"We're working on it."
That's actor David Ramsey's response when asked about the popular fan theory that Arrow's John Diggle might become John Stewart, aka Hal Jordan's partner and fellow Green Lantern. Viewers have been speculating for a year or more that the popular character — a new addition to the Green Arrow mythos created specifically for the TV show — could someday take up the mantle of ring-powered superhero.
In an interview with ComicBook.com, Ramsey is grilled about that very topic, and chooses his words very carefully when answering.
"John Stewart... Is John Diggle John Stewart? I cannot say 'yes,' and cannot say, 'no.'"
To which the interviewer, quite appropriately, replied with "Oh, come on!" But Ramsey insisted it wasn't an evasive answer, explaining that he honestly doesn't know what the plan is for Diggle. What he does know is that the writers are definitely considering it.
"I do know that there is serious discussion about whether or not this guy becomes John Stewart," said Ramsey. "But... it is top secret." He went on to say that, "They have told me that they are thinking about it and they are considering it. [Show creators] Greg Berlanti, Andrew [Kreisberg] and Marc Guggenheim have told me that. I haven't spoken to Geoff Johns about it yet. But... they're working on something."
What's clear is that Ramsey trusts Arrow's masterminds wholeheartedly. So whatever they have planned or whatever they decide, he's onboard. The interview then asked how he'd feel about Diggle turning into Stewart.
"I love John Stewart... If Diggle becomes John Stewart, I would be honored to be play that character. Honored... I think that he's an awesome character. I would love to sink my teeth into it." He added that bringing a superpower-based hero like Green Lantern onto Arrow could be problematic, since this show has always stuck firmly to a grounded (if heightened) reality, where superpowered individuals are few and far between.
Then again, that didn't stop the producers from introducing Barry Allen, aka the Flash, into the DC television universe. Those two characters have crossed over on one another's shows several times now. Arrow also introduced Ray Palmer, aka Atom, another character who's a superpower-driven hero. So maybe it's not so wild a notion after all.
As for how Diggle could be Stewart when their names and histories are different? Writing that's smart enough can make anything work. The way Reverse-Flash's backstory has been altered/updated over on The Flash proves that.
One wrinkle in the mix is the persistent rumor that John Stewart is the Green Lantern that will appear in the forthcoming Justice League big screen movie. It makes sense, as using Stewart would let the filmmakers distance themselves from the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern movie, which was both a critical and commercial failure. And the gatekeepers of DC's movie universe have been keen on keeping the movie and TV universes separate.
