STRAIGHT SHOOTING

We hear from two cast members of action-packed Arrow, and what it meant to film its last season.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

"Juliana Harkavy plays  Dinah Drake, also known as Black Canary in Arrow"

Season eight of Arrow is the final season of action, intrigue and adventure for Oliver Queen [played by Stephen Amell] in the fan-favorite that spawned a string of superhero spinoffs including The Flash, Supergirl, Black Lightning and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. With the premiere of final season, we catch up with Katie Cassidy Rodgers (who plays Laurel Lance) and Juliana Harkavy (who plays Dinah Drake) to discover what fans can expect from the epic DC Comics drama.

What does it feel like to be entering the final season of Arrow?

Katie Cassidy Rodgers (KCR): Season eight is very cinematic in the sense that it’s 10 episodes, but each episode almost feels like a tribute to every season. I’m really hoping that this season becomes an event for fans; I hope they get together with family or whoever, and appreciate it for what it is.

Juliana Harkavy (JH): I’m having an amazing year on Arrow. In fact, I think this is my favourite year so far. It’s been emotional, and it’s been a real bonding experience.

What else excites you about the final season of Arrow?

KCR: I’m directing the third episode of season eight, so I’m very excited about that. I went through the Warner Bros directors’ programme during the last hiatus and it was incredible. For my first time directing, I’m lucky to have great people around me who I know and love.

Is there a story that you’ve been waiting to tell that you might be able to include in your directorial debut?

KCR: Yes, but I can’t share it with you because it’s featured in an episode this season, so you’ll just have to watch it.

If you could swap roles with anybody on the show, who would it be?

JH: I don’t think I would swap roles with anybody. If I have to just answer the question, I would say Thea [Queen, played by Willa Holland] because I love her dialogue. I love her energy. I love her arc but I don’t think I’d want to play anyone else.

Your favourite memory from working on the show?

JH: There are so many. Meeting Stephen for the first time, doing my Canary cry for the first time, doing the Birds of Prey episode. There are all these moments that really punctuate the character in my mind and helped her come into herself.

KCR: I think Arrow represents a city of heroes and that’s who we want to be. I also feel like that’s who we have been to our fans. There are people who come up to me — and other cast members — and say, “Thank you. You’ve changed my life.” That is interesting and moving for me. That’s how I want the show to be remembered. That’s my dream for Arrow.

Check out Warner TV’s Facebook page and Instagram (@WarnerTVasia) for more.
 
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"Katie Cassidy talks about her directing debut"
 
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Netflix’s action-packed 6 Underground stars Ryan Reynolds and Mélanie Laurent. Go on a journey of adventure and romance with comedy mixed in (of course) as a team of six agents go off the grid to change the future. Get your popcorn out!

INTERVIEW COURTESY OF WARNER TV ASIA PHOTOGRAPHY TPG IMAGES/CLICK PHOTOS; COURTESY OF WARNER TV ASIA