One of the last remaining shows in The CW's Arrowverse is coming to an end. The network has announced the upcoming ninth season of The Flash will be its last, receiving 13 final episodes to close out its near decade-long run. The Flash was renewed for season nine earlier this year despite rumors the series would be ending once its eighth season finished up. The CW was able to come to terms on new deals with leads Grant Gustin and Candice Patton, leading to one last season being given to one of the most popular shows in the history of the network. Each prior season of The Flash has averaged more than one million viewers, with season eight continuing the momentum the show has been building since 2014.

The move by The CW marks the latest blow for the once mighty Arrowverse, which launched with Arrow in 2012. The gritty remaining of DC Comics' Oliver Queen was a massive success, resulting in an entire superhero universe being built out on the small screen. After a guest appearance in season two of Arrow, Gustin was given his own solo series to flesh out Barry Allen and his Central City team. From there, Legends of Tomorrow and Supergirl were added to the fold, with Black Lightning and Batwoman eventually joining the party as well.

Despite the success many of those shows enjoyed, which included multiple large-scale crossover events, the Arrowverse has slowly been phasing out since Arrow's final season in 2020. Since then, Supergirl and Black Lightning were both given final seasons by The CW, while Legends and Batwoman were both canceled before their stories could wrap up. Given the popularity of The Flash, The CW elected to take the route of one final, abbreviated season as opposed to an abrupt cancelation.

RELATED: DC Fans Call for Grant Gustin to Replace Ezra Miller as DCEU's The Flash

Warner Bros. Discovery Continues to Pull DC Series From Network TV

grant-gustin-the-flash-missed-opportunities-1217729

The Flash ending after nine seasons is not only the killing blow for the Arrowverse, but a continued shift from Warner Bros. to pull DC series off of network television. Once The Flash is gone, The CW will be down to just Superman & Lois and Gotham Knights for its DC slate, the latter of which won't be debuting until 2023. The merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery has led the new company's higher-ups to try and maximize DC Comics properties to their fullest potential. It would seem that the focus will now be on theatrical DC projects, along with series for HBO Max such as Titans and Doom Patrol. The Arrowverse had a great run on The CW, but its time is coming to an end as Warner Bros. Discovery shifts its focus regarding the DC universe.

Production on the ninth season of The Flash is set to begin next month, and the final batch of episodes will be airing in 2023. A premiere date is yet to be set, but Barry Allen will be speeding into our homes one last time within the next few months.