It looks like there will be a few familiar faces on Smallville next season after all.  Last week, we mentioned the possibility that Allison Mack may not return for the show's eighth season.  Following the departures of Michael Rosenbaum and Kristin Kreuk, Mack's reps were playing hardball with Warner Brothers in an attempt to get their client a better deal.  Their tactics must have paid off, because TV Guide's Michael Ausiello announced today that Mack has signed on to appear in every episode of Smallville's eighth season.

Not only will Chloe return, but Ausiello is reporting that one of Smallville's greatest recurring characters may also come back to town.

Justin Hartley, who plays Green Arrow on the series, recently signed a talent holding deal with the CW.  The deal led to the network casting him in the pilot for the medical drama Austin Golden Hour, which the CW decided not to pick up as a series.  Now that Hartley is free and still under contract with the network, there's a very good chance that he'll return to Smallville in the near future.  However, no official announcement has been made.

Even with Mack staying on board, fans of the series still have to prepare for major changes next season. Tonight's season finale, "Arctic," will be the last episode to feature Kreuk and Rosenbaum as full-time cast members.  It's also the final installment to feature any involvement from creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who are leaving the show to have more time to work on feature films.  The creators apparently haven't had much involvement in the past few seasons of the show, so it's unknown if their departure will have a major impact.

If you're a Smallville fanatic, be sure to say your goodbyes to Lana and Lex when "Arctic" airs tonight at 8pm on the CW.

Also Read:
No More 'Smallville' After Season 8?
New Villains Emerge as Michael Rosenbaum Says Goodbye to 'Smallville'
'Smallville' Season 8 to Lose Cast Members
Update on 'Smallville' Season 8 Departures
'Smallville' Season 8 Experiences Cast Shake Up


- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Source: TV Guide
(Image courtesy of the CW)