Arrow's Season 5 Big Bad an Homage to Idris Elba's Wire Villain Stringer Bell? 

s latest evil mastermind is heading to Star City by way of Baltimore.

TVLine has learned exclusively that the CW drama’s upcoming fifth season will introduce a new villain loosely inspired by Idris Elba’s

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The character, tentatively named “Anton Church,” is a ruthless crime lord who sets out to fill the sizable void left by Damien Darhk and H.I.V.E. The initial casting notice describes him as an “apex predator” who “cuts his way through the shadows” by taking down “the biggest threat first.” (Um, he’s looking at you, Ollie Q.)

While the role is being likened to Elba’s classic

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In a recent interview with our sister site Variety, star Stephen Amell said this of the show’s new Big Bad (who is slated to debut in the show’s Season 5 premiere this fall):  “As far as I know, they don’t have superpowers. I’ll tell you that.”

is also casting series regular role of “James,” an “irrepressibly charming” contemporary of Oliver’s who is described as “a man on a mission” — out as he is to avenge a tragic, violent loss from his own, years-ago past.

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I like everything I’ve been hearing for season 5. Here’s hoping the execution is as good as the idea.

See this sounds more like Arrow. It’s very much like The Mayor in s2, but I hope it’s well executed.

We might be back on track after S4 derailed. We can certainly do without: Magic/mysticism; boring, irrelevant & horribly acted flashbacks; an impersonal big bad with a ridiculous evil plot. Relationship drama for the sake of drama, etc. etc. etc.

I don’t want any more big bads. Do smaller arcs pls.

Totally agree. No more full season arcs, Too much filler episodes when they do that.

oh for cryin’ out loud… just do the Outsiders War story arc. Have the first seven episodes be a case of the week that ties into one of the seven clans, then do your episode 8 crossover episode, then episode 9 can reveal the full scope of the clans and hint at the oncoming war. Then boom, mid-season break. There, took me 37 seconds. It’s not that hard.

I wouldn’t trust Guggenheim to handle such an epic story

I wish we could get a proper interpretation of Komodo. He is an amazing villain in the New 52! At least they could bring back the character and flesh him out more. Also, what happened to Anarky?

I think they left it open for Anarky to return. I’m assuming they think he’s dead but he’ll pop up again to duel with Thea or whatever he does!

Sounds good but knowing that Guggentroll is behind it, it will end up being Season 4: part 2. Damien sounded good as well … Started off good and then derailed badly.

Cool. I like what I’m hearing for next season. The trouble is every season of Arrow (bar season 3 which was terrible) starts out really well and then gets lost in the middle. So I’m hopeful but I’ll wait to really judge until mid season!

The pull off a character like that the show needs subtly. Something Arrow has never had even in its good seasons otherwise he would just be a stereotype.

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