Fantastic Details on How 'Legends of Tomorrow' Will Interplay with 'Arrow' and 'The Flash'

By Cindy Davis | Lists | July 14, 2015 |

For many Arrow fans, the biggest news to come out of the CW’s Legends of Tomorrow series announcement was the ***SPOILERIFFIC Arrow character information ahead — depart now if you’re not caught up***

…return of Caity Lotz as White Canary:

We’ve also been left to wonder how her return might affect Arrow, and whether she’d interact with her father, Laurel and Ollie. Because they know of her character, would the rest of the Legends gang would be able to cross back and forth (if Brandon Routh’s Atom knows about White Canary, does he have to keep her a secret from her family? Haven’t we already had enough she’s/he’s dead/alive secrets?

Thankfully, the gang — Lotz, Routh, Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell (reunited!), showrunner Phil Klemmer and Marc Guggenheim (producer) — are ready to clear up a few things, including that each LoT season will tell one particular and complete (serialized) story, and not rely on a villain of the week scenario. As Lotz notes, the series revolves around the relationship between its characters, who’ll definitely interact with those on Arrow and The Flash.

Caity Lotz on Legends, The Flash and Arrow becoming one big show:

“The whole series depends on the relationships between the characters. The whole thing is set up to serve one [serialized] storyline, rather than a bad guy of the week. But within that, none of that stuff will work unless you have those relationships with the characters. I think just the different dynamics that will happen, it’s going to have a lot of that. Imagine how much you could do with Sara [the White Canary] alone, and her sister, and their dad, her family. It’s so interesting to me, because it’s like, ‘Is this going to just all turn into one giant show, that we’re on three nights a week?’ I want it to. I want it to be all these different crossovers. It’s not just going to be action, blow-everything-up, though that will be a fun part of it.”

Marc Guggenheim on how Sara’s return will be handled:

“…we’re going to cover that whole story on Arrow. She’ll be ready to go for Legends by the time Legends starts up.”

Guggenheim on whether, because of Rip Hunter’s (Arthur Darvill) time traveling, we could run into other characters we’ve seen die (like Robert and Moira Queen). And could messing with LoT time affect things that have happened on The Flash and Arrow?

“That’s the beauty part of a time-travel show. You can go back to season one of Arrow, or even before then. That’s part of the fun. So much of it depends on, what stories are we telling, and are the actors game for reprising their roles?
The concept of time travel that was introduced on Flash is going to be applied consistently within the Berlanti-verse. So that said, we’re not doing to use time travel on Legends to retcon something on Arrow.”

Brandon Routh on whether we’ll see Atom/Ray on Arrow or The Flash prior to Legends:

“Yes, I think we’re going to see all of the characters come off of either Flash or Arrow to build the story, to build the team on Legends of Tomorrow.”

Phil Klemmer on Legends’ different (from Arrow and Flash tone:

“…ours is a little bit more adult, a little bit more madcap, more of like a caper. It’s sort of Ocean’s 11, where you have this team of misfits who’ve been sent on, essentially, a suicide mission. It will have a lot of interpersonal tension, but it’s almost like a family dynamic between people who don’t get along, but they’re forced to get along, because they’re stuck on this time-traveling space ship and having to save the world. But if it weren’t for that, they would absolutely kill each other!
At a certain point we will have darkness emerge, and characters will betray one another, and be tempted by the dark side. Others might not make it along for the full trip, or will get lost in weird time periods. But I think when they’re all hanging out, you can’t help but have people who are that different have fundamental disagreements about the stupidest things. It’s a very quippy, wisecrack-y show.”

Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller on adjustments their characters, Heat Wave and Captain Cold, might have to make:

“Heat Wave is not really comfortable in any environment…He just explodes at any chance he gets. But he has to be part of the team to help quash this nemesis that exists in the Legends of Tomorrow storyline. So he begrudgingly becomes part of the team.” (Purcell)
“[Captain Cold will adjust] Badly, I think…I don’t think it’s hugely interesting when you tune into a show and everyone is getting along. Heat Wave and Captain Cold, and Caity’s character, we’re there to add edge and spice and some rough and tumble to this newly assembled team. It’s not meant to be one big happy family pursuing a common goal. Hopefully it’s going to be a bumpy ride.” (Miller)

Miller on why Captain Cold would agree to be part of…anything:

“…he has, I think, the beginnings of a code. I think Barry has recognized that and is trying to speak to it and encourage its development. I think [Leonard] Snart will always be bad; that’s certainly my hope as the guy who plays him, because he’s so much fun as a bad guy. But there is something in him that has a code, that knows right from wrong, potentially. And if you look at his relationship with his sister [Lisa Snart/Golden Glider], there are things that he does care about, and make sacrifices for, when push comes to shove.”

I’m with Caity; I love the way the Berlanti/Kreisberg/Guggenheim team is blending their shows worlds the way comics do, and to have all the characters crossing over and interacting the way this preview indicates, is the ultimate fan service.

The heroes and villains of DC Comics unite on The CW! Beginning this fall, watch #Arrow, #TheFlash, and #DCLegends. https://t.co/v7wdqAr7pv
— Legends of Tomorrow (@TheCW_Legends) July 10, 2015

The Flash returns October 6th, Arrow, October 7th, and Legends of Tomorrow premieres in 2016. Additionally, following the announcement of a Vixen limited, animated web series (origins story), we may also see a live-action Vixen appear on one of the series, and if that goes well, her own show.

(via/read more: io9)

The LoT cast at Comic-Con: Franz Drameh, Caity Lotz, Brandon Routh, Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Ciara Renée and Arthur Darvill: