When “Arrow” started to unveil what happened to Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen during the five years that he went missing, it seemed to captivate fans a lot.
It was interesting to see Oliver’s life at Lian-Yu when the flashback scenes took a turn for the worse. Come Season 3, it was revealed that he didn’t actually spend five years on the island, but was recruited to work for A.R.G.U.S., among other things.
Executive producer Marc Guggenheim has confirmed that the upcoming season will mark the last of the flashback scenes of Oliver Queen’s missing time.
Speaking to IGN, Guggenheim said that when they realized that the show was going past the Season 5 mark, they already made a collective decision to be the final year of the flashbacks with respect to Oliver’s time on the island.
He also took responsibility for the criticisms the past season drew because the flashback scenes were not connected to present day. He was aware that fans certainly did not like that and so he said that they should change things for next season.
While the show has not yet been confirmed to be renewed for a sixth season, it looks like the producers are already plotting storylines. Season 5 is slated to premiere on October 5.
Guggenheim said that Season 6 episodes will be flashback free in terms of not involving the island narrative.
The showrunner adds that they prefer non-island flashback illuminate what is going on in the present day for the characters.
The executive producer also teased fans that now that they’re done with the flashbacks, they could possibly do a flash forward. Considering that the fans already have a glimpse of Oliver’s future courtesy of ‘the “Legends of Tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, showrunner Wendy Mericle previously confirmed that Season 5 flashbacks will be about how Oliver got his connections with the Russian mob.
The CW has confirmed Dolph Lundgren to plague Oliver in the last installment of his flashback scenes. Reports say that the “Rocky” star is one of the big bads this season and will play out in Oliver’s past life.
While Mericle was skeptical of giving details about Lundgren’s character, reports say that his character will be essential to connect the dots from some mysteries since “Arrow” Season 1.
She adds that now that the flashback scenes are set in Russia, Oliver is basically recruited into a crime organization, while he’s also recruiting members for Team Arrow in the present day.
Fans can remember that in Season 2, it was revealed that Oliver had connections in the Russian mob when he, Felicity, and Diggle went there for a mission.
Colton Haynes, who played Roy Harper, will reportedly come back to the show. Cinema Blend notes that while no confirmation was made regarding Haynes’ return, he was spotted on the set during the production of Season 5.
Harper, also known as the Arsenal, faked his death in Season 3 after covering up for Oliver’s real identity. He had to stay out of the city and live a new life. Roy came back for an episode in Season 4 to help the team in their mission.
Harper’s return to Star City will most likely make him a part of the new Team Arrow. Last season, Thea, Diggle and even Captain Lance all took a break from their heroic service after the death of Katie Cassidy’s Laurel Lance.
Roy will be a valuable asset to Queen’s new team given that they have already worked together. With Oliver winning the election for mayor, he can probably bring back the Arsenal into the city without too much controversy, Mirror UK reports.
It looks like Roy will also serve as the motivation that Willa Holland’s Thea needs to get back into action. After the devastating events of Season 4, Thea is reluctant again to become Speedy.