The River: Paul Blackthorne Joins CW’s Arrow Pilot

Paul Blackthorne, who plays producer Clark Quietly on ABC’s The River, has been cast in The CW’s Arrow pilot. It’s a reworking of the DC Comics character Green Arrow that was last seen on the network’s Smallville series.

Stephen Amell will star as Star City’s Oliver Queen, a wealthy playboy and billionaire industrialist-turned-outspoken politician. His other identity is the vigilante superhero known as The Arrow who fights crime using archery, martial arts, and technology.

According to Deadline, Blackthorne will play Detective Quentin Lance, the father of the hero’s love interest Laurel (Katie Cassidy). He’s a gruff and determined cop who believes in strict law and order and is charged with bringing the vigilante to justice.

Blackthorne is formally billed as a guest star in the Arrow pilot because it’s technically in second position behind The River. Given the ABC show’s low ratings, it’s almost a sure thing that The River will be cancelled and won’t stand in his way of appearing in more episodes of Arrow should it get a greenlight.

What do you think? Do you think The River will get a second season, preventing Blackthorne from working on an Arrow series?