'Arrow' Casts Stephen Amell As Oliver Queen

Ladies and gentlemen, we present Oliver Queen… and no, it's not the dude from "Smallville."

The developing CW pilot "Arrow" has found its titular bow-wielding vigilante in the form of Stephen Amell. Deadline reports that Amell has nabbed the lead role of Oliver Queen in the developing pilot, which David Nutter is directing based on a script from Andrew Kreisberg, Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim.

Amell is already a fixture among the CW faithful, having appeared on both "The Vampire Diaries" and "90210" for two episodes each. He's also held roles on the recently canceled "Hung" and the ongoing medical drama "Private Practice."

Before Amell, actor Justin Hartley was The CW's Green Arrow, having played Oliver for several seasons of "Smallville." Amell's casting signals a serious departure from the character's previous adventures alongside Clark Kent, it would seem.

Even though Amell fills out a crucial piece of the "Arrow" puzzle, he's far from the only cast member producers are seeking to hire. The series also has roles for Green Arrow mainstays Black Canary and Merlyn — the former a so-called "one-woman war against the 1%," the latter "a spectacularly rich young man whose life revolves around parties, clubs, liquor and lots of anonymous sex." Also in the mix is oversized ex-military bodyguard John Diggle, whose last name seems to be a shout-out to comic book writer Andy Diggle of "Green Arrow: Year One" fame.

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