Team Arrow is losing another member ahead of its final season. It has been announced that Colton Haynes will not be returning for the final season.
The change in Haynes status on the show was confirmed during the recent TCA press tour, with Arrow executive producer Beth Schwartz saying the following:
“We hope to have him back. We love him and he’s obviously one of the foundations of the show.”
This isn’t the first time Haynes has exited the show. After first appearing in the show’s first season, Haynes was upgraded to series regular for seasons 2 and 3. Haynes first departed the show in season 3, citing his mental health (anxiety), specifically regarding the struggle with his sexual identity.
Haynes came back for minimal guest spots in Arrow seasons 4 – 6, while offscreen he came to terms with revealing his LBGTQ status and even settled down into a marriage with florist Jeff Leatham.
Haynes then made a full return to Arrow during season 7 but offscreen issues seemed to plague the actor. His marriage hit several rocky (and very public) patches before they ultimately ended their relationship, and he lost his mother in spring of 2018. In spring of 2019, Haynes opened up even more regarding his struggles with alcohol and drugs, revealing that he had abused both substances virtually every day over the course of a decade.
It’s not stated if these are the reasons he’s not coming back for the final season but if they are, it’s best Haynes focuses on himself rather than a commitment to a series.
