In the world of comic book movies and TV shows, fans are quickly learning that dead is not necessarily dead. The Walking Dead kills Glenn a few times before making it permanent. Game of Thrones faked us out with Jon Snow for a season finale cliffhanger. And Arrow has killed just about everybody, at least once, before bringing them back.

As it turns out, the cast of Arrow don't necessarily know they will be coming back to the series if their character is killed off. For Katie Cassidy, she had no idea she would be returning to the CW series until an executive producer gave her a glimmer of hope after shooting Laurel Lance's death scene.

The actress address the moments during a panel at Heroes & Villains Fan Fest in London over the weekend. "I have no idea what's gonna happen," Cassidy said. "I've been very transparent. I didn't ask to leave, I didn't want to, but I understand the whole from a producing standpoint and writing standpoint, it makes sense. The decision."

Then came Arrow executive producer Marc Guggenheim to the rescue. "And then the decision to bring me back, I had a conversation with Marc Guggenheim, he said 'Would you...' Actually, the day we shot my death scene, after I wrapped, he said, 'Would you consider coming to play with us in the future?' I was like, 'Absolutely!' I've been here and I believed in the show since day one and just because I'm not gonna be around as often, as sad as that was, I will always be with the show."

As Cassidy's account of the story goes, "One thing lead to another and the rest is history." Newcomer to the series Josh Segarra had only compliments to pay Cassidy as he sat beside her for the panel. "The impact that she left, is amazing, man," Segarra said. Arrow recently wrapped is fifth season with a shocking cliffhanger that teased tragic fates for multiple characters. We’ll find out how it will all turn out when the series returns for Season 6 this fall on the CW.