‘Arrow’ targets ‘Doctor Who’ actor and famed DC heroine for recurring roles
Oliver Queen, be warned: Huntress is coming to Starling City.
“Arrow,” which debuts Wednesday, October 10 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV two this fall, has cast Australian actress Jessica De Gouw as Huntress, another crossbow wielding, cape-wearing, butt-kicking crime fighter who wants to right the wrongs of her family.
The series focuses on the return of wealthy playboy Oliver Queen (played by Canadian Stephen Amell) who spent the last five years stranded on a remote island. Upon his return, he develops an alter ego that fights crime and protects his home, the fictional Starling City.
Huntress, also known as Helena Bertinelli, will be featured in a multi-episode arc as a potential love interested for Oliver, according to Entertainment Weekly. Her first appearance will be in episode six.
There’s no word yet on how their paths with cross, but as her comic book counterpart is often regarded as a reckless crime fighter (once banned from the fictional Gotham City by Batman himself) it’s expected her crime fighting methods will be at odds with Oliver’s.
Huntress was first created by Detective Comics (company behind Green Arrow, as well as Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman) in 1989. Based on a pre-existing character of the same name, the new Huntress is the daughter of a dangerous mafia figure who watched her entire family die at a young age. Now the character hunts the very criminals who targeted her family as she tries to put an end to the mafia.
De Gouw’s inclusion as Huntress comes right on the heels of another casting announcement: John Barrowman will join the series in a recurring role.
Barrowman, well-known to fans of “Doctor Who” and “Torchwood” as the time-travelling Captain Jack Harkness, has joined the series as a “mysterious man,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. All that’s been revealed about the character is that he is wealthy, well-dressed, a prominent member of Starling City and an acquaintance of the Queen family.
De Gouw and Barrowman join other new cast mates Kelly Hu (as comic character China White) and Michael Rowe (as comic character Deadshot) on the new series.
“Arrow” premieres Wednesday, October 10 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV two.