The Arrowverse was one of the best iterations of a shared universe from DC for a long time, but in 2015, they teased something that ended up looking very different with Legends of Tomorrow. Back in 2012, Arrow kicked off The CW’s expansive exploration of DC superheros on the small screen.
While Arrow managed to grow a solid fanbase, the release of subsequent connected shows like The Flash in 2014, and Supergirl in 2015 exploded the success of the Arrowverse. And from there, the universe continued to expand, shining a light on underappreciated characters from the comics.
However, ahead of Legends of Tomorrow’s debut in 2016, the show was depicted as being something completely different from what we ended up with in a teaser trailer from 2015.
Legends Of Tomorrow’s Teaser Trailer Promised A Completely Different Show
Caity Lotz as Sara Lance taking cover in Legends of Tomorrow
Before Legends of Tomorrow debuted on TV, the Arrowverse was still just exploring the idea of crossovers. The Flash and Arrow had small crossover specials, and Supergirl was joining the lineup, but that series was based in a parallel universe.
So Legends of Tomorrow as a concept was potentially one of the first ways that these shows would have had a more meaningful connection. And that hope is reflected in the first teaser trailer released in early 2015, a year before the show would eventually begin airing.
With Barry Allen and Oliver Queen featuring prominently in the trailer, alongside the rest of the familiar cast of the show, it appears to have been building towards something very different. The tone appears darker, and the premise seems altogether more ambitious. But that isn’t what ended up airing on The CW.
Legends Of Tomorrow Seemed Like It Was Going To Be The Arrowverse’s Justice League
Rather than simply being a group of mismatched characters who were considerably less popular or powerful than the Green Arrow and the Flash, it appears as though Legends of Tomorrow was supposed to be a full-force superhero team of elites.
Both of those headline heroes from the Arrowverse were set up to be a part of the adventure, riding around with Rip Hunter and the gang to take on the likes of Vandal Savage and other threats across time. And with a trailer like the one above, it seems as though the show was moving forward in that direction.
How Legends Of Tomorrow Became So Different From What It Was Originally Teased
However, Legends of Tomorrow ended up being one of the outliers of the Arrowverse. The show certainly amassed its own dedicated audience, and the quirky and fun nature of the series, combined with the unlikely superhero team-ups adds up to something distinctly different for DC.
In addition, neither Barry Allen nor Oliver Queen end up being notable parts of the team, with the show putting the focus on the other characters. It’s likely that neither Stephen Amell nor Grant Gustin, the actors behind those characters, had time to juggle leading their own regular series, alongside starring in this show.
Eventually, the Legends would have opportunities to meet up with the other heroes in the Arrowverse in crossover events like Crisis on Infinite Earths, but as far as their regular lineup, they were on their own. This also contributed to the tone of the series changing dramatically.
With no Arrow, the show was free to lean into its own unique style and tone of voice, and it abandoned the gritty and dark tones that defined that series. As much as the finished show doesn’t reflect what was seen in that first teaser trailer, it does stand out.
I’m Glad That Legends Of Tomorrow Grew Into Something Totally Unique
dc’s legends of tomorrow, kuasa is killed as the water totem is ripped from her
Like many superhero shows, I think Legends of Tomorrow took time to warm up to. The first season of the show subverted expectations, not just in changing the core premise, but also in how it represented the group of underdog heroes. It also needed time to find its voice and get into a groove.
But, when the show began to come into its own, and stand apart from the other pillars of the Arrowverse, it started to make a lot more sense. Over time, characters like Rip Hunter had their stories revealed in greater detail, and ultimately became legendary in their own right.
And without the likes of the Flash or Arrow to overshadow the rest of the heroes, everyone had room to grow and embrace new roles in Legends of Tomorrow. I don’t think that would have been possible, or nearly so successful, if the heavy hitters from the Arrowverse were a part of the regular cast.
Ultimately, it sucks that DC and the Arrowverse completely misrepresented what the project would be in that initial trailer, but with more than a year passing between the teaser and the show’s debut, it makes sense that things changed considerably.
Legends of Tomorrow became a beloved part of the Arrowverse. It was different and quirky, but it also stands up as a worthy additional chapter in that incredible shared universe, and one that was better for the changes that the creatives made before it began airing.