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For the in-universe concept, see multiverse.
Heroes of the CW promotional

The "Arrowverse",[1][2][3] also known as the CW Multiverse[4] or simply CWverse,[5] is a television franchise that is based on characters that appear in publications by DC Comics. The shared multiverse is akin to the DC universe in their comic books, which has had crossover plot elements, settings, and characters.

History

The CW began airing Arrow in fall 2012. Due to its success, the network began production for a The Flash spin-off the following year. Barry Allen was planned to be introduced in the eighth and ninth episodes of the show's second season, followed by the twentieth episode acting as a backdoor pilot.[6] However, after executives saw the initial episodes, they decided to order the series straight to pilot.[7] In early 2015, the CW announced a web-series for Vixen to air on the CW Seed.[8] Two months later, The CW announced an additional series, DC's Legends of Tomorrow to air early 2016.[9] On August 12, 2015, Wendy Mericle confirmed their version of John Constantine follows the same continuity as NBC's Constantine.[10] On December 12, 2018, Marc Guggenheim confirmed their version of Barry Allen follows the same continuity as CBS's The Flash.[11]

Media

Series name Original run Amount of media produced
Television series
There have been a total of 814 episodes aired throughout the Arrowverse across five media platforms: The CW, CW Seed, The WB, NBC, and CBS.
The Flash 1990–1991 22 episodes
Birds of Prey 2002–2003 13 episodes
Arrow 2012–2020 170 episodes
The Flash 2014–2023 184 episodes
Constantine 2014–2015 13 aired episodes; 1 unaired[12]
Supergirl 2015–2021 126 episodes
DC's Legends of Tomorrow 2016–2022 110 episodes
Black Lightning 2018–2021 58 episodes
Batwoman 2019–2022 51 episodes
Superman & Lois 2021–present 43 episodes
Web series
Airing on CW Seed and YouTube, three animated and two live action webseries have contributed to the Arrowverse with content being released online.
Vixen 2015–2016 12 episodes
Freedom Fighters: The Ray 2017–2018 12 episodes
Blood Rush 2013 6 webisodes
John Con Noir 2015 1 webisode
Chronicles of Cisco 2016 4 webisodes
Stretched Scene 2017 3 webisodes
Mister Parker's Cul De Sac 2020 5 webisodes
Comic book series
Several comic book issues have been released online revolving around the characters in some of The CW television shows. Later the issues were released as a print graphic novel. As well, a comic book series was for CBS' The Flash in print. Several of the issues have been considered non-canon.
The Flash TV Special 1991 2 issues
Arrow 2012–2013 36 issues
Arrow: Season 2.5 2014–2015 24 issues
The Flash: Season Zero 2014–2015 24 issues
Arrow: The Dark Archer 2016 12 issues
Adventures of Supergirl 2016 13 issues (+2 special editions)[13][14]
Crisis on Infinite Earths Giant 2019-2020 4 issues
EARTH-PRIME 2022 12 issues
Internet blogs
Through the internet blogging sites Tumblr and Instagram, The CW promoted The Flash.
The Chronicles of Cisco 2015–2020 101 blog posts
Novels
Several novels have been released revolving around the characters in some of The CW television shows. Portions of the novels have been considered non-canon.
Arrow: Vengeance 2016
The Flash: The Haunting of Barry Allen 2016
Arrow: A Generation of Vipers 2017
The Flash: Hocus Pocus 2017
Supergirl: Age of Atlantis 2017
Arrow: Fatal Legacies 2018
The Flash: Johnny Quick 2018
Supergirl: Curse of the Ancients 2018
The Flash: Climate Changeling 2018
The Flash: The Tornado Twins 2018
Supergirl: Master of Illusion 2019
The Flash: Green Arrow's Perfect Shot 2019
The Flash: Supergirl's Sacrifice 2020
The Flash: The Legends of Forever 2021
Video games
CBS released a video game to promote their television series, The Flash.
The Flash 1991
1993
TV shorts
The CW released non-canon advertisements for upcoming seasons of Arrowverse shows before they began airing.
Superhero Fight Club 2015
Guitar Hero Challenge 2015
Superhero Fight Club 2.0 2016
Suit Up 2018
Nate AD 2020
TV specials
The CW released non-canon specials to promote different aspects of the Arrowverse series.
Year One 2013
Chasing Lightning 2014
DC's Legends of Tomorrow: Their Time Is Now 2016
Constantine: The Legend Continues 2018
Crisis Aftermath 2019
Arrow: Hitting the Bullseye 2020
Superman & Lois: Legacy of Hope 2021
"Beebo Saves Christmas" 2021

Trivia

Unproduced media

  • The CW was attempting to produce a spinoff series of Arrow, titled Green Arrow and the Canaries, but decided not to move forward with the project.
  • The CW was also attempting to produce a spinoff series of Black Lightning, titled Painkiller, but decided not to move forward with the project.
  • The CW had considered releasing a series titled Wonder Girl, but later passed on the show.
  • While Stargirl exists outside of the mainstream Arrowverse, series creator Geoff Johns confirmed that a spinoff of that show was in the works, but didn't come to fruition due to the sale of The CW. Said series would've focused on the children, nephews and nieces of other members of the original JSA; people like Jennie and her brother Todd, who'd been born with powers and were learning to use them, rather than members of Courtney's version of the revived JSA whose powers came from artifacts.[23]
  • After the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, Jon Cryer pitched Warner Bros. Television a Legion of Doom series loosely based on the Forever Evil event, but passed on the show.[24][25]
  • The CW had considered releasing a series titled Justice U, but later passed on the show.

References

  1. "'Supergirl,' 'The Flash' EP Shoots Down Crossover Rumors" - The Hollywood Reporter
  2. "'Arrow' Casts Mr. Terrific And Anarky" - Deadline
  3. "Why Supergirl Shouldn't Join The Flash/Arrowverse" - Forbes
  4. "The Flash: Will the Real Flash Please Stand Up?" - DC Comics
  5. The CWverse Superheroes | The CW - YouTube
  6. "UPDATE: CW Eyes ‘Flash’ Series With ‘Arrow’s Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg & David Nutter" - Deadline
  7. "CW’s ‘The Flash’ To Do Stand-Alone Pilot Instead Of ‘Arrow’ Backdoor Pilot Episode" - Deadline
  8. "DC Comics’ Vixen Coming To CW Seed" - KSiteTV
  9. "Arrow/Flash Superhero Team-Up Spinoff In Works At CW; Brandon Routh, Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller, Caity Lotz Star" - Deadline
  10. "Arrow: Constantine Will Help Bring Sara Lance Back" - IGN
  11. Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) - Twitter
  12. "Final Girl"
  13. "Sister Act"
  14. "Date Night"
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One"
  16. 16.0 16.1 "'Crisis on Infinite Earths' boss answers burning questions about Earth-Prime, Ezra Miller, and more" - Entertainment Weekly
  17. 17.0 17.1 "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two"
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Five"
  19. "Smallville's Superman Is Still Alive Post-Crisis, Confirms Arrowverse Producer" - Screen Rant
  20. "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three"
  21. "Tom Ellis Explains When Crisis Fits Into Lucifer's Timeline" - CBR
  22. Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) - Twitter
  23. Stargirl's Geoff Johns: Yep, a New Team Was Assembling for Possible Spinoff
  24. @MrJonCryer On Twitter
  25. @MrJonCryer On Twitter


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