Arrow Shocker: Emily Bett Rickards Quits Ahead of Final Season!

Arrow is taking aim one final time during the 2019-20 TV season, but the hit CW drama is losing an original star ahead of its final run.
Emily Bett Rickards has confirmed that she will be bowing out of the series at the close of Arrow Season 7, bringing Felicity's storyline to a close prior to the final season getting underway.
Rickards took to Instagram with the following statement:
The time has come to talk of many memes. Of bows and arrows and superheroes and Olicity and Queens
And why TGA is so damn hot
And yes, canaries need more scenes... But wait just one minute
before we go and do all that
For this makes me out of breath
To have this not small chat
Felicity and I
are a very tight two
But after one through seven
we will be saying goodbye to you
I thank you all for the time we’ve shared
The elevators we have climbed
The monsters we have faced and scared
And The burgers we have dined
I will keep her in my heart for always
And I hope that you can too
Because she would not be alive if it weren’t for all of you 💕
Love,
Felicity and Me
The actress also shared the below photo.

It's a huge surprise given that Arrow Season 8 slated to be a truncated affair, spanning just ten episodes.
It's also unclear whether Felicity will get a proper goodbye given that Arrow Season 7 has just a handful of episodes remaining.
Related: Arrow Renewed for Abbreviated Final Season
“We’ve had the pleasure of working with Emily since Season 1 and in those past seven years she has brought one of TV’s most beloved characters to life,” a statement from exec producers Greg Berlanti and Beth Schwartz reads.
“And although we’re heartbroken to see both Emily and Felicity leave the show, we’re completely supportive of Emily and her future endeavors. She will always have a family at Arrow.”
What are your thoughts on this news?
Hit the comments, Arrow Fanatics.
Remember you can watch Arrow online right here via TV Fanatic.
Arrow airs Mondays on The CW.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.