The sophomore season of The CW’s “Legends of Tomorrow” will welcome another member of the LGBT in the person of Todd Rice and his alter ego Obsidian.
During the Television Critics Association summer press tour earlier this month, it was revealed that “Alien” alum Lance Henriksen has been tapped to play Obsidian.
In the comic books, Todd is the son of the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott. His alter ego has the ability to fuse with his own shadow, allowing him to fly and pass through solid objects and possess other people’s shadows.
Obsidian is also a member of the Justice Society of America, which will also be introduced in Season 2 of “Legends of Tomorrow.” He is also openly gay and has been in a long-term relationship with Damon Matthews in the comics.
Executive producer Phil Klemmer said in a recent interview that Henriksen’s character will also be gay and that always has been the intention from the beginning.
He says that they had no hesitation in writing the character in any other way especially that they already have two LGBT members introduced prior to Obsidian.
Klemmer admitted that they still haven’t penned the episode where the character will make his debut, but confirms that Obsidian will be the third LGBT character to appear on the show.
Caity Lotz’ Sara Lance, who is bisexual as revealed in “Arrow,” was the first one. The second one was her short-lived romantic interest Lindsay Carlisle, played by Ali Liebert.
Aside from Obsidian, the upcoming season will also introduce other members of JSA such as Rex Tyler/ Hourman, played by Patrick J. Adams, and Henry Heywood, Sr./ Commander Steel, played by Matthew MacCaull.
Rex made his debut in the final moments of Season 1 while hinting the introduction of the Justice Society of America. The hero has the ability of super strength and speed for an hour as a result of a vitamin’s effect.
The Justice Society of America is a team composed of heroes that act as a less high-profile precursor to the Justice League.
Commander Steel is the grandfather of Nate, who in the comics eventually takes over the costumed hero. Maisie Richardson-Sellers will portray Amaya Jiwe/Vixen while no actor has been cast yet to play Dr. Mid-Nite.
In an interview with TV Line during San Diego ComicCon, Maisie shared that viewers will meet her character during the 1940s time period.
She adds that Vixen is the grandmother of Megalyn Echikunwoke’s Mari McCabe. Her powers give her the capacity to magically access the abilities of the animals.
Dr. Mid-Nite, on the other hand, has the ability to see in the dark, at the cost of total blindness in the sunlight.
Comic book fans will know that The Flash, the version of Jay Garrick, is also part of JSA. Speaking to Variety last May, John Wesley Shipp, who portrays the superhero, says that his character is important for JSA.
Now that Shipp has a larger role in the upcoming season of “The Flash,” it’s unlikely that he will join the JSA anytime soon. However, with “The Flash,” “Legends of Tomorrow,” and “Arrow” belonging to The CW, it’s also no surprise if they could pull off a massive crossover episode.
Meanwhile, executive producer Marc Guggenheim took to Twitter to share a behind-the-scenes photo of Ray Palmer/The Atom, played by Brandon Routh, riding on horseback and his full armor.
The photo suggests that the weapons look like a Samurai helmet making fans speculate that the Waverider crew may be traveling to feudal Japan.
Last season, the Legends were able to beat Vandal Savage. Now that the Tine Masters have been abolished, they will have to be reunited again before they go on their new mission.
According to the Season 2 synopsis, Nick Zano’s Dr. Nate Heywood will be thrust into the action upon making a shocking discovery that the Legends are scattered through time.
According to Vine Report, Nate will unexpectedly find himself with powers and will have to overcome his insecurities and dig deep within himself to unearth a hero.
Once the Legends find their way back as one team, they are expected to continue their goal of preserving the timeline from temporal aberrations, which are described as unusual changes to history that spawn potentially catastrophic consequences.
The second season will also see the return of Hawkgirl and Hawkman, played by Ciara Renee and Falk Hentschel, respectively.
The two decided to leave the team and move on after the defeat of Savage, but it looks like they will be drawn again to fight along with the team to defeat a new big bad.
Matt Ryan’s Constantine has also been confirmed to not join the show. The character made a guest appearance during the fourth season of “Arrow” and fans speculated that he will join “Legends of Tomorrow.”
Rumors say that Constantine will be part of Rip Hunter’s team along with Malcolm Merlyn, Damien Darhk, Eobard Thawne/Reverse Flash and Captain Cold, but it looks like Constantine won’t be part of it anymore.