The Flash's final season is expected to be filled with exciting guest stars from across the DC universe, and there are no signs of slowing down as another major Arrowverse hero is set to take part in Barry Allen's final run.
The anticipation surrounding The Flash Season 9 has been sky-high since it was announced that it would be its final run. Part of the reason why there is hype for the Grant Gustin-led series is the abundance of guest stars that will show up.
Set photos already confirmed that Javicia Leslie would be pulling double duty as Batwoman and Red Death in Season 9, while a string of announcements revealed that Supergirl's Nia Nal, Kid-Flash, Bloodwork, and John Diggle are part of the Flash's final adventure.
Now, another big player was confirmed to be coming back to the Arrowverse.
The Flash Season 9 Brings Back Green Arrow
The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace, via TVLine, announced that Stephen Amell would reprise his role as Oliver Queen in Season 9.
Wallace explained the decision to bring Amell back in the final season, noting that "it was Oliver who originally launched Barry Allen on his heroic path:"
“As soon as our final season was announced, we knew we wanted Stephen to come back and reprise his iconic role as Oliver Queen. After all, it was Oliver who originally launched Barry Allen on his heroic path. That’s why everyone on Team Flash felt so strongly that it was important to create a full-circle moment with Oliver’s return in the final season of The Flash.”
It is unknown how Oliver will return in Season 9, especially after the Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event featured the death of Amell's character (twice).
Wallace promised that it would be “an epic-yet-emotional episode we hope Arrowverse fans will enjoy" while noting that "there will be thrills, chills, and tears:"
"It’s all to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for watching and supporting our show throughout nine wonderful years. We absolutely cannot wait for everyone to see Grant and Stephen saving the world together again. And yes, there will be thrills, chills and tears.”
Danielle Panabaker, who portrays Killer Frost in the series, is confirmed to be directing the crossover episode, which will be Episode 9.
Stephen Amell also announced his Arrowverse return on Twitter:
Predicting How Stephen Amell's Oliver Queen Returns (Theory)
Given that the Arrowverse already featured the perfect send-off to Stephen Amell's Oliver Queen in the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover and Arrow's final season, his comeback in The Flash Season 9 could ruin those tributes.
However, The Flash showrunner Eric Wallace's statement about Amell's return indicates that his appearance would propel Grant Gustin's titular hero while acknowledging the pair's strong bond through the years. After all, Green Arrow and the Flash are the foundation of the Arrowverse.
The Flash's time-travel shenanigans may be the main reason why Oliver Queen returns, with Barry traveling back in time to seek the assistance of his longtime friend. On the flip side, there is also a strong possibility that Queen will return in the present day as Spectre.
The Arrowverse's comic crossover event, Earth-Prime, confirmed that Queen's Spectre is alive in 2049, and he can be seen alongside the Justice League. This comic storyline is canon to The CW's DC universe, meaning that Season 9 will help explain how Queen survived the events of Crisis.
Whatever the case, Oliver Queen's return further solidified the promise that The Flash's final season will deliver tons of surprises. Hopefully, Melissa Benoist's Supergirl will join Season 9 to wrap up the Arrowverse story.
The Flash Season 9 is set to premiere on The CW on Wednesday, February 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
