In expected - albeit still exciting - news, The CW has picked up Arrow for a full first season.

Star Stephen Amell Tweeted the announcement this morning, as the drama - which has averaged over 3.5 million viewers each Wednesday through two weeks - will now air a total of 22 episodes in 2012-2013.

Said Mark Pedowitz, President of The CW, in the official statement:

“Our strategy of rolling out our new fall schedule later in the year really paid off for The CW on several levels, especially with Arrow, which was the network’s most watched premiere in three years and is one of the breakout hits of the new season. I’m proud of the quality of Arrow and I’m happy we’ll be able to share more of it with viewers.”

Already one of the network's top two programs (along with The Vampire Diaries), Arrow has received rave reviews from both fans of the comic book series on which it's based and those new to the story of Oliver Queen.

It will introduce viewers to Deadshot on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, The CW has ordered three more scripts of both Beauty and the Beast and Emily Owens, M.D.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.