Katie Cassidy is getting deep into the comic book world. She stars on the new CW series Arrow, the latest adaptation of DC Comics’ Green Arrow. Playing Laurel, a socially conscious lawyer for the underprivileged, comic book fans have a hint at what she might become. Cassidy also stars in the movie The Scribbler, an adaptation of the Image Comics graphic novel which she filmed over the summer.
We got to meet Cassidy when she came to talk to the Television Critics Association about Arrow this summer, and we got some private time with her. Arrow premieres tonight, so add it to your Fanhattan Watchlist.
Fanhattan: Have you read Green Arrow comics?
Katie Cassidy: Honestly, I had not read it before I auditioned. I went through it after I’d gotten the job and was going to shoot the pilot, but I didn’t focus much on my character, just because what I had done in the audition process had gotten me the role, and I didn’t want it to affect that if that makes sense. We’re still making something, I feel, original and it’s an adaptation of the comic book. I feel like ironically the way that I’ve created this character has made it very easy for the producers and director to be very similar, if that makes sense.
Fanhattan: It’s a totally legitimate approach either way. People just like to know if you’ve read it, especially comic book readers.
Katie Cassidy: Yeah, definitely. I know. I feel like I want to do it justice. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, as much as I want to be able to creatively do what I feel is right and I think they both sort of meet up in the same line.
Fanhattan: Have you talked to anyone who’s been on shows like Smallville for any questions about doing a long running superhero show?
Katie Cassidy: I have not but I also was on Supernatural for a year and I sort of saw that world a little bit and saw those boys. I got to go through some fight training which I actually think helped me get this role because they had seen that when it comes to that action, I think they thought that I was pretty good at it so that certainly helps.
Fanhattan: Did you train more once you landed the show?
Katie Cassidy: I have not yet. As far as if it’ll happen soon, that would be amazing. I would love to.
Fanhattan: Well, there’s plenty of time, but would Laurel get involved in the action?
Katie Cassidy: Yeah, in the second episode you see the corporate aspect of the show sort of collaborate in a very nice way with the action aspect of the show. The two worlds sort of meet and the way that the writers and director did it was a very organic, realistic way.
Fanhattan: The show is called Arrow. How much room is there for Laurel and the other characters?
“In the second episode you see the corporate aspect of the show sort of collaborate in a very nice way with the action aspect of the show.”
Katie Cassidy: I mean, there’s plenty of room. I think you start off with a character like that who obviously there’s a history, people know about other characters involved in the comic book. We’re there at the moment. It’s sort of developing and trying to see how every relationship that he has and what moves this character. I think you’ll find that Laurel, who I play, is a very big part of his journey. She is sort of the reason that he does a lot of the things that Arrow does, for her. I am just trying as much as I possibly can to make it worth it.
Fanhattan: What’s on your TV Watchlist?
Katie Cassidy: I honestly don’t get a chance to watch a lot of TV. I have Tivo’d New Girl. The Newsroom but I have literally not been able to sit down and watch TV in so long, to where I almost feel guilty because I’m on a show and I’m like, “This is the world I live in. I should be able to have more time.”
Fanhattan: Have you seen any finished footage from The Scribbler yet?
Katie Cassidy: I saw a trailer. It’s out of control how awesome it is. Actually, the writer and I have been working together and creating and developing a prequel to it, but not a prequel for a movie, a prequel TV show. So we’ve been in talks about that.
Fanhattan: So that’s a character you want to play again?
Katie Cassidy: I mean, I would love to. If I’m on this TV show, I don’t know how that would work, but you knew how dedicated I was to that project and how much I believe in it and still do, to the fact that I’m like let’s make a prequel, and let’s not only do a movie, let’s do a TV show. So we’ve been brainstorming and e-mailing back and forth about that in the last couple days. It’s awesome.
Fanhattan: Is there any graphic novel material to base the prequel on?
Katie Cassidy: Oh yeah, what we’ve been talking about is having a show lead into the movie, so that it’s justified, so it makes sense. The two worlds collide and collaborate very nicely.
