With all the recent departures from the CW's Smallville, including actors Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) and Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang) and cocreators Al Gough and Miles Millar, the show's producers had a lot of thinking to do to determine how to keep the eighth season interesting for fans.
One of things they apparently came up with is a whole lot more Green Arrow. Actor Justin Hartley has signed on as a series regular for the upcoming (and likely final) season of Smallville, reports E! Online, and will reprise his once-recurring role of Oliver Queen and his arrow-slinging alter ego. However, the next season will be paying more attention to Queen's life, focusing on his backstory and superhero origins.
As for those who don't want to see Kreuk go (there are some of you out there, right?), E! also says she'll return for a bit as expected and may even turn up in as many as seven episodes.
Actor Billy Zane, best known for his villainous role in Titanic and his even more villainous (at least to most men) role as Kelly Brook's one-time real-life boyfriend, is joining the ABC drama Finnegan. Zane will play a deputy D.A. in the LAPD who works with the show's titular detective, played by Teri Polo, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Former Jericho actress Sprague Grayden is parlaying her run on the cult CBS show into two new jobs. Grayden, who played Heather Lisinski on Jericho, will play the president's daughter in the upcoming season of 24 and a wife who wants to see her husband go straight in FX's motorcycle-happy Sons of Anarchy.
Elsewhere, easy ridin' Dennis Hopper has joined Starz's Crash, Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street) has joined Ray Romano's Men of a Certain Age, and Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg) is reportedly making a guest appearance on a future episode of My Name is Earl, says E! Online.
Comments (46)
without lex luthor there is no point to this series unless they end it after this season or in the season after go years into the future and replace the whole cast!!! more green arrow is stupid, with lana gone clark and lois should be getting closer but with him there it stops that. the first episode better be more than what i think it will be after seeing the promo/clip.
I want Lex back!!!!
The Green Arrow is gay the show is going to blow next season. They should really just cancel it. Thanks for ruining the best show of the decade.
I am really going to miss Lex, he is so sexy. Lana I can take or leave. Now the Green Arrow, there is a tasty morsel, though I'd prefer he got his own show so he wouldn't have to share screen time with Superman(boy). Justin Hartley is all man!!!!
gradually lana can disaapear. i am still puzzled how lex is going to be gone just like that after seeing the season 7 finale. kinda weird maybe someone new is going to be lex ?
good news on kristin kreuk, but don't like the idea of green arrow back story, the show is about superman not green arrow!!
Sprague Grayden news is excelent! loved her in Jericho...will be nice to see her as, presumably, Jack's love interest in the new 24....
Good news... But i want green arrow series also...
Good news... But i want green arrow series also...
I bet the writers were really happy that Hartley's pilot wasn't picked up. Helped them out a lot. I'm glad he's back. There really was no reason to cut the guy from the show. Using Smallville's last season to make a Green Arrow spinoff would be a good idea though. Hopefully this means we'll see more of the Justice League (as much as they want to focus on his development, they can't really just pretend he's not in it and leading it...).
I agree with linkthehero82, green lantern would do the magic. Let see how this new season gets me out of this extreme disappointment in which this last episodes got me into. PLease don't focus on green arrow too much... I want Clark to finally fly!!!!
I still think that Michael Rosenbaum should stay por his last season... he already got into the last season 7 disaster... he would be one of the program rescuer.
Can't go wrong with more of Justin Hartley, lol! :D Too bad they bumped Cousin Kara down to recurring. :(
Nice man I am glad their gonna continue this series.
At last, the first good idea for season 8! Maybe it won't completely suck after all!
Crap, I just knew they were going to mess the last season up in some kind of way and they did by adding the ever annoying Hartley to the opening credits. I'm sorry to all the fans but I watched the pilot episode of Aquaman while he was on the show during the previous season or seasons and I lost all respect for the actor, sorry.
I think Lana should make a graceful exit with it being a decent story behind it and with the story not being rushed.That character has annoyed alot of people for awhile now,not that Lois is much better.If this is the last season I hope the focus stays on Clark becoming superman and maybe some setting up Green Arrow for his series(if that's the course it's going).
That's great. Green Arrow and maybe more JL guys. This give me hope that we see another great season.
Now they need to sign Michael Rosenbaum for 3 or 4 segs and I'm totally happy.
That's so cool. A reason to watch season eight of Smallville.
Yep, I see a Green Arrow spin-off in the future of the CW.
Nice to hear that there will be more of the Green Arrow in Smallville. I think having him in the show will help provide interesting episodes and could possibly open the door for a smallville spin-off. Something like "JL" where they could show the further development of all the guest superheroes on Smallville. Speaking of which, it would really be nice if they had more appearances by future Justice Leaguers to give the series an awesome send off if this is to be its last.
I know one thing that will make me glued to "Smallville" on Thursdays...More (future) Justice League(rs). How about Green Lantern, The episode could be titled "In brightest day". It could be a two parter with Abin Sur crashing in part one and Hal Jordan finding the ring, then in part 2 called (are you ready) "In blackest night" Jordan's the new GL but oh no who is this looking for the ring it's Sinestro! Or how about this (and i've been saying it for years) a Smallville episode based on the "Superman: The Animated Series" episode "New Kids in Town" It could even bee the series finale. Clark sees (as do we) the legacy he creates via the help Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl (and somebody he never thought he'd see again) Milton Fine aka Brainiac 5. Even better introduce a new love intrest for CK the mysteriously strong and fast Diana Prince (that's Wonder Woman to you non-comic nerds).moreless
nice
It would be nice to see some other Justice League before the series signs off. Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern to name two.
Is it just me or does it sound like they are trying to set up an Oliver Queen/Green Arrow show after Smallville ends? If so, I'd watch it. I always enjoyed Smallville when the Green Arrow was on it.
i am very happy that he is staying because may be he and chloe will start dating and who knows lets hope its not lois though
glad he is staying
Interesting. Lets hope this coming season will focus on Clark becoming the Man of Steel or in the right direction rather than the orgins of Green Arrow, don't get me wrong I think its great the character is on the show just don't focus on him too much or we will lose the luster or the mythology of Superman. I hope with these new writers make the show worth while to watch if its the last season.
What, this is getting so out of hand. I guess they should caal Smallville "Star City" now! Why are they taking a whole season and focusing on Queen!! WTF! I love his character and love Justin, but the show is not about Green Arrow nor is it about Oliver Queen!! Thank god we should be looking at the last season.
Be good to see Andre Braugher and Jenna Elfmanm again.
Great I Already know it but thanks for said it
a lot of people getting a lot of jobs, yet no one really cares...
Awesome news about Green Arrow coming back for season 8! I was quite dubious about how they could pull off another season but now I can't wait! x
Making Green Arrow more prominent is hardly going to save the sadly sinking ship that is Smallville. What they SHOULD do is throw silly money at the departing actors, make this season the last and give us, the fans, a decent swansong. The way things are going we are going to be delivered the worst season yet as an epilogue to what was once a fine show.
Quite interesting. Lana shouldn't come at all. The series need a new direction to become more exciting!!!
woohoo! Bringing Justin back to smallville will make the show interesting again. I was ready to write off the 8th season but now I'm gonna have to stick around.
I love Smallville and I love Justin Hartley as Green Arrow. I think season eight will be very exciting.
the green arrow on smallville will probably be the only good thing about the 8th season
Awesome, I loved the episodes he was in last season. He held a contract with The CW for a show and since his pilot fell through(Austin Golden Hour), they had to put him in somewhere. Glad to see him back in a show he loves(I guess).
Good that we'll have more Green Arrow, he's a good character. I do wish those 7 episodes of Lana would go to Lex though.
At least more viewers will tune in for some proper super hero action. I don't think the writers will have Green Arrow steal the spot light, reason why they want to focus on his origins and past rather than his heroic deeds in the present day.
Good news about Green Arrow. Im hoping with the departure of Lana, the show will get back on track
Yeah Justin is hot as Green Arrow! I hope they slip in more DC characters too while they're at it.
Sweet!
Maybe now we can get another Justice League episode.
Oh man, Green Arrow's totally gonna steal this season of Smallville. Again.
nice