The eighth and final season of Arrow premieres on The CW next month and the network has released the first full set of official stills from the upcoming season premiere.
The photos from "Starling City" reveal what appears to be Oliver Queen with Dinah Drake, Rene Ramirez, John Diggle and Laurel Lance, though something appears slightly different with the characters. As Black Canary, Laurel sports a shorter haircut and new suit while Dinah and Rene appear to be working together following Oliver's alter ego Green Arrow.
Also seen in the photos are returning original cast members Colin Donnell and Susanna Thompson as Tommy Merlyn and Moira Queen, respectively. Given that both characters met their untimely ends many seasons ago and Oliver was last seen joining the Monitor in the Season 7 finale, the premiere episode may take place on an alternate Earth.
The other clue to the premiere being set in a different reality lies within the title: Starling City had been renamed Star City in the middle of Season 3, indicating the episode is either set in an alternate version of the city or earlier in the Arrowverse's timeline. However, with Oliver alongside Black Canary and Spartan once again, at least he won't be in the fight alone, no matter what reality he's in.
Returning Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on The CW, Arrow stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, David Ramsey as John Diggle, Rick Gonzalez as Wild Dog, Juliana Harkavy as Black Canary, Katie Cassidy as Black Siren, Katherine McNamara as Mia Smoak, Joseph David-Jones as Connor Hawke and Ben Lewis as William Clayton-Queen.