It's time for Oliver Queen to hang up his bow. In a surprising announcement, the CW revealed that Arrow will end next season with a reduced, 10-episode run.
The series' leading man, Stephen Amell, broke the news on Twitter:
Playing Oliver Queen has been the greatest professional experience of my life... but you can’t be a vigilante forever.
Arrow will return for a final run of 10 episodes this Fall.
There’s so much to say... for now I just want to say thank you.
— Stephen Amell (@StephenAmell) March 6, 2019
Amell then immediately followed up with emotional Facebook Live, saying "towards the end of season 6 I approached Greg Berlanti and said that I thought both personally and professionally at the end of my committment [for the current season 7] it would be the best for me to move on. I've always been a fan of television shows that not only don't overstay their welcome but end in a manner that really packs a punch." He went on to say that the studio execs and producers told him last week they'd decided "the best way for me to do this would be come back for a limited run in seaons 8."
The Greg Berlanti-produced show spawned an entire superhero 'verse for the CW, including The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow and the upcoming Batwoman. However, Arrow's ratings have continued to drop, with this week's episode posting series lows.
"This was a difficult decision to come to, but like every hard decision we’ve made for the past seven years, it was with the best interests of Arrow in mind," showrunner Beth Schwartz and exec producers Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim said in a joint statement. "We’re heartened by the fact that Arrow has birthed an entire universe of shows that will continue on for many years to come. We’re excited about crafting a conclusion that honors the show, its characters and its legacy and are grateful to all the writers, producers, actors, and — more importantly — the incredible crew that has sustained us and the show for over seven years."
Season 8's 10-episode run means the show will likely come to a conclusion around the time the annual multi-series crossover airs. Last year's crossover saw Amell's Oliver Queen making a secret deal with The Monitor to save The Flash (Grant Gustin) and Supergirl (Melissa Benoist). Oliver's deal is expected to resurface during this year's crossover, which will be inspired by the legendary comic plot Crisis on Infinite Earths, a storyline that is famous for killing off major characters. Though Arrow's bleak flash-forwards this season suggest Oliver may die in the crossover, we have a different theory! We think Oliver has indeed agreed to sacrifice himself for Barry and Kara during Crisis -- but his death will not be how the series ends. Instead, this season's flash-forwards are merely offering us a "It's a Wonderful Life"-type glimpse of what would happen if Oliver didn't survive the crossover, but The Monitor is going to be moved by his sacrifice and change the future by bringing Oliver back to life. It's not the first time the Arrowverse has messed with timelines, and Oliver deserves a happy ending with his wife and new baby. Who's with us?!
Meanwhile, following the announcement the cast and fans took to social media to express their love for the show.
What an awesome ride! @arrow fans have been the best any actor could've asked for! Thank you for helping me bring John Diggle/Spartan to life!!! Love all of you! Can't wait for you to see what we have in stock for you. Let's end on a high, shall we? #ARROW pic.twitter.com/CDfjpCTNqA
— David Ramsey (@david_ramsey) March 6, 2019
Source: @EmilyBett’s IG story. pic.twitter.com/qOYB0Dfu6a
— FYeahEBR (@FYeahEBRupdates) March 7, 2019
I’ve been trying to find the words to simply say what the last seven years have meant to me, and I believe this photo sums its up! It’s a cuddle puddle. Everyone here is exhausted and… https://t.co/8uIASoasLR
— Emily Bett Rickards (@EmilyBett) March 8, 2019
Sad to say that #Arrow will be coming to an end after a 10 episode Season 8. Thank you to all the fans who’ve watched. It’s been such a blessing to be a part of this incredible show What a beautiful journey
— Colton Haynes (@ColtonLHaynes) March 6, 2019
forever thankful for my time as evelyn learning from oliver, but also for my time learning from stephen. thanks for teaching me cool ways to carry a bow. and for giving my first tequila. but especially for having my back in a situation where I didn’t have much power, but you did. pic.twitter.com/5YYE2NVb6D
— Madison McLaughlin (@MadisonMcLaugh) March 6, 2019
family big time love for this whole crew. my time on arrow was always fun and supportive and also pretty sure I had to change my underwear from laughing too hard (thx a lot @ embett and echo) (joe and rick are funny too) pic.twitter.com/G8aH1NcyBc
— Madison McLaughlin (@MadisonMcLaugh) March 7, 2019
Wow! End of an era. #Arrow made so many of my dreams come true. So thankful to have played my part on this amazing series. Gonna be sad to see it go. #8SeasonsAndAMovie
— Echo Kellum (@EchoK) March 7, 2019
#Arrow What an incredible run! We R Blessed! It’s been an honor portraying STRONG ICONIC WOMEN #LaurelLance #BlackCanary #BlackSiren Thank U 2 our FANS 4 all ur & support over the years! THANK U 2 our incredible WRITERS, PRODUCERS, CAST & hardest working CREW! I U ALL!...
— Katie Cassidy (@MzKatieCassidy) March 8, 2019
Thank you, thank you, thank you. #Arrow #FinalSeason #DinahDrake #BlackCanary pic.twitter.com/AL0aMovP7c
— Juliana Harkavy (@JulianaHarkavy) March 7, 2019
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Without an audience, there is no show. Thanks to the millions who provided years of employment to hundreds. We aim to craft a finale season that will do you proud. https://t.co/bVyeyotiQZ
— Marc Guggenheim (@mguggenheim) March 6, 2019
It’s been an honor bringing #MiaSmoak to life & joining the #Arrowverse. Congrats @StephenAmell & the @CW_Arrow family on an incredible accomplishment & the opportunity to finish the journey the way it deserves. So keep watching-we are going to kick ass ‘til the bitter end. https://t.co/VZSew5jTXu
— Katherine McNamara (@Kat_McNamara) March 7, 2019
Being a part of this series from the beginning & being brought back over the course of its run has been beyond.
It a professional highlight it & brought me wonderful lifelong friends.
Thank you to all the fans who’ve kept Tommy alive all & congrats to all those involved https://t.co/KJIsSI6Ta1
— COLIN DONNELL (@colindonnell) March 7, 2019
#TheFlash himself, #GrantGustin, comments on the news that #Arrow, where our boy Barry Allen was first introduced to the #Arrowverse, coming to an end after Season 8. pic.twitter.com/ytYZramsq9
— The Flash Podcast (@TheFlashPodcast) March 9, 2019
The thought of not seeing Felicity Smoak every week is a rough one #Arrow #Olicity
— Nora Dominick (@noradominick) March 6, 2019
A quick unranked list of things I'll miss about #Arrow:
- Felicity smoak
- roy harper's love of parkour
- "you have failed this city"/"_something_ else"
- the salmon ladder
- thea, forever the MVP
- diggle's black driver jokes
- "hoss"— Chancellor Agard (@chancelloragard) March 7, 2019
#Arrow kickstarted one hell of a comic book TV universe for CW. Glad it’s getting to say goodbye with lots of advance notice, though with a Crisis looming, hard not to worry for Oliver Queen... but I’m sure he’ll go out swinging (and aiming), whether it’s his final fight or not. https://t.co/JUVSceTIIo
— Eric Goldman (@TheEricGoldman) March 6, 2019
Nailed it https://t.co/RwD5459a5q
— Mo Ryan (@moryan) March 7, 2019
It's been an absolute joy covering #Arrow all these years, and I'll be sad to see it go. I'm sure Season 8 will be one for the history books! https://t.co/zquwESFld4 pic.twitter.com/bGXcFeTteQ
— Lindsay MacDonald (@lindsayjoane) March 6, 2019
Bestowing the entire #Arrow tribe with the heartiest of congratulations on their epic run. It ain’t over ‘til it’s over...and I’m sure season 8 will hit the bona fide bullseye. Well done, fam! @ARROWwriters et al xx
— Carly Pope (@Pope_Onarope) March 6, 2019
I think stories beginning in death should end with life. Oliver's journey began with the death of his father and the loss of his family. It should end with Oliver embracing the life with the family he's built. #Arrow pic.twitter.com/8mENHP1Eh9
— Jen (@jbuffyangel) March 7, 2019
Helluva run. Salute to the spark in the Arrowverse!
Here's to a spectacular final 10. https://t.co/Kt0nrI1CpK
— Jeff (@JeffJSays) March 6, 2019
My prediction or hope, though, is that Oliver Queen is given a clandestine "happily ever after." Make it look like something tragic happened, but really, the Green Arrow is still out there, looking out for his wife and baby-to-be. #Arrow
— Arrow - GreenArrowTV (@GreenArrowTV) March 6, 2019
Thank you Stephen, for being our Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. No one can replace you as Oliver. I look forward to seeing the final season! #TeamArrow https://t.co/jQF82wPcE8
— Tiffany C. Lockhart (@TiffCLockhart) March 6, 2019
I’ve had such a tumultuous love affair with Arrow, but it brought Olicity into my life, which was an invaluable escape for me when life got too raw. I’m happy they’re not going to push the show beyond what it’s capable of. It deserves to end on a high note, & I hope it does https://t.co/1YpOubXhA5
— Pep (@PepperDempsey) March 6, 2019
Oh damn. The show has always been up and down so this feels right, sad to see it go though. https://t.co/KCEUugcdUY
— fast & furious presents: fergus wb (@fergmaster) March 6, 2019
Me if Oliver, Felicity, and/or Diggle get screwed over in the end pic.twitter.com/3V07tN1zLp
— Sri (@sriisme) March 6, 2019
It's so rare for ships to have it all, but #Olicity fans truly did... We got the first meeting, the slow burn, the jealousy, the tears, the breakups, the makeups, the first times, the heart eyes, the domesticity, the babies, the future... I will forever be thankful for this
— Pallavi. (@themediumplace) March 7, 2019
#Arrow's Stephen Amell is the absolute star of the Crossovers.
Funny, romantic, evil Nazi, sacrificing hero and always action-packed.
Glad we'll have one more with him later this year.
Thankyou @StephenAmell: https://t.co/Y7cb1flYs0 pic.twitter.com/5HQCWHu456— YVRShoots (@yvrshoots) March 7, 2019
For all it's faults (and there were many), I love #Arrow with all my heart. I love #Olicity and Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak and #OTA with all my heart. Watching this show, being in this fandom, has been a transformative experience, inspiring & fantastic as well. Love you all.
— calli (@callistawolf) March 7, 2019
Do you want to know why Arrow was so important to me?
In January of 2015 I started to watch the show bc I was losing my company. I binged it. After that, I lost my apartment that was my dream. In 2016 my father died suddenly. Oliver helped me to not succumb in my depression.
— Dani Oliveira (@ENSM31) March 7, 2019
The CW: #Arrow is ending after season 8.
Me: Sad but makes sense go out on a high
The CW: It'll be only 10 episodes
Me: pic.twitter.com/Z0UwyX70Yk— Derek Stauffer (@MrDerekStauffer) March 7, 2019
"felicity smoak? hi, i'm oliver queen."
look at how young they were here. can you believe they're now married with two children? they've come so far #olicity pic.twitter.com/mm1pfDkZRq
— nat.i.am (@smoakinthief) March 7, 2019
You don't have to like Arrow as a show but the fact that it's responsible for kickstarting an entire successful superhero universe on TV is undeniable.
— Joshua Yehl (@JoshuaYehl) March 7, 2019
anyway, I hope Felicity Smoak knows she is loved and immortal.
— Cammien Ray (@CammienRay) March 7, 2019
