The CW has released two photos of Arrow‘s Katie Cassidy in costume for the first time.
Cassidy, who plays Laurel Lance on the comic book series, has up until now been relegated to the sidelines of the more action-packed events. As an attorney, Laurel found justice in the legal system while it was her sister, Sara, who first wore the suit and wig of Canary and fought alongside the Arrow.
But with Sara’s death and Team Arrow being nowhere close to solving her murder, Laurel has taken to training with boxer Ted Grant to harness her anger, coming ever-closer to her comic book identity of the Black Canary. And now we have two promotional images of her suited up in clear homage to her late sister’s look:
According to executive producer Marc Guggenheim, Laurel’s arc won’t end once she suits up. “What Laurel is going to discover is that being a hero is more than wearing a mask and that wearing a mask and costume does not a hero make,” he explains. “It’s not going to be an easy road for Laurel no matter how quickly she suits up.”
And judging from these photos, she’ll be suiting up sooner rather than later.
We also know that Oliver is against Laurel becoming a vigilante, as she first came to him and asked him to train her, but he refused, saying that Sara would never forgive him. We’ve also seen in previews Oliver’s continued discouragement of Laurel going down the vigilante road, so Laurel’s new look is bound to cause greater friction between the two.
Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on The CW.