Regular viewers of The CW’s Arrow know that the show currently has a Black Canary shaped void in its lineup of heroes. But not for long!
Variety is reporting that Madison McLaughlin has been signed to recur on Arrow’s fifth season as the DC heroine, Artemis. The twist is that McLaughlin is also reprising her role as Evelyn Sharp, the fake Black Canary who appeared in a single episode last season. In that episode, Sharp adopted the costume and persona of the late Laurel Lance as a means to avenge her family on Damien and Ruvé Darhk.
For her return to the series, Sharp is adopting a new persona: Artemis. In DC’s comic book universe, Artemis is an Amazon warrior who once usurped Wonder Woman’s identity. But the most popular character using the name Artemis comes from the animated series Young Justice, which cast her as the daughter of two supervillains who joined a team of young heroes as the protégé of Green Arrow.
Related: The CW Adds Another Hero To ‘Arrow’
Of course, Arrow needs a new lead villain as well, and IGN is reporting that former star of The Walking Dead, Chad L. Coleman will be the new “big bad” of the show. Coleman will play Tobias Church, “an imposing gangster looking to unite the various criminal enterprises in Star City under his own singular command.” Coleman’s previous credits include The Wire, Roots, and The Expanse. He will make his debut on Arrow during the fifth season premiere this fall.
What do you think about the two newest additions to The CW’s flagship superhero show? Let us know in the comment section below!