Last week, production began on theArrow Season 5 finale, with starStephen Amellsending out a few photos from the set, with one taking fans by surprising. The actor posted a photo of the iconic Deathstroke helmet, while welcoming backManu Bennettto the show. However, this seemed to takeManu Bennettby surprise, especially since he’s currently on the other side of the world in New Zealand, filming MTV’sThe Shannara Chronicles. Today The CW has released a new trailer teasing the final five episodes of this season, which kick off Wednesday, April 26 at 8 PM ET, and features another Deathstroke tease. At the same time,Manu Bennettkeeps denying his involvement in the season finale.
The CW Network debuted this video today, which includes one brief shot of Deathstroke’s mask hanging on a stick on the island of Lian Yiu, and the final shot of the trailer showsOliver Queenentering a dark room, holding the Deathstroke mask and slowly approaching someone in a prison cell. While we don’t see if it is in factManu Bennett’s Slade Wilson or not, we can hear a voice, which does sound a lot likeManu Bennett, saying, “Hey kid. I’m glad you came back.” It’s possible thatManu Bennettonly recorded his voice for this scene, and he that he won’t actually be on camera, which could make sense sinceManu Bennetthas continued to deny that he is filmingArrow.Marc Guggenheimeven took to Twitter last week to confirm that fans will “definitely hear the voice ofManu Bennettin Arrow’s season finale,” although the actor responded with a photo of the lip-syncing groupMilli Vanilli, asking the executive producer if, using “old pre-recorded ADR for d.s. is kosher.”
Our report from earlier this month revealed that production on the Season 5 finale would go from April 7 through April 19, with production wrapping yesterday. Over the past few weeks,Manu Bennetttweeted a few photos from theArrowset, although it isn’t known how he obtained said photos, revealing that it is someone else in theDeathstroke costume, since he is in Auckland, New Zealand shootingThe Shanarra Chronicles. The actor even sent out a video from the set, where he’s seen turning around, snapping an actual arrow in half, as a “message” to the show. The actor also retweeted a number of fans on Twitter who were posting photos of a person they claim to beManu Bennettin Vancouver, whereArrowis filmed.
Whether we seeDeathstrokeor just hear his voice in the finale, this new development seems to represent a change in plans for the show. Executive producerMarc Guggenheimteased in February 2016 that Deathstroke won’t return onArrow, because the character was “tied up” in another DC project, which many fans assumed would be a new movie. Sure enough, just a few months later,Joe Manganiellowas announced as Deathstroke inBen Affleck’sThe Batmanreboot. It’s possible that, since production hasn’t even started on that movie yet, that The CW decided they still have some time to use Deathstroke in their universe. It remains unclear if Deathstroke will have a larger role inArrowSeason 6, but it’s certainly possible.
This trailer also gives fans a new look at the returningKatie Cassidy, who will be back asBlack Sirenin the final two episodes of Season 5, before returning as a series regular in Season 6.Arrowreturns from a month-long hiatus with Dangerous Liaisons on Wednesday, April 26, followed by Underneath on May 3, Honor Thy Fathers on May 10, Missing on May 17 and the Season 5 finale, Lian Yu on May 24. Take a look at the trailer for the last few episodes ofArrow, along withManu Bennett’s latest Instagram and Twitter posts regardingArrow.
