Stephen Amell Fires Back at James Gunn for Mocking ‘Arrow’ in ‘Peacemaker’: “I didn’t f—ing appreciate that at all…”

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As a gamer who grew up with the Arrowverse and fondly remembers staying up late to catch those exciting episodes after school, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia mixed with a bit of sympathy for Stephen Amell.

In the realm of comic book adaptations before the DCEU and DCU, there was the Arrowverse – an extended franchise that thrived on The CW, focusing on a chosen band of DC superheroes. Admittedly, these shows were quite amusing, but they often found themselves the subject of memes and were frequently perceived as lower-tier productions compared to others in the genre. (First person: As a hardcore gamer and comic book fan, I’ve always been captivated by the Arrowverse shows on The CW. While they provided plenty of laughs, they were often meme-worthy and not as highly regarded as other productions.)

On occasion, CW superhero series can inadvertently slide into comedy due to their overly dramatic and occasionally corny dialogue. The breezy, daytime-soap-esque atmosphere of these shows makes them ripe for satire or mockery.

Back then, the special effects and action scenes on the CW’s superhero shows were quite spectacular for TV. However, they didn’t measure up to the blockbuster movies in terms of quality. In an age where the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and DC Extended Universe (DCEU) ruled with their top-notch effects, these CW scenes became prime fodder for memes due to noticeable differences in quality.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve got to admit that there were some flaws in the CW’s superhero series. However, what truly made these shows special was their emotional depth, character growth, and unwavering commitment to comic book origins—something not commonly seen on television networks prior to their arrival.

Nevertheless, in “Peacemaker,” a series by James Gunn, there’s a humorous jab at the character of Green Arrow, a point that actor Stephen Amell, who played this renowned figure, has since responded to. In episode 5 of season 1, titled “Monkey Dory,” the character Peacemaker, portrayed by John Cena, ridicules several superheroes, including Green Arrow.

Is that Green Arrow? He attends My Little Pony fan events, wearing the rear part of Twilight Sparkle’s costume which has a large, 4-inch opening resembling a hole.

As a dedicated gamer, I couldn’t help but voice my dissatisfaction when that jab was thrown during a recent chat on the Chris Van Vliet podcast.

That was a little unnecessary.I didn’t f—ing appreciate that at all….Okay. I am just going to come right out and say this. There was just such…between the movies and Peacemaker a little bit, our show was kind of treated like s–t. I get it, we’re on The CW, I get it, it’s TV.

While I understand that when people consider the latest DC version, they often think of the Arrowverse rather than the Snyder Cut. It’s been a long time since we faced criticism, and this recent instance just felt overly harsh. To be clear, I’m not angry, but in that moment, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated, thinking something like, “Why are they being so unfair?” I put in the effort, just like everyone else. You might not realize how challenging it is to portray a superhero without powers for 23 episodes annually. It’s incredibly demanding, and while I’m not asking for recognition, perhaps a little more appreciation for our show wouldn’t hurt.

Amell also acknowledged that he likes John Cena and doesn’t hold the joke against him.

I’ve crossed paths with John on several occasions, and he is without a doubt one of the kindest, most sincere individuals you’ll ever meet. If I have any reason to feel angry, it’s because James Gunn wrote that initially. However, John Cena certainly embodies kindness – it’s not a grudge against him personally.

Regrettably, Amell’s observation holds truth: over time, many fans started linking the DC Universe (DCU) with the lesser-quality costumes seen on The CW, particularly following costume leaks during ‘Superman’ filming. It appears that perceptions can indeed come back around.

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2024-09-18 10:14