Viewers of CW's Arrow were shocked during last week's Season 3 premiere, as the episode ended with the sudden death of Sara Lance. On the heels of this, having already lost her sister once before, and the death of Tommy in Season 1, Laurel Lance (Katie Cassidy) may not have much left to lose. But all the tragedy may make for even more coming her way in this year.

Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance in the October 22nd episode of Arrow.

I talked to Cassidy about what's in store for Laurel in Season 3 and if everything that has happened could lead to her character finally turning into the superhero DC Comics fans know her to be.Before I get into all that, the one thing I will say is the thing that’s great about our show and television is anything can happen. So maybe she’s not dead. Who knows? The thing that I love so much is that our show, it takes place in different time periods. So everyone’s like, “Oh, Caity Lotz, she’s not going to be around” and I was like, "Actually she is." We do flashbacks. You never know what can happen. There’s dream sequences, there’s all these cool things that our writers and producers can come up with. Sara is a huge part of the season and Laurel’s journey. Having seen the premiere, seeing Laurel and Sara at the end, obviously Sara looking... Assuming she’s dead, [Laurel], I think, has to dig really deep and come out the other end, come out stronger. I think there’s anger, I think there’s obviously sadness. It actually almost gives her a lot of strength. It’s like she wants to get revenge on whoever did that. Season 3, the writers have done a wonderful job and given Laurel such a great arc. I’m really excited about it and I think the fans are going to be really excited.

Arrow Producer Addresses Sara's Death

Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance and Stephen Amell as The Arrow.

Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen and Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance in Arrow.

I can definitely tell you that it’s the Green Arrow and the Green Arrow needs the Black Canary. Aside from saying that, and the fact that I think the fans and the fans of the comic book and the fans of Laurel, I think that they’re going to be very happy. She seems to be sort of starting down that path. She is involved with Ted Grant and starting to box. I think it will probably continue down that, towards that direction. You have to watch Season 3!Yeah, absolutely. I’ve always said that I think the two of them, from when we shot the pilot, are soulmates. Even though romantically they may not be together at the moment, or at this time in their lives, I think Laurel knows Oliver better than he knows himself. I think that she out of anyone isn’t afraid to stand up to him or call him out or get in his face. She’s very strong, very secure and mentally I do think that she is a warrior inside and a survivor and it takes somebody who’s that strong and that driven, given everything that we’ve seen her go through since Season 1. You have to be a very strong person to deal with all of this. I think that he, at first, will probably not be supportive because he doesn’t want to put her in danger but I think ultimately he will see that she has the mentality and that she’s dedicated and she’s willing to start from the bottom and learn the basics and do the training and she actually has what it takes. I think, hopefully, eventually he will end up respecting that and accepting it. Who knows? Maybe they’ll move forward together as a team. Partner in crime? I don’t know but it definitely would be cool.Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s part of her journey and obviously knowing of the Arrow and even just being in the foundry, I do think Laurel will be a big asset to “Team Arrow” and we will definitely get to see her as a part of a lot more action and more involved in that story and that kind of thing, which has been a blast for me. Initially when I went to the CW and Greg Berlanti, and Marc [Guggenheim], and Andrew [Kreisberg], I had said to them I really, really wanted to do an action show. Obviously, that’s came about and with the chance of possibly turning into a superhero, I was like, "Great!" It’s great people to be in business with. I love the network. I love the studio. I’ve worked with them a lot. I liked where they were going with everything and I think that Season 3 is a great arc and journey for Laurel and I feel like this is her year. I’m rooting for her. I hope everybody else is. Because Season 2, let me just say, as wonderful as the writers were in Season 2 - they wrote for me, and as an actor I loved every second of it, but just crying all the time... I was like, "Laurel is always so upset. It’s crazy." But I think you have to "earn the island" is what we’ve always said. Oliver went to the island and spent five years there and became the Arrow. A character just can’t go from one night being Laurel Lance, working at the DA’s office, to the next day being the Black Canary. They want it to be legitimate and as grounded and real as possible which I think is what makes our show so great. I understand it.Yes. I believe that there will be a crossover with Laurel and The Flash. Our writers have an idea that they’ve talked to me about and I think they’re genius. If they see this article, don’t get ahead of yourselves. I’m not blowing smoke, but I do think that the idea they’ve come up with, they’re so smart and they’re so good at what they do... I have a feeling there’s a genius plan that’s going to happen if they go with what they’ve pitched me.

Arrow airs Wednesdays at 8pm ET/PT on the CW.Layne Morgan is a writer for IGN TV. You can follow her on Twitter at @LayneMorgan