Arrow Season 2 premieres on The CW on Wednesday (Oct. 9). Stephen Amell and the rest of the cast have been actively promoting the new chapter, counting down the days to the big date. The core characters are all set to level up in its sophomore season.

Olicity shippers are treated to a riveting image of Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak during the Arrow Season 2 premiere countdown. (See the featured slideshow.) Felicity, Dig, (the future) Black Canary, The Flash, and Speedy/Red Arrow are some of the Starling City heroes who are expected to shine this season.

Stephen Amell as Arrow Season 2 PR

Stephen Amell, who keeps his fans updated on Twitter and Facebook, seem very proud of and delighted over his show's second season. The actor tweeted:

"The crew (and) cast just screened our season premiere. Arguably the most rewarding professional moment of the year. (It's awesome, by the way.)"

Manu Bennett (Slade Wilson), who was promoted to series regular ahead of Arrow Season 2 filming, will be joined by a fellow Spartacus alum: Cynthia Addai-Robinson. She's playing Dr. Amanda Blake Waller, also from the DC Comics universe.

Summer Glau of "Terminator" and "Firefly/Serenity" is also joining Arrow Season 2 as Isabel Rochev. Glau's character is among the first characters confronted by Oliver Queen when he returns to Starling City.

Arrow Season 2: Oliver Queen Grieves, Laurel Lance Blames the Hood Guy; Roy Harper Gets Ready

The death of Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell) in the Arrow Season 1 finale will run the emotions of the core characters in the Season 2 premiere.

Laurel (Katie Cassidy) is unwittingly blaming Oliver Queen for Tommy's death. Oliver is blaming himself, too. John Diggle aka Dig (David Ramsey) and Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) will be Oliver's rock early on in the season. On the dark side, spoilers confirmed John Barrowman will reprise his role as Malcolm Merlyn.

Other spoilers indicate DC's Green Arrow will be cutting a deal with Roy Harper. This probably launches Roy (Colton Haynes) on to a heroic quest in Starling City. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Thea Queen (Willa Holland) refuses to visit Moira Queen (Susanna Thompson) in prison.

Arrow Season 2 is expected to be more action-packed than the show's freshman year. Black Canary will be initially played by Caity Lotz, but Laurel Lance will don the costume, eventually. The Flash, a new series by The CW, will hang around in Starling City for three episodes. The Barry Allen role went to Glee's Grant Gustin.

Check out the slideshow to see some Arrow Season 2 premiere teasers. Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, and Emily Bett Rickards have been much missed by fans. The celebs' following has even expanded since the first Arrow DVD was released barely a month ago.

More 'Arrow Season 2' and TV Guide Features:

Arrow Season 2 Cast: Stephen Amell Gains Fans; Katie Cassidy Eager to Don Black Canary Costume? [COSPLAY PHOTOS]
The Mentalist Season 6 Spoilers: Brett Partridge Out as Red John? The Big Lisbon Mistake! [PHOTOS]
Revenge Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Jack Porter's Ultimatum, Patrick Harper's Abs, and Top 5 Questions [PHOTOS]

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