‘Arrow’ and ‘Carrie Diaries’ Pickup Considered a Lock For the CW

Upfronts for all the major networks are scheduled within the next few weeks, and already the TV sphere is abuzz with news of series receiving early renewals and pickups.  We've been hearing quite a bit about The CW lately, between the pickups for 'Supernatural,' 'The Vampire Diaries,' and '90210,' as well as its likely cancellations, but which of the new recruits are heavy contenders for pickup?

According to the latest from The Hollywood Reporter, The CW has two pilots that are seen as "locks" for the fall 2012 season, notably "Sex and the City' prequel 'The Carrie Diaries,' and the network's darker, grittier adaptation of DC comics character Green Arrow, the neatly-titled 'Arrow.'  Other programs like the Kristen Kreuk-starring 'Beauty and the Beast' or the 'Hunger Games' facsimile "The Selection' are considered strong contenders, though not quite as nailed down.

To date we've only seen one official shot from 'Arrow,' which distinguishes itself from the 'Smallville' interpretation of the DC character.  Still, The CW also released the first official synopsis of the forthcoming series, which reads, “After being marooned for five years on a remote island, former billionaire playboy Oliver Queen returns with a mysterious agenda and a lethal set of new skills that he uses in a war on crime.”

Seen as something of a “Jason Bourne-esque” interpretation of the famous comic book archer, the show’s cast features the aforementioned Stephen Arnell as Oliver Queen along with Katie Cassidy (‘Melrose Place’) and Paul Blackthorne (‘The Dresden Files’) as Dinah “Laurel” Lance and her detective father Quentin, Susanna Thompson (‘Once & Again’) and Jamey Sheridan (‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’) as Oliver’s mother Moira and father Robert, Willa Holland as Oliver’s sister Thea, plus Colin Donnell (‘Pan Am’) as Oliver’s friend Tommy Merlyn.

Given the current pantheon of superhero movies coming out the summer (or in some cases out today, Avengers, Assemble!), it'd be nice for them to have a place on TV in the fall, however small.  After all, who knows if we'll ever get that 'Hulk" TV series?

What say you?  Will you watch 'Arrow' if The CW picks it up this fall, or is it as doomed as NBC's 'Wonder Woman?'  What pilots are you most looking forward to?  Give us your scorecard in the comments!