Mark Pedowitz, president of the CW, the network that houses the ever-growing “Arrowverse,” has stated that after Legends of Tomorrow, there will be no more spin-offs for the foreseeable future. I hope that’s only a future that he can’t foresee. With more and more characters from the comics, four shows can only hold so much. But I suppose the network can only hold so much, with their other popular universes, such as Supernatural and Vampire Diaries.
There is a sister station that’s only available as a mobile app, called CW Seed. It houses the animated Vixen, also in the Arrowverse. Not only does the app offer original programming, such as Vixen and a Veronica Mars spin-off, Play it Again, Dick, but it also offers full runs of old shows, such as The Flash from 1990, Terminator: the Sarah Conner Chronicles, and Who’s Line Is It Anyway? Who’s to say that CW Seed can’t hold some of these spin-offs? After all, with superhero cinema at its peak, and the popularity of this TV-verse, who could go wrong with more?
Therefore, unlikely as it is for the foreseeable future, I’ve compiled a list of possible spin-offs that the Arrowverse has already seeded:
7. Red Hood and The Outlaws
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When Roy Harper, played by Colton Haynes, left Starling City at the end of season three, the actor, too, left the show for good. When he was brought on, in the latter half of season one, he was apprehensive about doing another long-term role, since his previous stint on Teen Wolf. Even though he was released from his contract, he could still guest star as Arsenal every once in a while.
We were promised a Teen Titans show on TNT. But, since news has slowed down to a halt, it looks like those promises may be empty. Both Arsenal and Starfire, members of Red Hood’s team of Outlaws, are also members of Teen Titans. If Titans was to share a universe with The Flash and Arrow, they could have crossed-over from show to show as this popular team of anti-heroes.
6. Green Lantern
I was one of those fanboys who really wanted John Diggle to be John Stewart. His fallen brother, Andy’s existence proves that Diggle really is his last name. Therefore, if he turned out to be Green Lantern, Stewart would have been his middle name. But, as more of Dig’s origin is written into the show, its neat to see him as his own, original character. Although, I’m with everyone else, and do not dig his new helmet. I like that he has a costume now. But at the same time, for being an original character, he was unique for not having one.
Diggle may be an original character now, but there is somebody from his story line that is part of the Green Lantern lore. Lyla Michaels is the secret identity of Harbinger. She uses this codename when she fights alongside her husband in the Suicide Squad. But in the comics, Harbinger is a full-fledged cosmic hero who finds herself alongside Green Lantern. If there’s to be a GL spinoff, she could take to the stars, and join the show.
John Stewart or not, the Arrowverse is still dropping hints. The most recent of those hints was in the season four premiere of Arrow. This season’s flashbacks take place in Coast City, the home of Hal Jordan. We may have not seen his face, but we did see the name tag on his flight jacket. In the series premiere of The Flash, Barry was taken to Ferris Air to test out his new-found powers. And when Malcolm Merlyn took our heroes back to the compound, Cisco explained that it was shut down because one of their pilots went missing.
5. Blue Beetle and Booster Gold
When Legends of Tomorrow kicks-off for this year’s mid-season, we will be introduced to a new character named Rip Hunter. This time-traveler happens to be the son of Booster Gold. If Legends makes it to season two, the show-runners are talking about introducing the glory-whore from the future.
Who better to team him up with than his buddy, Blue Beetle? Ted Kord was referenced a time or two back in season one of Arrow. For a moment, he was taken off the table, so that The Atom could make his appearance. Though, it looks like Kord is back on the table, since a truck and trailer with his name across it, was featured in the season four premiere.
Creator, Kevin Maguire, expressed that he wanted Seth Rogen and James Franco to portray his characters. We all know by now that, for DC, film and TV are separate universes. Therefore, this spin-off may not star such heavy-hitters.
4. Vibe
Cisco, once called Paco in the comics, is just discovering that he, too, is a meta-human. Harrison Wells told him that he could feel the “vibrations” between different realities. When Barry traveled back a week, he changed the reality where Dr. Wells killed Cisco. Though Cisco could still remember dying. So he created the visor he wears in the comics to “vibrate” himself back to that reality. Its only a matter of time ’til he can manipulate the vibrations as a weapon, much like Skye, I mean Daisy, does on Agents of SHIELD.
Carlos Valdes’s portrayal has become a fan-favorite. Its interesting to note that, while Sheldon wears Flash shirts on The Big Bang Theory, Cisco often sports apparel that references the hit sitcom. But if he’s such a fan-favorite on The Flash, why remove him from the equation? Back before any other show spun-off, there was an online mini-series called Arrow: Blood Rush, which featured Felicity dispatching a solo mission for Roy. I could see a Vibe mini-series doing the same.
3. Deathstroke The Terminator
When Deathstroke was defeated at the end of season two, Ollie stuffed him in his makeshift prison on Lian Yu. The next season, he was used as a test for Thea’s evolution into Speedy. Actor, Manu Bennet, expressed what a slap-in-the-face it was to be defeated by Thea. This wasn’t the first time he whined about the show-runners, though. So chances are, if they ask him, he’ll return. And what better way to come back, than for his own show?
2. Constantine
When the Keanu Reeves-starring movie was released, Constantine sat over at Vertigo Comics. But when DC started their characters over into the New 52, they added some who were with other publishers that DC owned. This also included Grifter of Wildstorm Productions, once owned by Image Comics.
When the NBC series was on the brink of cancellation, many fans fought to keep it on the air. Such fans included celebrities. William Shatner said he’d play Dr. Fate. Stephen Amell wanted to bring Green Arrow over. Unfortunately, it was canceled anyway. But Oliver Queen and John Constantine will still be able to join forces, as Matt Ryan has been brought over to Arrow.
Guillermo Del Toro once said his Justice League Dark movie could work within the show. Now that Warner Brothers has added it to their DCEU, and Matt Ryan has joined the Arrowverse, that seems unlikely. But we could still see Ryan recruit Serinda Swan, who’ll play Zatanna on Arrow, bring Emmett J. Scanlan back as Spectre, and have their own Swamp Thing.
1. Justice Society
What’s this all leading to? Legends of Tomorrow may be a prototype of some sort of all-star team. With Marvel’s Avengers, we’re spoiled when it comes to ensemble pieces. If the DCEU is introducing the Justice League, what team will Arrow and company form? In the comics, the Justice Society started off as a team for the older heroes. We’re starting to see some of those older heroes in this TV-verse. Wildcat was in last season of Arrow. Unfortunately, he was killed by Vinnie Jones’s Brick. Jay Garrick, the original Flash, will arrive from Earth Two this year. Hawkman will make his debut on Arrow, before joining Hawkgirl on Legends of Tommorrow. Mister Terrific, who joined the team down the road, will also be on Arrow. So whether it be the original team, or a new one for Ollie to form, Justice Society could be one of those mini-series to compliment the shows of the Arrowverse.
Agree or disagree with the list? Sound off below!