Arrow: Colton Haynes will return in season 6 as Arsenal

Arrow will gain at least one team member back — someone who was last seen in season 4.

Arrow’s midseason finale saw plenty of tension amongst Oliver Queen’s team, with the status of half the group in the air. However, it looks like an old face will return and replace one of the departed members.

Executive producers Marc Guggenheim and Wendy Mericle announced that Colton Haynes will return in season 6, episode 15 as Roy Harper, aka Arsenal (h/t CBR.com). It will be Haynes’ first appearance in nearly two years.

Roy will return to Star City to assist a situation with high stakes for the team. He and Thea will reunite, which sparks a change that results in “long-lasting consequences.” This return was announced as a “short arc.”

Viewers last saw Haynes’ Arsenal character in season 4, in a one-episode appearance, when the Calculator went head-to-head with Team Arrow. Otherwise, his last showing as a series regular came in season 3, covering for Oliver as the Arrow, faking his death and leaving Star City.

Given this “short arc” for Haynes’ character, don’t expect him to stay long. It could be another one-off appearance or over multiple episodes. That won’t be seen until at least February, as Arrow’s return episode will be the 10th of season 6. If six consecutive episodes air after the winter break, then look for Arsenal’s return on Feb. 22.

As for what Haynes does, he could join a reconstructed Team Arrow, who are down to just Oliver, a nerve-damaged John Diggle and Felicity Smoak. That leaves just one person for the field, unless Thea suits up as Speedy or another face (Slade Wilson, anyone?) shows up to help Ollie control the villains that desire Star City’s destruction.

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Arrow returns on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 at 9:00 p.m. ET on The CW.