Over the course of Arrow's eight seasons, actor Katie Cassidy played a prominent role. Cassidy played Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen's former love who eventually became the Black Canary. Lance met her end in Season 4, dying at the hands of Damien Dahrk (Neal McDonough.) Cassidy would eventually return as the Laurel Lance of Earth-2, aka Black Siren, and had a transformative arc from villain to anti-hero.
During an interview with CBR, Cassidy discussed the shocking death of Earth-1 Laurel Lance and how she didn't expect it to happen.
"I got killed off! That was very shocking! I was really shocked, and I'm clearly still upset about it!" Cassidy said. "I'm not really. That was sort of -- look. I talk openly about this because it's the facts. I mean, I was really sad, because I had grown to love these people and they're my family and I really didn't want to go! But I was like, "You know what? From a producing and writing standpoint, it makes sense."
Cassidy said she had spoken to longtime Arrow showrunner and producer, Marc Guggenheim, during her last day of filming, and he offered her the chance to come back on the show in flashbacks which she accepted. "I signed onto the show because I believe in the show, and I understand why you did this. Am I sad? Yeah. But I'll get over it. And also, I will forever believe in the show, you know? I love these people and yeah, totally. Just call me!"
Cassidy will play an integral role in the Green Arrow and the Canaries backdoor pilot, as she serves as one of its leads alongside Juliana Harkavy, who portrays Dinah Drake/Black Canary, and Katherine McNamara, who plays Mia Queen/Green Arrow. No release date for Green Arrow and the Canaries has yet been announced.