Thanks to SHIELDNCISArrowfan for the heads up.
J.R. Ramirez is an actor on the rise. The Cuban born Ramirez left the country to be raised in Florida, which is where he “caught the bug” and found he wanted to become an actor. “I started modeling in my late teens and got into doing commercials. I liked being in front of a camera, so I went on to do some theater and take classes.” After roles on House of Payne, 90210 and Emily Owens, MD Ramirez moved on to two big profiles television roles. He is returning to Starz’s Power as a series regular after recurring in the first season and has joined The CW’s Arrow as Ted Grant for an arc that begins this Wednesday. I got to talk to the very humble and interesting actor about both of these roles.
On Arrow Ramirez will be playing Ted Grant, best known in the comics by his superhero identity Wildcat. The character destiny is to be the who trained Black Canary. Ramirez’s Ted Grant is a ex-boxer who now runs a gym for under privileged youth. “Ted has gone through a lot in his life. He has had a lot of hardships and was in and out of the system. I was really looking forward to diving into the character and discover the reason he is taking the steps that he is to help the kid and give back.” He could not reveal much about his character’s story, but did say “they carved out a nice little arc for me.”
On Arrow Ramirez will be playing Ted Grant, best known in the comics by his superhero identity Wildcat. The character destiny is to be the who trained Black Canary. Ramirez’s Ted Grant is a ex-boxer who now runs a gym for under privileged youth. “Ted has gone through a lot in his life. He has had a lot of hardships and was in and out of the system. I was really looking forward to diving into the character and discover the reason he is taking the steps that he is to help the kid and give back.” He could not reveal much about his character’s story, but did say “they carved out a nice little arc for me.”
He is FINE!!! Get you some Laurel!
ReplyDeleteHe's too young! Ted Grant/Wildcat is an older guy. He's a tough, grizzled, experienced fighter who's seen it all.
ReplyDeleteGreen Arrow has a goate, is blonde and a wisecracking guy with demons within.
ReplyDeleteDinah Lance is blonde
Felicity Smoak didn't exist until now
Merlyn is old, skinny and has a weird haircut (as well as a beard)
do you see any visual similarities to our current cast? Roy is the only one the got down perfectly (minus the acting part wich is lacking.)
This is Arrow version of Wildcat.........they can do whatever they want.
ReplyDeleteI hope he has a significant role which get fleshed out. Up till now he has only shot for 3 episodes. I hope he comes back.
ReplyDeleteAll of these comments can call for change with the characters, but Ted Grant is special because of his relationship with Black Canary in training her. To have someone around the same age would raise the question what could he possibly know that even Ollie doesn't?
ReplyDeleteOmg. Every time Colton came on screen last episode I went ''Oh Colton, honey, do you know where you are right now?" His facial expressions were sooooo bad.
ReplyDeleteActually Felicity does exist in the comics, but she has black hair, is much older, runs an IT business and was Firestorm's legal guardian. Well until now, she's the Arrow Felicity currently in the comics. Actually Colton Haynes is shorter than the 6'0 Roy Harper of the comics.
ReplyDeleteAnd Dinah Lance isn't a natural blonde, she's naturally dark haired and wore a blonde wig at first. Then sometime before the launch of the first Bird of Prey series she started bleaching her hair and growing it long instead.
ReplyDeleteAlso a bit aprehesive that they casted him too young. Like Historical_Materialist says above, Ted should be an older guy. And I don't really like the "buzz cut" look either, I GUESS it makes sense for a boxer/fighter to not have pretty hair. But he looked much more like the character in the original profile photos from his casting.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway, reservations aside. I'm willing to see what they do with him. I hope it's good...
I'm hoping he can film quite a bit of episodes before he has to do Power, I want Wildcat to be around also in the second half of the season. And I don't mind him being younger and not a father figure for Laurel- she has a father already, what she needs now is someone who will believe in her but still question her (sort of like Oliver's Diggle) and that can't be Oliver right now, because he won't approve of her actions/directions. And considering Laurel hasn't had a love interest since Tommy died, I'm also ok with her at some point getting together with Wildcat- girl could use something nice in her life right about now.
ReplyDeleteSeems Power started production around a month ago in September. So I don't think we'll be seein him on Arrow again until the later half of the season.
ReplyDeleteWell, they can do what they did with Gillian Anderson on Hannibal and just bring him for a few days and film all his scenes, he can have a few episodes of just training her, it could be just the two of them for a few minutes of screen time. As long as they don't kill him off, I'll be ok with him going away for a bit, if he comes back.
ReplyDeleteI think they will do this too. JB and Willa was not there on set when they shot episode 2. But there was a scene of them in the episode. Like wise they can shoot all wild cat scenes together. And it looks like his scenes are limited to Laurel for now.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much that he knows more than Oliver, it's that Laurel and Oliver have such a complicated relationship and endless emotional baggage. Plus, there's no way he would back her decision to become a vigilante. What she needs is someone who is a neutral force and doesn't have this entire sordid history with her, who can look at her objectively (and criticize her if necessary). So I wouldn't have wanted Oliver in that role anyway.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, making Ted a young hottie/love interest instead of a grizzled old mentor is probably just because this is The CW, and however much certain things have changed (bye, teenage girl dramas!), some are set in stone.
Yeah, even though I'm not crazy about the CW-ish insistence that everyone must have a love interest at all times, hence turning Ted into an LI... this might be a positive. Laurel was at her most likable to me when she was happy with Tommy. I can't deal with more moody, snappy Laurel who makes unwarranted snarky comments and quips at everyone and severely lacks warmth and kindness. So if this romance with Ted is good for her, I'm all for it.
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends on how much they both want him to be on the show, it's not like they got Sin back for a guest appearance or even referenced her (yes I know she has the Scream show, but they could name drop her, have Roy say he got off the phone with her, etc). Personally I don't want him to pull an Isabel and just disappear for half the season, so I hope they work it out.
ReplyDeleteWell, Laurel didn't have a love interest in S2, which is surprising for the CW and I'm ok with him being a love interest if he makes her happy and both supports her and challenges or makes her think things through. I agree that Tommy/Laurel was good for Laurel's character, I kinda liked them together. I think S2 Laurel is gone, she didn't go for alcohol or self pity when Sara died, she's completely focused on revenge and I think this is her new direction and the start for her BC story line and her becoming a badass vigilante.
ReplyDeleteI hope he is not treated like Isobel Rochev. In my opinion he should be there through out the season if they have to truly show us Laurel's transformation. David Ramsey is doing two shows. Do you know how prominent is his role in Blue Bloods?
ReplyDeleteBut Ted Grant HAS to know at least something different than Oliver. For Laurel to find this guy whose age is relatively close to hers…I just don't understand the reason why Laurel isn't looking for someone older and wiser. This version of Ted training Laurel, I could easily see this version of Black Canary that will get beat every time on the streets.
ReplyDeleteI also agree he should be there throughout the season so we can see Laurel's progress. I forgot David Ramsey is on Blue Bloods (I don't watch it, my dad does) but considering he only has one episode listed in 2014, I'm gonna say he's a recurring guest star who hasn't shown up that often lately.
ReplyDeleteYour also leaving out Diggles as well lol He too didn't exist till now.
ReplyDeleteWell. That's because we're talking about the classic "New Earth" continuity and not the New 52's world.
ReplyDeleteWell i nvr read the comics so not familiar with it.
ReplyDeleteLong complicated story made short. "New Earth" was the reality that DC comics existed in between 1987 to 2011. In 2011 certain events rebooted/restructured the universe yet again (it's the 3rd or 4th such major change) into "The New 52" which is the world the current comic books exist in. The two universes are VERY different.
ReplyDeleteI got the idea when they added word New lol
ReplyDelete