While the character of Green Arrow appeared in Smallville, Arrow producer Marc Guggenheim says the upcoming CW series was never planned as a spin-off but instead as a new take on the character.

Part of the reasoning is that the Green Arrow on Smallville wasn’t created to be the lead in his own show.

“You have to reimagine the character in a more grounded, realistic way. It’s a part of the nature of a vigilante. You want to have a dark conflicted hero because that’s the nature of taking the law into your own hands,” Guggenheim told the audience at a ComicCon panel on the upcoming series.

Actor Stephen Amell, who plays Oliver Queen aka the Green Arrow, says that the series will be a more grounded and realistic take on the super hero.

Part of that includes a different code than other heroes operate under, including killing people if necessary. “You don’t always have to like his tactics – and I’m fine if some people don’t – but you have to respect him,” he added.

“Who doesn’t want to play a superhero on TV? I always wanted to play the villain, but this will do for now,” said Amell.

The cast and crew also teased that there will be Easter eggs for long-time DC fans during the show’s run.  Eagle eyed fans have already seen the Deathstroke mask in the trailer and there are promises for big and small homages during the show’s run.

The news also broke that Kelly Hu will play China White in an early episode.