Stephen Amell, best known for his portrayal of Oliver Queen/Green Arrow in The CW’s superhero series Arrow, revealed that he doesn’t regret the one Arrowverse decision that many fans have long lamented. The first show of the popular media franchise, which kickstarted other interconnected television series and a shared universe, ran for eight seasons. It eventually concluded on January 28, 2020, with the episode “Fadeout.”
In the last season of The Flash, the Grant Gustin-led premise, Amell returned to reprise his career-defining role. In an interview, he discussed coming back one more time, Arrow‘s role in ushering in a new era of superhero shows, and if he missed stepping into the shoes of Oliver Queen once his eight-season-long show concluded.
Stephen Amell On His Return In The Last Season Of The Flash (2014-2023)
In an interview with CBR, the Canadian actor was asked about The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace’s pitch for Oliver Queen’s return to the Arrowverse. Stephen Amell revealed what made his comeback worthwhile, noting that he was very excited to have received the request to appear in a few episodes leading up to the season finale. According to him, the concluding episode in most series gets “a little busy.” He voiced his appreciation in the following statement:
“First and foremost, I liked that it wasn’t the series finale. Series finales get to be a little busy, and it becomes expected that you are going to have all these returning appearances and characters. I really liked that it was a random episode.”
He also expressed gratitude for showrunner Eric Wallace’s collaboration and creative spirit. There were a few ideas that the Heels actor suggested be included in his return that weren’t in the initial pitch. Wallace was generous enough to incorporate them:
“I also appreciated how collaborative he was. I had a pretty particular idea of how I wanted the story to go. […] It was just very nice that he was willing to be so collaborative because a couple of the ideas I had that ended up in the episode weren’t in the original pitch.”
Stephen Amell subsequently stated that he does not regret the conclusion of Arrow. While reflecting on his career-defining role, he noted that he missed playing Green Arrow, but he stands by his choice to end the TV series when they did. The performance of his character received widespread praise, making the show a fan favorite. Despite the worldwide attachment to Oliver Queen, Amell felt it was appropriate to move on from the series that had spanned eight seasons.
Stephen Amell Does Not Regret Arrow‘s Conclusion
On 28 January 2020, the last episode of Arrow graced its audiences. Many fans were worried about the arrival of this day, hesitant to say goodbye to the show that started it all. On the other hand, some had become uninterested in repetitive storylines typical of the eight-season-long premise. This proved a welcome respite for Amell, who had already expressed his desire to depart from the show to executive producer Greg Berlanti towards the end of the sixth season in May 2018. The actor announced his farewell during a 2019 Facebook Live stream (via Yahoo! Entertainment), stating the following:
“Towards the end of season six, I approached Berlanti and said that I thought both personally and professionally, that at the end of my commitment this coming season, 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.”
At some point, every story must come to an end. One cannot expect actors to commit to the same stint for the rest of their lives. Despite the bittersweet ending of Arrow leaving fans distraught, Amell stands by his decision to have the show conclude in the eighth season.
Read also: Arrowverse Star Denies ‘The Flash’ Cameo
When asked whether he missed the character and the universe, he told CBR the following:
“I really have. The decision to finish Arrow when we finished, I stand by. I actually do think that was the right call. But it’s like anything. You start to miss it. It had been a little over three years. When I got to Vancouver, it was in January. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I stand by my decision, but it was really nice to be back.”
Therefore, while Arrow‘s conclusion was the right call to make, the actor confessed to missing the iconic role and the Arrowverse at large. Even after departing from the franchise, it is evident that Stephen Amell is still grateful for the career-changing endeavor.
Arrow (2012-2020) is available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: CBR and Yahoo! Entertainment
