Specifically, Hartley mentioned that he was grateful everyone in the cast was as nice as they were when he entered the series, as both men agreed it’s always awkward to enter a series a few seasons in as a guest star as opposed to being a regular cast member.
Of course, the Oliver and Lois spinoff never happened, and years later Arrow would bring Oliver Queen back onto the network with a new actor.
Justin Hartley told Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum it never bugged him that he wasn’t contacted or asked to be the new Green Arrow and that he was thankful for the time he had on Smallville.