Stephen Amell has played the Green Arrow for eight years in a show that launched CW’s own shared universe. But there is always a time for a superhero to give up his cape, or hood, in this instance. After Arrow finishes its final 10 episode run, Amell will set his aim for Heels, a wresting drama on Starz.
The show is scheduled for an eight-episode run and will feature two brothers fighting over their father’s wrestling legacy in a small Georgia town. The series will center around the theme of chasing a pro wrestling dream and how wrestling personas can alter their real-life personalities.
Amell will play as one of the brothers, Jack Spade, who also wrestles as the heel, a term in pro wrestling meaning “the villain”. Spade, Stephen Amell, will be the villain of the Duffy Wrestling Association but, in real life, will be a father and husband trying to realize his wrestling dream. The show will explore how his dream affects his relationships as a brother, father, and husband.
When the news broke, Amell immediately joked with Cody Runnels (or Cody Rhodes), a professional wrestler who also played Derek Sampson on Arrow, and asked if he can help with the show.
Hey @CodyRhodes — wanna come and help me make a tv show? pic.twitter.com/esmPDNo8mn
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) August 19, 2019
Heels is written by Michael Waldron, who will also take on Disney’s Loki series, with Mike O’Malley as showrunner. O’Malley worked on a previous Starz show, Survivor’s Remorse, which had a four-season run.
Amell is no stranger to wrestling. Back in 2015, he teamed up with Neville to fight Stardust and King Barrett and in 2018 he fought Christopher Daniels. The actor has always been a big fan of wrestling and Amell is taking the fandom even further.
He has to finish Arrow first though, the show that changed his life. The third episode of Arrow’s final season just finished filming in anticipation for the October 15 release. In the meantime, join us as we explore some season eight fan theories.