Deadline reported that Amell has signed on for Heels, an hour long drama set in the world of independent wrestling. The series was reportedly looking for an eight-episode pickup at Starz, but with Amell now signed on, the cable company has greenlit the project.
Heels is written by Michael Waldron (Loki) and will have Mike O’Malley as its showrunner. O’Malley was the creator and executive producer of Survivor’s Remorse, which ran for four seasons on Starz.
Prior to signing on for Heels, Amell played Oliver Queen on the popular CW show Arrow. The series is currently filming its eighth and final season, which became the foundation for the cable company’s lineup of superhero shows that include The Flash, Supergirl, Black Lighting, Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman.
In the ring, Amell’s Jack Spade is the charismatic villain, or heel, of the Duffy Wrestling Association (DWA). In the real world, he’s its hard-working owner, a husband and father trying to make ends meet while fighting to realize his impossible dreams. He has the mind of an artist in the body of a warrior, and a Steve Jobs-ian need for perfection — and for control. He says he’ll do whatever it takes to build the DWA into an empire. Will he go so far as to risk his marriage, or his relationship with his brother?
Amell has prior history in a wrestling ring. Back in 2015, Amell teamed with Neville to face King Barrett and Stardust at WWE’s SummerSlam. Two years later, Amell would appear in Ring of Honor to join the Bullet Club and team with Cody Rhodes–– the former Stardust––before wrestling a singles match against Christopher Daniels at the 2018 All In event.
The Arrow star took to Twitter after the news of Heels broke, calling out Rhodes to help him with the project saying, “hey @CodyRhodes - wanna come and help me make a TV show?”
Rhodes who is now wrestling for the new promotion All Elite Wrestling, which he is also executive vice president, replied “Congratulations, and yea of course.”
