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Arrow - Season 4 - Jimmy Akingbola to Recur as Baron Reiter + Marc Guggenheim Explains Casting

23 Jul 2015

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Thanks to arrowshieldfan for the heads up.

Arrow boss explains Baron Reiter casting.

“We took the name Baron Reiter without any intention of turning him into Baron Blitzkrieg,” he continues. “Baron Blitzkreig is the evil Nazi super villain. Baron Reiter is not going to become Baron Blitzkreig in the show.”

Therefore, Reiter will have a completely different background, with the show simply using his name. In truth, the producers were interested in the character’s affiliations more than anything. “We never planned on actually telling a story about a bad guy who is a Nazi,” Guggenheim says. “In fact, when people meet this character, he’s not German, he’s not a Nazi, he doesn’t subscribe to any Nazi philosophies. We were attracted to an organization that actually in the comics had been associated with Deathstroke called Shadowspire. In the comics, Baron Reiter became associated with Shadowspire.”

Source:

British actor Jimmy Akingbola has nabbed the recurring role of DC Comics villain Baron Reiter — well known as Baron Blitzkrieg — on Arrow's fourth season.

Akingbola will recur on the series as Baron Reiter, an adversary for Oliver, and appear in the show's prominent flashback scenes. In the comics, the character is the leader of the nefarious group Shadowspire.

Source:

49 comments:

  1. Interesting. Not the flashback casting call I expected! ( GIVE US COAST CITY RESIDENTS! )


    Tomorrow they are done shooting ep 1. Can't wait for the ep 2 title.

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  2. Cool. So a criminal organization in flashbacks? Sounds interesting. I know it isn't happening, but I'd love a Carol Ferris, or Hal Jordan casting.

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  3. I hope they maybe reveal one of them in during midseason, if Oliver will stay in Coast City for that long.

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  4. arrowshieldfan22 July 2015 at 17:42

    I wonder if we get a teaser next week when episode 1 is complete

    Oliver still need to go russia though perphas second half of season

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  5. arrowshieldfan22 July 2015 at 17:48

    I think it make sense for criminal organization in FB with HIVE in present. They are probably not related

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  6. Teaser/promo-wise I don't think we'll get anything till the TCAs in 2 weeks. Maybe not even than.
    I hope
    they do promo pics for this seasom, cause last year scrap together was pretty pathetic.

    With Arrow lasting 6 years for sure I think Russia will be done in S05, while back to the island will be S06.

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  7. Hope it's related to HIVE in someway.

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  8. Which means the flashbacks would have to be reduced to covering half a year.

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  9. And I thought Arrow's oddest casting choice was casting a relatively young actor to portray Ted Grant last season. Obviously they don't want to go down the Nazi route, but why even choose this character to begin with?

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  10. Seriously? An african-american as a Nazi?

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  11. I have nothing to say about this.

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  12. This is certainly a first. ;-)

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  13. Lol. Not really, it's happened before.

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  14. I'm sure he is going to pop up in present time. S3 flashbacks were dragged out and boring. I need this year flashback story to be connected more to the present plot. That's the only way to make it matter.

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  15. Let´s hope so. I was a little confused by the african american Hydra Agents on Agents of Shield. That was my first connotation when I read the headline.

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  16. Well, a British black man :p I'm guessing that they will be changing up his back story somewhat, but it does seem a little odd.

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  17. Ah, didn´t check that ;-) I hope they change that. The black Hydra Agents on AoS was awkward as well.

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  18. arrowshieldfan22 July 2015 at 21:40

    I could see them turn Shadowspire. into some kind of private security company who do illegal thing and a unofficial part of HIVE

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  19. Christina Sherwood22 July 2015 at 22:00

    I know the flashbacks are supposed to be a huge part of the show but I detest them, mostly because they hardly ever seem to work within the episode, last year was especially drawn out/annoying/boring. I enjoy watching Barry & his awesome nerd crew far more.

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  20. I'm afraid I don't watch AoS, but didn't Hydra break from the Nazi's pretty much after WWII anyway?

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  21. TheLostWinchester22 July 2015 at 23:21

    Wow, almost every casting for season 4 seems to be off.

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  22. It's pretty rare.

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  23. Besides three they worked pretty well.

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  24. Theory: What if it is revealed Oliver knew Andy and this whole Shadowspire/Baron Reiter will actually tie to Andy's murder by HIVE which will then tie into the whole present day storyline. After all the two stories often converge. Also couldn't that be the "twist"? I'm just putting this out there now.

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  25. It's just, "ok". That was my reaction. Not negative or positive just...shrugs.

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  26. Well now people who were worried, don't have to wonder anymore.

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  27. I thought the FBs in season 1 and 2 worked VERY well and i enjoyed them a lot. The FBs definitely fit into the episodes/present.

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  28. Agreed. I hope Darhk, HIVE is linked to the organization or that Baron is in the present. Vice versa. Even then it's till interesting watching Oliver grow into a ruthless, PTSD ridden survivor cut off from humanity. Wow that will be almost jarringly in four. Since Oliver will in present be light as f*ck and affable. Which is disturbing compared to the increasingly darkness of FB Oliver. Cool juxtaposition.

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  29. I'd be down with and could see it.

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  30. I think it will be linked. I think it'll play out nicely. As for Oliver and his happiness, i'm cautiously optimistic. I can't get too excited about it, (although i want to cuz that's my baby), i feel if i think too much about it, to see his change, it'll last the first 3 episodes and that's it. And i'll be really crushed. I've had enough of being crushed for Oliver. I really hope TPTB do him justice. (no pun intended)

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  31. I don't think it'll last a few episodes. Like in the sense that he'll be lighter and less serious but yeah once the main arc kicks off he will be less happy. But as long as he has moments of levity, jokes and such I'm cool. And I believe he will, but then again who knows. But Oliver I think as he becomes Green Arrow will only be more well adjusted and even in his temperament.

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  32. He was obviously never going to be a Nazi, lol, but being the actor is British still hold validity to this character being a Baron.

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  33. It wasn´t that clear on AoS and they sometimes alluded it to make Grant look darker. Nevertheless, thanks SpoilerTV for posting the Interviews to clear up the casting.

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  34. A lot of current interviews for Season 4 have Marc Guggenheim discussing Oliver beginning his journey back to the island this year. So I imagine Russia or Bratva will play a role this year or the very beginning of next year. Logically Season 5 should end with Oliver's rescue if the timeline holds.

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  35. I just think they've been so secretive about Andy's death and they keep saying it is going to play a role this year. They also ret-conned Andy's death date. Originally it was 2009 but with last year's "The Return", Andy was still alive in 2010. So logically Andy's death should be catching up to the flashback timeline. They've also never said where Andy died. He was protecting someone and Deadshot killed him. So...typically the flashbacks and present day do collide (Island-Slade/Present-Slade, Hong Kong/Tatsu and Masae, etc.). Andy, at this point, is the only connection besides Oliver.

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  36. It the timeline holds yeah, but Hong Kong certainly didn't feel like a year. But neither did the previous fb arcs.
    I think what Marc meant in those interviews isbthat Oliver will slowly translated into Vigilante mode aka that he wants train and protect his city. AlsonOliver said he would meat someone he knows in the flashbacks so that should be fun.

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  37. Well I know MG stated the timeline carries over in the flashbacks. It's been 5 months in the present day and 5 months in the flashbacks. So time keeps jumping at those intervals. I'm mostly arguing Oliver spent time looking and acting the part of a man who had been stranded for five years. He also had to set up an advance rescue (most likely). At some point he'll spend some time on the island again. Logically Russia/Bratva would come on his way back to the island but I would imagine it would be first half season 5 at the latest.

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  38. We'll have to wait and see. I'm bit torn about the fbs at this moment as Hong Kong majorly sucked but Coast City could be really great with this hidden organisation and the possibility of Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris.

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  39. Ehhhh, we'll see. I wish i could join you but i can't. But i agree, when he becomes Green Arrow he'll be more adjusted. But I dont want to wait for that, i want to see him happy now. From ep 1-9. hahaha then they can make him Green Arrow by ep 15. lol I won't have to wait for the finale. He can be "well adjusted" from 15-23, hahahaha yeah that'd be awesme. It'd be a win win. = p

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  40. I think he'll be Green Arrow from basically near the beginning. And he will by happy automatically (six months vacation with a woman you love will do that to you- or make you hate that person).

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  41. 5 Months. And you're extremely optimistic. As much as I'd love him to be happy the whole season. It just won't be so, that's my fear, It'll be up and down for him. I personally want him to be GLOWING til episode 10. But the writers won't do that. I can see them now..."He's too happy, he's smiling and joking too much. We need something to turn his world around. I know let's throw in his kid, that's "not Connor". (Rolls eyes so far in the back of my head) If that's not enough, we'll kill off Roy and have Oliver hear about it. Yeah that'll do it." Smh.

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  42. 5 months, six months it's inconsequential. I never said the whole season I said well adjusted and lighter. And you're extremely pessimistic. I doubt beyond initial guilt that he'll be anything but happy once meeting this kid. And killing Roy? Right if they weren't doing it then they aren't doing it now.

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  43. Nooo, again, I said cautiously optimistic. BUT I also said, I could see them . Doing it, BECAUSE it's what they do! And I KNOW you didn't say whole season, I said III, meeeee, would love for him to be happy all season, AT LEAST til episode 10, but it won't be. I never said "meeting this kid". But anyone in that situation wouldn't adjust to that news very optimistically in '5 seconds flat" they're whole world gets turned upside down. He'd either be panicked, confused, or very angry. And, on the subject of "the kid and Roy"" again, Sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm!!!

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  44. I never said five seconds flat. I never said immediately. He'd get over it and accept the kid.I know you weren't speaking literally about Roy.

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  45. Okay. And Okay.

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  46. Right. Okay then.

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