ARROW at Comic-Con: Live-Blog

What happens next on ARROW after Tommy’s death? The cast and crew will be dishing during their Comic-Con panel at 5:15 PM PT today, and I’ll be live-blogging what goes down. (Note: It’s the last panel of the day, so it’s likely to run a little late.)

In the meantime, here’s the official panel description: “After failing to foil Malcolm Merlyn’s undertaking, Oliver Queen and team look to get back on track by crossing another name off the list: Comic-Con 2013. Arrow series stars Stephen Amell (Hung), Katie Cassidy (Melrose Place), David Ramsey (Dexter), Emily Bett Rickards (Flicka: Country Pride), and Colton Haynes (Teen Wolf) — with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern), Marc Guggenheim (Eli Stone), and Andrew Kreisberg (Fringe)-will take aim at San Diego with a special video presentation and panel discussion previewing the show’s upcoming and much-buzzed-about second season, which will center on Oliver’s transformation from vigilante to hero. Arrow: The Complete First Season will be released on Blu-ray, DVD and UltraViolet on September 17. Based on characters appearing in comic books and graphic novels published by DC Comics, Arrow is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The series returns for a second season this fall, airing Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.”

5:33: Starting things off with a special sneak peek of the new season! Not only was it a fantastic look at what was, but we got some an intro to Summer Glau’s character and a glimpse at a Black Canary-esque person.

5:38: How have things changed since last Comic-Con? Stephen can’t walk around anymore. He notes that last year people were worried about how the show would be, but this year, people are lovely.

5:40: The premiere is called “City of Heroes” and things are going to be a little bit crowded: “There are going to be a couple more heroes helping Oliver out” in season 2, Andrew teases.

5:41: This is “Moira’s season of redemption” Andrew says. But when the season starts, some people are worse off than when we left them, others are better.

5:42: Andrew notes that this season is not about Oliver crossing names off of a list anymore…he has to realize the city needs him.

5:43: “Look, no one was sadder than I was, but everything — not just in season 2, but for the course of the series, however long we go — is meant to honor Colin Donnell’s character,” Stephen says.

5:44: “She’s growing, she’s evolving, and she starts to kick some butt,” Katie says of getting progressively more kick-ass. As for her losing Tommy, “she’s done her mourning, she’s done her grieving…I think that will stay with her forever.”

5:45: “One of the things we’re doing this season is telling the beginning of the Black Canary story,” Andrew says. But he notes that very often on the show, the first incarnation of whom they show isn’t really who fans think they will be — the first Merlyn we met was Tommy, and then Malcolm came, etc. — so just because there’s a Black Canary-esque person in this season doesn’t mean that the person we meet will it.

5:47: Diggle is going to find his way into the Green Arrow comic!

5:48: “I had to learn a whole bunch of new terms: shipping wasn’t in my vocabulary before!” Emily says of her ride this past season. But could Laurel and Felicity be friends? Katie says she thinks they could, “but I might have to fight [Felicity] a little.”

5:52: “I think Roy is going to have to go through a gamut of things and realize he’s not as big of a bad-ass as he thinks he is,” Colton says of Roy’s arc in season 2.

5:54: Will there be anyone else coming back from season 1? Look, it’s surprise guest John Barrowman! He brought a gift for Stephen, who then apologizes for stabbing John’s character.

5:56: John says he loved getting to play an iconic character without too much much pressure on his shoulders. Would he come back? “I would be more than happy to come back to this family,” John says.

5:59: Casting news! Brother Blood will be played by TRUE BLOOD’s Kevin Alejandro and Bronze Tiger played by Michael Jai White.

6:00: One word to describe the premiere script? Colton: “Epic.” Katie: “Unexpected.” Stephen: “Trees.” (Which he promises will make sense soon.) Emily: “Daring.” David: “Me?” (Hm…) John: “Mine is more than one word: not read it.”

6:05: “The opening moments for season 2 will give you a big hint” about whether Slade will be a villain or an anti-hero, Marc says.

6:06: We’re watching the sizzle reel again and we’re done!