Stephen Amell wanted Arrow to end in Season 7. It's a move that would have made the previous season of the superhero drama the last one. Earlier this year, Arrow announced that Season 8 would be its last. Making Season 7 its penultimate one. Well, Amell initially thought that should be the ultimate. Amell explained, saying:
I think that we've had our running time. That's what I thought when I talked with Greg Berlanti in Season 6. I felt like we had done our thing. I thought ultimately theoretically Season 7 should've ended things. But to come back and do 10 episodes ... what they've done with this final season is really cool. It's like nothing you guys have ever seen. Every episode that comes out, it's like 'Wait, a minute, what? It's happening what and where and how? OK, that's cool. Let's do it!'
Stephen Amell shared his thoughts about ending Arrow during a Facebook Live session. As Amell explains it, he went to Arrow’s executive producer, Greg Berlanti, during Season 6. At the time, Amell thought that Season 7 should be the last season of Arrow. However, he seems totally on-board with the plan to end the series with Season 8. Amell also teases quite a final bow for the superhero drama.
He says that it is “really cool” and that it is unlike anything viewers “have ever seen.” If Arrow fans are not already super pumped to see the final chapter in Oliver Queen and company’s journey, this should only fuel expectations. This is not the first time that Stephen Amell has reflected on why he wanted Arrow to come to an end with Season 8.
He expressed a desire for Arrow to end on a strong note. A sentiment similarly expressed by Supernatural’s stars regarding their long-running series coming to an end. Most casts of popular shows seem to desire going out strong. Better to be remembered at the top of your game than not, right?
Stephen Amell has discussed how Arrow’s series finale will compare to Game of Thrones’. That HBO show's ending has captured its share of headlines due to the backlash surrounding it, including a petition. So, what can fans expect from Arrow’s final season?
Well, Oliver Queen’s beloved fan-favorite wife, Felicity, will not be in it. Her portrayer, Emily Bett Rickards, announced her exit during Arrow Season 7. Do not expect her to return for the finale either.
Emily Bett Rickards says that “Felicity has done her time.” Do not worry, though. Stephen Amell has assured that Felicity’s husband will not be miserable in Season 8, in spite of the circumstances. Re: losing his family.
Also on tap is Katie Cassidy’s Black Canary getting a new costume to end the series. David Ramsey, who plays John Diggle, also shared that some answers regarding Diggle’s Green Lantern ties are coming. Sounds like Season 8 was worth everyone coming back!
Arrow will wrap things up with a hyphenated run that will take its usual twenty-plus episode run and boil it down to ten. “The final ten episodes” does have a certain ring to it. Among those episodes will be Arrow's final franchise crossover -- "Crisis on Infinite Earths," which will have a lot of Superman. Prepare for awesome!
Check out the video of Stephen Amell’s Facebook Live session below:
Arrow will return for its eighth and final on Tuesdays, October 15, at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. You can currently watch the series’ past seasons on Netflix, among other premieres. To keep you entertained while you wait for Arrow’s return, check out this summer’s premieres.
