Stephen Amell On What Life Without Oliver Will Mean For Team Arrow

Today’s CW portion of the TCA Press Tour featured a special panel focusing on the heroes and villains of Arrow and The Flash, and one of the questions asked of the series lead of Arrow, Stephen Amell, was what he thought of the midseason cliffhanger, and what it might mean for the rest of the show’s cast.

“We had a very full discussion about the third season back in, I want to say, late June or early July, and they said [what] the first arc of our season will be — [it] will commence with Sara’s death, and will end with Oliver facing Ra’s al Ghul and losing,” Stephen said of what he was told at the start. “I personally love when there is adversity for the protagonists, and when we give other characters on the show an opportunity to acquit themselves and to come more into leading roles,” he said.

“We’re 50‑plus episodes into the show, and if we don’t give other characters an opportunity to shoulder the load, then we give nothing for the viewers to attach themselves to, and it’ll be really difficult to do our next 50 episodes,” he continued. “So I’m excited. I’m excited for everyone’s opportunity.”

Arrow returns – presumably with a dead Oliver Queen – January 21 on The CW.