Fact check: Is John Diggle’s Green Lantern suit really officially released artwork by Keith Lau? Explained

The Green Lantern arc within the Arrowverse has long been a tantalizing prospect for fans. One of the most anticipated storylines involved John Diggle's transformation into a Green Lantern. Although there were numerous hints and setups, this arc never materialized on screen. Recently, Marc Guggenheim, co-creator of Arrow, unveiled the concept art for Diggle’s Green Lantern suit, reigniting interest and speculation.

This has led to claims and counterclaims about the authenticity of this artwork, with some suggesting it is mere fan art.

DCU Brief clarified the situation on social media platform X, confirming that the artwork is indeed official and was created by Keith Lau. This revelation provides a fascinating glimpse into what could have been a significant plot development within the Arrowverse.

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John Diggle’s Green Lantern suit officially released artwork by Keith Lau

The question of the artwork's authenticity arose when Marc Guggenheim shared two pieces of concept art depicting John Diggle in a Green Lantern uniform. Designed by Keith Lau, this artwork was intended for Arrow’s eighth season but never made it to production.

Costume designer Brie Thorpe would have brought these designs to life had they been approved. Despite claims of the art being fake, DCU Brief confirmed that the images are genuine and were officially released by Guggenheim.

DCU Brief took to her X account and posted,

"There is a community note incorrectly claiming that this is fake fan art. This is brand new OFFICIAL concept art released TODAY by Marc Guggenheim in his newsletter. It is official art by Keith Lau."

John Diggle’s suit by Keith Lau (Image Via DCU Brief X)

The artwork shows Diggle in a modified version of his Arrow costume, adapted to include the iconic elements of the uniform. This concept art serves as a visual what if, offering fans a glimpse into an alternate storyline that was planned but ultimately shelved.

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What is Arrow about?

Arrow is part of The CW's Arrowverse franchise and revolves around the story of Oliver Queen, a fictional character featured in DC Comics. It is all about the life of a billionaire, Oliver Queen, who gets stuck on a dangerous island for five years only to reappear in Star City as a hooded vigilante fighting crime and corruption. It is known for its dark take on the superhero category with complex storylines and deep characterization, which also made it popular amongst fans worldwide.

Throughout eight seasons, several characters from the DC Comics universe have been introduced including John Diggle, Oliver's trusted friend and bodyguard. The character of Diggle underwent significant development throughout the show leading to speculation among fans that he could eventually become Green Lantern after many hints and Easter eggs were dropped.

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Why did fans not see Diggle's suit in Arrow?

Although the Arrowverse had laid much groundwork for making John Diggle become a Green Lantern, this was stopped by Warner Bros. and DC’s higher-ups. This possibility was hinted at in the final episode of Arrow when Diggle found an alien box that seemed to contain a Green Lantern ring. According to Guggenheim, there were some discussions with DC Entertainment about what could be done, but it never advanced beyond that point.

The main reason for this limitation was Warner Bros.' film division, which aimed to prioritize the Corps movie for the big screen. Additionally, Greg Berlanti was developing a TV show for HBO Max, which likely contributed to the decision to keep the character out of the Arrowverse.

This strategic prioritization meant that major DC characters and elements were often off-limits to the Arrowverse, leading to many promising storylines, including Diggle's Green Lantern arc, being left unexplored. The similarity between Diggle and John Stewart, a well-known character, made this even more frustrating for fans who saw great potential in this narrative direction.

Ultimately, while the Arrowverse's restrictions prevented the full realization of Diggle's Green Lantern transformation, the recently revealed concept art by Keith Lau offers a tantalizing glimpse of what could have been.

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As the new series comes to HBO, fans of Arrow and the wider Arrowverse can look forward to seeing these iconic characters explored in new and exciting ways on television.