Green Arrow: Fallout (film)

***Green Arrow: Fallout*** is a 2005 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. The film was directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Marc Guggenheim & Andrew Kreisberg, starring Jeremy Renner. *Green Arrow: Fallout* was released on June 17, 2005 and grossed $524.3 million based on a $175 million budget, and received critical acclaim, with praise for Oliver's character arc, Christopher Meloni's performance, and setting up future DC films, with most agreeing that it improved upon the original film.

## Plot

In flashbacks to his time on the island, Oliver Queen meets mercenary Slade Wilson and a former captive Shado. The three form a bond as Oliver trains under Slade. In the present, Oliver has secluded himself on the island for the past six months. Finally, John Diggle and Felicity Smoak come to the island to convince Oliver to return, and reveal that Starling City has become host to more crime now that the vigilante has left. They also inform him that Queen Consolidated has been taken over by Isabel Rochev, now that his mother Moira is awaiting trial. Oliver reluctantly agrees to return. Laurel Lance is working for the District Attorney, but is hiding a drinking problem. Her father, Quentin Lance, has been demoted to patrol but has a newfound appreciation for vigilantism. Diggle is revealed to have reconciled with his ex-wife Lyla Michaels and is working with her and her organization A.R.G.U.S. Also, Oliver's sister Thea is continuing to date Roy Harper, who longs to work with the Hood.

Laurel represents Moira on her trial, and manages to get her off, and she patches things up with her children. Moira then decides to run for mayor against prime candidate Sebastian Blood, whom Oliver suspects of being corrupt. Blood is revealed to be working for someone else, who wants to destroy Starling City. Oliver learns of a new vigilante in town called the Canary, and discovers it is Sara, who is revealed to have survived the yacht crash, and made it to the island, where she joined Oliver, Slade, and Shado's group. Oliver claims she died on the island but she tells him she survived once again and met a group called the League of Assassins, who took her in and trained her, and she has returned to Starling City, without revealing her status to Laurel or her father. Oliver recruits her for his team, along with Roy, who he begins training, though this strains his relationship with Thea.

Isabel begins a hostile takeover of Queen Consolidated, despite Oliver fighting for control. More and more skull mask-wearing mercenaries attack the city, and Laurel realizes Blood is behind it, but he has her arrested for drunk driving to cover it up. Laurel manages to tell Oliver, but he learns Blood is working for someone else. Felicity discovers Thea is actually the daughter of Malcolm Merlyn, whom Moira had an affair with. Oliver confronts her about this and severs his relationship with her, but continues to publicly support her campaign to prevent Blood from taking office. Sara breaks Laurel out of prison and reveals her identity, and manages to clear her name. Laurel gets her to reveal herself to their father as well, who is overjoyed that she is alive. Thea is kidnapped by Blood's boss, Deathstroke, and Oliver rescues her and discovers Deathstroke is actually Slade, who was thought to dead. More flashbacks reveal that enemies on Lian Yu forced Oliver to choose between Shado and Sara's lives, and he chose Sara, leading to Shado's death. Slade's feelings for Shado drove him to use Mirakuru, a strength serum developed by Shado's killers that also drove him to madness. Oliver seemingly killed him, in an explosion that also killed Sara. In the present, Slade reveals his plan to take over Starling City to get revenge on Oliver. He then tells Laurel who Oliver really is, which allows Laurel to forgive him for everything he has done since returning from Lian Yu.

At the final mayoral debate, Moira is shown to be in the lead, forcing Slade to kidnap her, Thea, and Oliver, and makes Oliver choose between their lives, knowing he will choose to protect Thea. Moira is then killed, which causes Oliver to seclude himself. Slade and Blood, along with Isabel, revealed to be working with them, infect Blood's army with Mirakuru and begin taking over Starling. Diggle and Lyla learn A.R.G.U.S. has developed a cure, and Oliver uses it on Roy after he is infected. The serum works and they begin trying to find a way to disperse it through the army. A.R.G.U.S.'s leader Amanda Waller reveals she plans to launch a drone strike on Starling to prevent Slade's army from leaving. Oliver, Sara, Roy, and Quentin take on the army, while Diggle and Lyla try prevent the air strike. Sara contacts the League of Assassins, who show up ready to kill the army. They are instead able to coat their arrows with the cure and begin taking on the army. Thea finds Roy, but when she discovers he has become a vigilante, leaves him. Oliver tricks Slade into kidnapping Felicity, who manages to cure him while he is distracted. The air strike is stopped, and the entire army is cured. Slade is taken into A.R.G.U.S. custody, while Blood and Isabel are arrested.

Sara decides to return to the League, but thanks Oliver for his help. Laurel tells Oliver she knows his identity and wants to start working with him. They nearly kiss but are interrupted when Quentin collapses. Diggle learns Lyla is pregnant, and Thea decides to leave town. In a post-credits scene, Thea is revealed to have left with Malcolm Merlyn, who is revealed to be alive and the two know of their familial connection.

## Cast

* Jeremy Renner as Oliver Queen/The Arrow
* Christopher Meloni as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke
* Reese Withersppon as Laurel Lance
* Laurence Fishburne as John Diggle
* Bryce Dallas Howard as Felicity Smoak
* Amanda Schull as Sara Lance/Canary
* Natalie Portman as Thea Queen
* Josh Hartnett as Roy Harper
* Carrie-Anne Moss as Lyla Michaels
* Timothy Olyphant as Sebastian Blood
* Marisol Nichols as Isabel Rochev
* Grace Park as Shado
* Bonnie Bedelia as Moira Queen
* Hugh Laurie as Quentin Lance

## Reception

### **Box office**

*Green Arrow* grossed $183.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $340.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $524.3 million.

### **Critical reception**

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 92% based on 218 reviews. The critical consensus reads "*Green Arrow: Fallout* offers a great superhero conflict and manages to be bigger and better than its predecessor."