Ever since he was introduced in the first season of Arrow, David Ramsey’s John Diggle has been a fan-favorite and a valuable member of the team. It’s also been pointed out several times that Diggle is the only member of Team Arrow that hasn’t donned a mask or embraced a superhero/vigilante persona. While this may dovetail with the character’s sensibilities, as the show increasingly embraces its comic roots, Diggle’s everyman schtick also kinda marginalizes the character — intentionally or not. Interestingly, all of that might soon change.
In an exclusive interview with ComicBook.com, Ramsey revealed that the Arrow producers have not only considered the possibility that Diggle is really John Stewart — a popular fan theory that’s as old as the show — but that they’ve actually had discussions about it!
Money quote:
I do know that there is serious discussion about whether or not this guy becomes John Stewart. But, I mean, I’ll say this: it is top secret. David Ramsey has asked them, and they’re like, “we’re working on some stuff.” If that’s the case, it’s gonna be huge. This is the stuff they want to avoid. I think they don’t want anybody to know yet and they haven’t even told me. They have told me that they are thinking about it and they are considering it. Greg Berlanti told me that. Andrew and Marc have told me that. I haven’t spoken to Geoff Johns about it, yet. But that’s the word from people directly involved in Arrow — that they’re working on something.
That’s as close to a confirmation on the theory as you’re going to get short of seeing Diggle whip out a green Power Ring and recite the Oath in the next episode. I know we’ve been a proponent of the theory for a while at the NOC. Last year, Rodrigo fully endorsed this post from The Will Power Fan Page on Facebook:
Now it looks like the show creators just might give the fans what they want. And it’ll be a welcome addition if it happens. Not only will it give Diggle his own superheroing to do, it might allow Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim the chance to atone for the 2011 Green Lantern film that they wrote and produced.
The danger, of course, is that by spilling the beans, Ramsey may have just inadvertently killed his character’s chance of donning (permanently) green tights to fight crime in Starling City. We’ll just have to wait and see.
In the meantime, check out Ramsey in his own words denying (while also pretty much confirming) that Ollie won’t be the only Green hero on the show.
