Stephen Amell fights back tears as he reveals he chose to leave Arrow after season eight to be closer to his wife and five-year-old daughter in LA

On Tuesday, Arrow star Stephen Amell fought back tears as he revealed the real reason his DC Comics superhero series on The CW is officially ending after the upcoming 10-episode eighth season.

'I would like to thank my family, specifically my wife Cassandra and [five-year-old] daughter Maverick [in Los Angeles] for putting up with really stupid hours,' the Canadian 37-year-old confessed on Facebook Live.

'A large part of this decision is because I'm now a father and a husband and a lot of my life and interests don't really reside in Vancouver anymore and thinking that's the best thing for me personally and professionally.'  

Since 2012, Stephen has considered portraying billionaire playboy Oliver Queen turned vigilante Green Arrow in the 'greatest professional experience of my life.'

'Towards the end of season six, I approached [Arrow executive producer] Greg Berlanti and said that I thought both personally and professionally that at the end of my commitment this coming season, it would be the best for me to move on,' Amell continued.

'I've always been a fan of TV shows that not only don't overstay their welcome but end in a manner that really packs a punch...Something tells me even when I'm done I won't be gone. If you've watched the Arrowverse, you understand. I think it's been a good run. It's no Supernatural but it's been a good run.'

The WWE enthusiast - who plans on going on safari 'for two months' - thanked his fans, cast, and crew and called it an 'emotional time' even though he knew it was coming. 

'I have to turn off the comments because I'm afraid one of them is going to make me cry,' Stephen - who boasts 13.3M social media followers - noted.

Amell then joked about how Arrow has spawned '16 different shows' which in reality is five and includes The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl.

'I had always hoped that there was a possibility that the show could live on without me,' the Queer as Folk alum explained.

'Because the entity of Oliver Queen character and the mythos and the iconography of Green Arrow has always been something that's bigger than me or any other actor that's playing him or voicing him. There's always been something more to it.'

Other castmembers bidding farewell to the Emerald Archer was Colton Haynes, who plays Roy Harper/Arsenal, who thanked 'all the fans out there who supported us along the way.'

David Ramsey, who plays John Diggle, Insta-storied a selfie and wrote that he couldn't 'wait for you to see what we have in stock for you. Let's end on a high, shall we?' 

Rick Gonzalez, who plays René Ramirez/Wild Dog, thanked the writers, producers, and fans and tweeted: 'It's our job to give you an amazing last 10 episodes.' 

Madison McLaughlin, who plays Evelyn Sharp/Artemis, tweeted a behind-the-scenes snap of herself with cast and crew and joked she had to 'change my underwear from laughing too hard.'

And fans can expect Ghostbusters alum Ernie Hudson to guest star as a four-star general who reconnects with Diggle in episode 719 - titled 'Spartan' - according to Deadline.

Catch more of Stephen and the rest of the Arrow gang on the 22-episode seventh season of Arrow, which currently airs Mondays on The CW.