Like a pedestrian in the way of a bike, we might’ve seen it coming… but that doesn’t mean it hurts any less.
With rumors swirling for months now that ‘Oliver is going to do this…’ and ‘Oliver will definitely do that’, not to mention star Stephen Amell’s oft-vocalised stance on not wanting to be tied down too long to the series, no surprise, really, to hear that the producers of The CW’s “Arrow” have oped to end the series.
The next season, the eighth, will be the series’ last – and it’ll consist of only 10 episodes.
With a new wave of DC-comics tied shows in the works at the network – like “Batwoman”, which will seemingly encompass that same, dark and gritty tone that “Arrow” is known for – it was a given that Greg Berlanti and Warner Bros. TV’s first ‘Arrowverse’ series would be the one to go.
“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 executive producers Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim said Wednesday 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.”
Star Amell posted a rather emotional video on Facebook, in which he said : “This show has given me a platform that extends so far beyond my ability to just appear on your television 23 times a year,” he said. “It has given me a voice for philanthropic endeavors, for social issues that I am interested in. I got to take batting practice with my childhood favorite sports team. I’ve had cinematic opportunities that are the direct result of the work that I’ve been doing here. And I know that when this is all said and done, after I drop off the face of the Earth for approximately for two months…I know the next chapter for me, personally and professionally, is going to be really exciting.”
The final season of “Arrow” kicks off in the fall.
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
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
Thankful and grateful to have had the chance to bring #WildDog to life on #Arrow. Thank you to all the writers and producers and cast and crew for welcoming me with open arms. And a big hug to all the fans for the love. It’s our job to give you an amazing last 10 episodes. ❤️??
— Rick Gonzalez (@officialrickg) March 7, 2019