Marc Guggenheim Reveals the Fate of John Diggle’s Never-Used Green Lantern Suit in The Arrows
In the vast series universe that includes the Arrow, fans have seen numerous character transformations, epic crossovers, and homages to popular DC Comics heroes. However, one of the most anticipated changes may not have come to fruition: David Ramsey’s John Diggle as Green Lantern. Recently, Marc Guggenheim, the key man behind The CW’s sprawling superhero universe, shared details about a Green Lantern costume that was designed for the character, but ultimately scrapped.
A missed opportunity in the Arrowverse
In a July 5 post on his Substack, Guggenheim gave fans a glimpse of what Ramsay’s character, known as Spartan, could be. On whether or not Diggle was meant to be the Arrowverse’s Green Lantern, Guggenheim explained, “Unfortunately, we didn’t get permission to make Diggle the full ‘Green Lantern,’ but we were trying to push things to the limit as much as possible.” . The reaction footage showed Ramsay wearing a costume that clearly paid homage to Green Lantern and a more “scruffy” version.
In addition to sparking curiosity among fans about how this change will play out, this revelation adds a layer of “what could have been” to the history of the CW universe that debuted in 2012. Over eight seasons and over 170 episodes, this series not only introduced Oliver Queen, the Emerald Archer, but also laid the foundation for a shared universe that includes series such as The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lantern, and Batwoman.
A universe in expansion and change
In addition to the revelations about the unused costume, Guggenheim also hinted at other aspects of the DC Universe that could be explored. In February, he clarified his earlier statement regarding the possibility of a sequel to the Superman Returns series starring Brandon Routh, explaining that although the project had been discussed, there was no concrete interest from Warner Bros. or DC Studios.
Similarly, when asked by a fan whether he would consider reprising his role as Green Arrow in James Gunn’s DC Universe film and television production, Stephen Amell expressed his openness to the idea, although with caution, you need to see some things planned first. Amil was enthusiastic but reserved, showing interest in how the character would develop in the new creative direction.
Attendance for fans
While fans of this sprawling universe may have missed out on seeing Diggle as a Green Lantern, they can still enjoy all the episodes that established this universe on streaming platforms. Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Story of Tomorrow and Black Light are available on Netflix, while Batwoman can be purchased on Apple TV and YouTube. This ensures that while some doors are closed, others are open for fans of this popular series.
Not only is Diggle’s throwaway clothing case a fascinating detail of what could be, but it also reminds us of the limitations and challenges that even the most successful and popular brands face. With each such revelation, fans are forced to reimagine the arc in different ways, as the creators once did, in addition to getting a deeper look behind the scenes of their favorite series.