Justin Hartley Teases What a Smallville Return Would Actually Look Like

Could one of TV’s most beloved superhero shows be on the verge of a comeback? That’s the question fans of Smallville are asking after the classic series found a surprising new audience on Netflix — and after star Justin Hartley weighed in on whether he’d ever suit up as Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow, again.

Smallville, which originally aired on The WB and later The CW from 2001 to 2011, has been enjoying a genuine streaming resurgence. For a generation that missed it the first time around and for longtime fans revisiting Clark Kent’s early years, the show has reconnected with audiences in a meaningful way. And where there’s renewed interest, there’s inevitably one question: could it lead to something new?

Hartley, who is best known to younger audiences as Kevin Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us, originated the role of Oliver Queen on Smallville years before the character became a cornerstone of the Arrowverse. His take on the Green Arrow remains a fan favorite, which makes his comments on a potential return all the more relevant right now.

Why Smallville’s Netflix Moment Matters More Than You Think

Streaming revivals have a real track record of sparking renewed franchise activity. When a show finds traction on a major platform like Netflix, it signals something important to studios and networks: there’s an active, engaged audience willing to spend time with these characters again.

Smallville’s arrival on Netflix has done exactly that. The show, which ran for ten seasons and chronicled Clark Kent’s journey from a teenager in Smallville, Kansas to the brink of becoming Superman, was never a small production. It was a cultural touchstone for an entire era of superhero television — before the MCU dominated multiplexes and before prestige TV superhero drama became its own genre.

For Hartley specifically, the timing is interesting. He spent years playing Oliver Queen as a recurring and eventually series-regular character, helping to lay the groundwork for what would later become the full-blown Arrowverse on The CW. His Green Arrow was charming, morally complex, and genuinely compelling — qualities that haven’t faded in the public memory, judging by how enthusiastically fans have responded to Smallville’s streaming resurgence.

What Justin Hartley Has Said About Returning as Green Arrow

The honest answer, based on what is publicly known, is that Hartley has not ruled it out — but no concrete project has been confirmed.

This is worth taking seriously rather than dismissing. Actors who flatly don’t want to return to a role tend to say so clearly. Measured, thoughtful responses that leave the door open are usually exactly what they appear to be: genuine openness to the right opportunity.

Hartley’s career trajectory also matters here. After Smallville, he built an entirely new fanbase through This Is Us, proving he can carry a major network drama as a lead. That kind of career success typically gives an actor more leverage to revisit earlier work on their own terms — rather than out of necessity.

The Green Arrow’s Place in Superhero TV History

It’s worth remembering just how significant Hartley’s version of Oliver Queen was in the broader arc of superhero television.

• Hartley’s Green Arrow debuted on Smallville before Arrow launched on The CW in 2012.
• His portrayal helped establish that a non-Batman, non-Superman DC hero could anchor compelling television drama.
• The character appeared across multiple seasons of Smallville, evolving from a guest presence into a full ensemble member.
• Smallville itself ran for ten seasons — one of the longest-running superhero shows in American television history at the time of its finale.

The Arrowverse that followed, anchored by Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen, owed a creative debt to the groundwork Smallville laid. Hartley’s take on the character exists in a separate continuity, but its cultural influence on what came after is hard to overstate.

Key Facts at a Glance

What a Return Could Actually Look Like

If any kind of revival or continuation were to happen, it would likely need to navigate some complicated creative territory. Smallville’s version of Oliver Queen exists separately from the Arrowverse, and with DC Studios now actively reshaping its film and television universe under James Gunn, any new project would need to find its lane carefully.

One realistic path would be a limited series or reunion project tied directly to the Smallville continuity — something that doesn’t need to reconcile with broader DC canon and can simply celebrate what the original show built. That kind of project has precedent: legacy revivals have worked for shows with passionate fanbases, and Smallville’s audience has clearly demonstrated it still cares deeply.

Another possibility is a cameo or guest appearance in a broader DC project, though that would require more coordination with the current DC Studios direction. Neither path is confirmed, and fans should treat any movement on this front as speculative until something official is announced.

What isn’t speculative is the renewed energy around Smallville right now. The Netflix resurgence is real, the fan enthusiasm is genuine, and Justin Hartley’s willingness to engage with the question — rather than shut it down — keeps the conversation alive in a way that feels meaningful rather than performative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Justin Hartley officially confirmed he will return as Green Arrow?
No official confirmation has been made. Hartley has addressed the question publicly, but no project has been announced.

Why is Smallville trending again?
Smallville’s availability on Netflix has introduced the show to new audiences while bringing longtime fans back, sparking a notable streaming resurgence.

How long did Smallville run originally?
Smallville ran for ten seasons, from 2001 to 2011, airing first on The WB and later on The CW.

Is Justin Hartley’s Green Arrow connected to the Arrowverse?
No — Hartley’s Oliver Queen on Smallville exists in a separate continuity from Stephen Amell’s version in the Arrowverse, which launched in 2012.

What has Justin Hartley been doing since Smallville?
Hartley became widely known for his lead role as Kevin Pearson on NBC’s long-running drama This Is Us.

Could a Smallville revival actually happen?
This has not been confirmed. While fan interest is clearly high following the Netflix resurgence, no official revival, reunion, or continuation project has been announced.