Roy Harper has been away from Star City since ‘Arrow’ Season Four and fans have been anxiously awaiting the return of the character also known as Arsenal. The show’s sixth season begins next month and one highlight appears to be that Colton Haynes’ Roy will return.
According to Haynes who announced on Twitter:
Roy Harper premiered in the first season of ‘Arrow’ as a tough street kid, but eventually, he became one of Oliver’s closest allies and even adopted a crimson version of Ollie’s costume and adopted the alias Arsenal. He also became Thea Queen’s loyal boyfriend. But after he took the fall for Ollie, he fled town and adopted a new identity, although he has popped up on occasion since.
In reality, Haynes had to take a step back from his professional life due to health issues.
As he stated last year:
“I asked to step away because I cared more about my mental and physical health than my career at the time. I’ve had terminal anxiety my entire life. Physically ill, fainting. I’m 27 years old, and I have an ulcer. I had to step back.”
Fortunately, Roy was not killed off and the door was left open for him to return, which he has in a few small guest appearances. Roy’s absence also allowed Thea (Willa Holland) to take a more active role as Green Arrow’s crime fighting partner Speedy.
But it seems that he will forever remain a part of Team Arrow, as Stephen Amell said, “I miss Colton Haynes’ handsome face every single day… If we end this show, whenever it happens to end, without seeing Roy Harper again, I think we will have made a tragic mistake.”
It sounds like at least for now, that tragedy has been averted. It’s no secret that Team Arrow and the show ‘Arrow’ itself have been up and down over the past couple of seasons. Perhaps taking things back to basics will reignite the fire that may have been missing lately.
In the meantime, Haynes will be seen as part of the new season of ‘American Horror Story: Cult’ playing corrupt cop Detective Samuels which airs on FX.
Are you glad that Roy/Arsenal will be back?
