As Arrow prepares for its eighth and final season, recurring cast member Colton Haynes clarified why he will not reprise his fan-favorite role as Roy Harper as a full series regular.After last week's news that Haynes would not return as a series regular for the final season, Haynes explained through Twitter that the decision was not his. He was asked not to come back as a full cast member. However, he hinted he would reprise his role as Arsenal in an unknown capacity in Season 8.
Roy initially appeared in Arrow's early seasons as a sidekick for Oliver Queen and a love interest for Oliver's sister Thea. Haynes left after his character faked his death, but he appeared as a guest star or recurring character in subsequent seasons. He became a series regular once again in Season 7 for flash-forwards sequences set in 2040.
While Haynes will not return as a series regular, executive producer Beth Schwartz has since hinted that the actor would reprise the role at some point during the final season.
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.