‘Arrow’ Season 6: Rick Gonzalez Teases Wild Dog’s Reaction To Diggle’s Takeover

“Arrow” has a new Emerald Archer. Last week, Oliver announced that he wanted John Diggle to take over as the new Green Arrow, but that might not sit well with everyone on the team. Wild Dog actor Rick Gonzalez told International Business Times that Rene would rather be leading the team himself.

“I think ultimately, he doesn’t dislike the idea of Diggle [David Ramsey] being the Green Arrow and controlling things. I just think there probably is a little piece of Rene inside of him that’s like, ‘Well I could totally lead this team too,’” Gonzalez explained to IBT. “And that’s just who he is. He’s someone who walks to the beat of his own drum who believes in himself and thinks that every decision he makes is the right decision. And that’s what I love about him.”

While Wild Dog/Rene Ramirez would be happier in a leadership role, it sounds like he’ll respect Oliver’s choice in “Arrow” Season 6. “At the same time, he’s from a military background so he understands his superiors and how to respect the chain of command. And I think he does respect Oliver and Diggle immensely,” the actor added.

Diggle is taking over on the CW drama because the FBI has officially launched an investigation into Oliver after a photo came out showing him in the Green Arrow suit. The photo was proven to be fake, but Special Agent Samantha Watson (Sydelle Noel) is not dropping her case. She knows something is off about Oliver, and that affects the rest of Team Arrow.

“It remains to be seen what the repercussions of this onslaught of the government trying to find out who the Green Arrow is, and I think that’s obviously going to have a domino affect in terms of Team Arrow and how they’re going to respond to that,” the New York native teased.

Vague answers like that are to be expected from superhero actors. It’s tough to get spoilers out of any actor on a comic book show, and the upcoming DC TV crossover (which includes “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”) is being kept even more secretive than most individual shows. However Gonzalez was able to tease that Wild Dog has at least accepted the idea of fighting alongside metahumans and aliens.

“I think he appreciates that the Flash and Supergirl and metahumans and stuff are good people. They are people who aren’t thinking of themselves but actually really are trying to help others, and so he does have a respect for them. Now does he treat them nicely? I don’t know about that,” he laughed. “But he does respect them. I will say that.”

When he’s not running around Vancouver in the Wild Dog suit, Gonzalez is trying to use his influence to do some good in the world. The actor is promoting two fundraisers for Puerto Rico’s hurricane relief efforts. He is encouraging fans to donate to through a couple avenues. They can donate directly to UnitedForPuertoRico.com or they can buy an Indivisible t-shirt, which benefits Random Acts.

“Honestly, I just do not want the idea of what’s happening in Puerto Rico to ever leave our thoughts and our minds,” Gonzalez told IBT. “Because they’re in really bad shape.”

“Things can only get worse if we don’t really show the world that we need the government to really step in and help,” he continued. “And if not, if there’s any possible way that we all come together, we can start to put a huge dent into the aid and relief that Puerto Rico needs. So I just felt the need to constantly use whatever power I have and social media that I have to just constantly send that message.”

“Arrow” Season 6 airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EDT on The CW.