Comic-Con 2012: Behind the Scenes of CW's 'Arrow' (Exclusive Photos)

David Nutter and Stephen Amell

A year after the CW closed the book on its Superman origin story Smallville after 10 seasons, the network is returning to the DC Comics universe with Arrow, the superhero archer who made his first comics appearance in 1941.

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Proof of the project's geek credibility can be found in its pedigree: Greg Berlanti (No Ordinary Family) and Marc Guggenheim -- the dame duo behind Warner Bros. Pictures' DC adaptation of Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds -- executive produce alongside Fringe co-executive producer and frequent Green Arrow scribe Andrew Kreisberg, who penned the pilot.

Described as a darker take on the story of Oliver Queen, Arrow marks the first time the character has gotten the series treatment -- but second time the dual identity character has appeared on the network, with Smallville featuring an Oliver Queen of its own in its final seasons in Justin Hartley.

PHOTOS: From Comic to Screen: Behind the Scenes of the CW's 'Arrow'

The big bet for the CW's darker entry -- Game of Thrones' David Nutter directed the pilot -- hinges on relative newcomer Stephen Amell (ABC's Private Practice, HBO's Hung), who underwent weeks of intensive physical fitness and fight training in Vancouver in addition to three weeks of archery training for the role.

"I've never really done fight stuff on television or in front of the camera," Amell, 31, tells The Hollywood Reporter, noting that he taught himself how to do the challenging salmon ladder depicted in the pilot. "Although sex scenes remain the most physically demanding things that I've ever done on TV."

Check out seven behind-the-scenes photos from the Vancouver set of the Arrow here.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit