, especially since, if Amell is to be believed, Lauriver is completely off the table for the time being.
I think giving Laurel a storyline and a love interest away from Oliver will hopefully give the character a chance to stretch and see what develops. Being tied to Oliver dragged Laurel down and didn’t do Oliver any favors either. So bring on the new love interest and the potential for wider storylines.
I hope they don’t try to force her into the Black Canary role if this doesn’t work out for her.
If they have to cast young (being on the CW and all). I would love it if this version of Ted Grant is already happily married and father to a young son. Keeping his relationship with Laurel strictly Trainer/Trainee. But who am I kidding, no way that’s going to happen. Comic book Wildcat does like the ladies, but the only one of his students he also had a torrid affair with was Selina Kyle/Catwoman.
Pretty sure that they have said that he gets romantic with Laurel. I hope they do this storyline right. The show is only as good as the sum of its parts and truth be told the writers didn’t do a great job developing her character even though she is supposed to be the leading lady on the show. I think most people would have to be forgiven for thinking Felicity is. This season looks like it is going to be really really good… Wish it was Oct 8!!!!!
I don’t think anyone has specifically said, yet, that Ted Grant will be romantically involved with Laurel. But they have said that he will be involved in Laurel’s arc this year, and they have said that Laurel is getting a new love interest this season. So….people are connecting the dots. I think it’s probably a safe assumption, especially since they cast an actor in his early 30s rather than, say, an actor in his 50s, who you might then assume would be more of a teacher/mentor than a possible love interest.
Yeah, I know. The chances of them casting a hunky thirty something and not having a love interest subplot is pretty much slim to none. Which is a shame because there are so many much more interesting ways to go.
Awesome! that is all… as long as they don’t make him wear the aweful wildcat costume from the comics :)
This is great news!
Now cue the haters and whiners.
*cough*olicity shippers*
Why would Olicity shippers care, especially since it’s highly likely Ted is also Laurel’s new love interest?
This is super funny considering this thread has almost zero hate, only constructive criticism (yet you’re pretty much whining about and hating on the olicity shippers for no reason? I sense a bit of hypocrisy here)…. I really hate it when people treat themselves as victims for no reason.
Regardless. I love the Oliver/Felicity dynamic AND I hope Laurel gets a good story this year because I’m tired of fast-forwarding her scenes. If that means Ted Grant has to be her love interest, then so be it. But I’d much prefer to see Laurel with her family more than a love interest because that’s where KC truly shines… I also hope that this arc doesn’t take away from Oliver’s story, because ultimately this show is called Arrow and not Black Canary.
erm… I may have been a little harsh. For that I apologize
No, you weren’t. :)
Ms Thing just set the women’s rights movement back a couple decades … you’re OK to call her on it.
Forgive me for not understanding, but I don’t know what women’s rights have to do with the OPs comment?
Awesome any actress with crappy storylines laurel has got from the past 2 seasons would be hated those were some awful awful storylines For a show abt a superhero. I wish Katie excels and she’s finally getting what she signed up for the extreme hate for her kinda makes me root for her
Personally I enjoy what they have done with Laurel. We know Black Canary is an amazing, badass, strong, athletic, super powered hero. And now we have Laurel who is a human lawyer, a damsel, a drug addict and alcoholic. To see her over coming all of that to be the hero we know is a great story in my opinion and much more believable than anything done with Roy.
Roy needs to go.
I can’t see that happening anytime soon.
Best news I’ve heard in long time for Laurel. They put her through the wringer last season, she deserves to now progress to becoming her alter ego, and Ted Grant / Wildcat is the character to do it. Trainer and mentor, and because it is the CW he’s a love interest too. Well at least he is damn hot. Looking forward to seeing a woman turn into a super hero, let’s hope they write a great arc for her. God knows Katie and Laurel deserve it.
Happy Wildcat will be on the show and it seems season 3 may be the best one yet. But I really hope they don’t use her to be Black Canary. I was really hoping that they’d kill off Laurel and have Sarah take over her identity or something like that. I’m just not buying Laurel (Cassidy) as Black Canary
SPOILER ALERT: Ra’s al Ghul kills Laurel & Felicity in the Season 3 finale. Sorry, couldn’t resist. :)
Hmm. They’d look good together. That’s something.
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And Laurel *did* used to work for those who were underprivileged in the Glades, so they have something in common.
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Still not sure on the whole Black Canary thing, especially since she’d admitted to not reading the source material at all, but I’m willing to see if they can make it work.
Laural as Black Canary is the WORST idea ever. The character has been written and acted so horribly as to be irredeemable. They need to eliminate her from the show and move on with what works, which is pretty much everything but her. And, NO, I am not an Olicity moron, I just like good story lines and good acting, neither of which Laurel/Katie Cassidy deliver.
And your mother said the same thing about you.
This is a TV show, don’t make it personal. That doesn’t help anyone. It’s okay if you don’t agree, but bringing in family members who may not even watch the show is uncool.
Was R. Lee Ermey not available?
Sara and Oliver had to deal with life or death situation and they were doing this over the course of years, in Sara’s case, she was also trained by The League of Assassins, which is no small feat. So, to have Wildcat come “train” her, over the course of what, months, and magically, she’s gonna be fit to become The Black Canary. Over the course of the series, her character has proven to be weak at most times and to think she will become the Black Canary is ridiculous. Not only is her character not worthy, nor will she be spending years acquiring the skills(unless they set season 3 years later), but it would water down the affect that Oliver and Sara had to get where they are. So please, do not make Laurel, the Black Canary. This show does not need her in that role anyway. You could eliminate her from the entire series all together and nothing will change. We all want Oliver with Felicity anyway, so why elevate a character that most don’t care for?
Love J in Power hope he comes back somehow to the show ! Good luck will be following new shows