John Diggle (Arrowverse): Difference between revisions

In season 2, when the metahuman King Shark escapes from his A.R.G.U.S. prison and arrives at Central City to kill Barry, Diggle and Lyla arrive to warn the latter. After King Shark is defeated by the combined efforts of Team Flash, Diggle and Lyla, he is taken back to A.R.G.U.S.<ref name="King Shark">{{Cite episode |title=King Shark |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=February 23, 2016 |season=2 |number=15}}</ref> In season 4, [[Clifford DeVoe]] infiltrates the A.R.G.U.S. facility holding the metahuman [[Fallout (comics)|Fallout]] by impersonating Diggle and kills most of the security; overcharging and killing Fallout to be a nuclear battery for his satellites. Afterwards, Barry brings Diggle to S.T.A.R. Labs to reveal the location of the facility.<ref name="Think Fast">{{Cite episode |title=Think Fast |series=The Flash |series-link=The Flash (2014 TV series) |network=[[The CW]] |date=May 15, 2018 |season=4 |number=22}}</ref>

In February 2012, [[David Ramsey]] was cast in the [[Pilot (Arrow)|pilot episode]] of ''[[Arrow (TV series)|Arrow]]'' as John Diggle, a "former military man now working as a bodyguard for hire who soon finds he is trapped in a battle of wits, loyalty and trust".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2012/tv/news/ramsey-cast-in-cw-s-arrow-pilot-1118049941/ |title=Ramsey cast in CW’s ‘Arrow’ pilot |last=Levine |first=Stuart |date=February 9, 2012 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717191653/http://variety.com/2012/tv/news/ramsey-cast-in-cw-s-arrow-pilot-1118049941/ |archive-date=July 17, 2014 |dead-url=no |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The character was created by ''Arrow'' creators [[Greg Berlanti]], [[Marc Guggenheim]] and [[Andrew Kreisberg]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.techtimes.com/articles/31567/20150207/arrows-john-diggle-really-stewart-actor-david-ramsey-speaks.htm|title=Is Arrow's John Diggle Really John Stewart, A.K.A. The Green Lantern?|last=Parrish|first=Robin|date=2015-02-07|work=Tech Times|access-date=2018-06-22|language=en}}</ref> Named after comic book writer [[Andy Diggle]], and created specifically for the show, ''Arrow'' co-creator [[Marc Guggenheim]] said Diggle was designed to be Oliver's equal in "many respects" such as their abilities and intelligence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greenarrowtv.com/interview-marc-guggenheim-unlocks-the-secrets-connections-in-arrow/11329/ |title=Interview: Marc Guggenheim Unlocks The Secrets & Connections In Arrow&nbsp;– GreenArrowTV&nbsp;– Part 11329 |last=Byrne |first=Craig |date=July 19, 2012 |website=Green Arrow TV |access-date=June 16, 2018 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140120/http://www.greenarrowtv.com/interview-marc-guggenheim-unlocks-the-secrets-connections-in-arrow/11329/ |archivedate=June 19, 2018 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Ramsey enjoyed the fact that he did not have to worry about matching the comic books, saying, it allowed him to "just kind of take [his character], and run with it".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/green-arrow-jeff-lemire-david-ramsey-shed-light-on-the-new-synergy-between-cw-hit-and-the-dc-comic/2013/10/09/20063d78-308c-11e3-9ccc-2252bdb14df5_blog.html?utm_term=.c9ce24893702 |title=The new synergy between CW’s ‘Arrow,’ DC’s Green Arrow |last=Betancourt |first=David |date=October 9, 2013 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=June 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140121/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/green-arrow-jeff-lemire-david-ramsey-shed-light-on-the-new-synergy-between-cw-hit-and-the-dc-comic/2013/10/09/20063d78-308c-11e3-9ccc-2252bdb14df5_blog.html?utm_term=.c9ce24893702 |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |dead-url=no |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He compared Diggle to [[Alfred Pennyworth]] from the [[Batman]] comics, calling the character Oliver's "moral voice". Ramsey, who has trained in various martial arts such as [[Wing Chun]], [[Jeet Kune Do]], and [[kickboxing]], used his martial arts expertise to make Diggle believable, saying, "I think, honestly, it has to do with...having Diggle able to not just handle himself on screen but be able to really proficiently use the (martial) arts — and look like he is a trained soldier. You don’t see the stunt guy. You actually see David Ramsey doing it."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://medium.com/@brianrsheridan/for-arrow-star-david-ramsey-martial-arts-is-a-way-of-life-5968e109e5cd |title=For ‘Arrow’ Star David Ramsey, martial arts is a way of life |last=Sheridan |first=Brian R. |date=August 6, 2015 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616155032/https://medium.com/@brianrsheridan/for-arrow-star-david-ramsey-martial-arts-is-a-way-of-life-5968e109e5cd |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |dead-url=no |access-date=June 16, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He has stated that since Diggle is older than most of Team Arrow and, to an extent, more experienced on the field and reconnaissance fighting, the other members "look to him for some leadership".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/arrows-david-ramsey-talks-olivers-absence-masking-diggle/ |title=“Arrow’s” David Ramsey Talks Oliver’s Absence, Masking Diggle |last=Huver |first=Scott |date=January 16, 2015 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622062402/https://www.cbr.com/arrows-david-ramsey-talks-olivers-absence-masking-diggle/ |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |dead-url=no |access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref> A [[running gag]] is that Diggle, whenever taken suddenly to places by Barry Allen at super-speed, vomits as a result of [[motion sickness]].<ref name="all-time favorite">{{Cite web |url=https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/05/15/the-flash-diggle-drops-in |title=The Flash: Diggle Drops In |last=Robinson |first=Ashley V. |date=May 15, 2018 |website=DC Comics |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622063405/https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/05/15/the-flash-diggle-drops-in |archive-date=June 22, 2018 |dead-url=no |access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref>

While Diggle was originally created for ''Arrow'', his popularity led to a character of the same name to be created for the [[Green Arrow]] comics in [[The New 52]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/03/arrow-john-diggle-makes-his-comic-book-debut|title=Arrow: John Diggle Makes His Comic Book Debut|last=Schedeen|first=Jesse|date=October 3, 2013|website=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506231738/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/03/arrow-john-diggle-makes-his-comic-book-debut|archive-date=May 6, 2015|dead-url=no|access-date=June 16, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The character also appears in the ''[[Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham]]'' video game.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2014/10/13/fit-for-a-queen-the-lego-batman-3-beyond-gotham-arrow-dlc|title=Fit for a Queen: The LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Arrow DLC|last=Beedle|first=Tim|date=October 13, 2014|work=[[DC Comics]]|access-date=June 19, 2018|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722181908/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2014/10/13/fit-for-a-queen-the-lego-batman-3-beyond-gotham-arrow-dlc|archivedate=July 22, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref>