Titans star responds after character's big exit

Titans spoilers for season 3 episode 'Souls' follow.

Titans star Alan Ritchson has opened up about his big exit as Hawk/Hank Hall in this week's episode.

While the character was killed off back in episode 3 of season 3 by Red Hood/Jason Todd, last night's (September 23) ninth outing 'Souls' saw a final goodbye for Hank as we saw him and Donna Troy in the afterlife.

When Tim Drake awakens there, together the three find a bridge to bring them back to the land of the living – though it crumbles rapidly and they're ambushed by a hoard of ghouls.

Hank bravely stays behind to hold the enemies off so that Tim and Donna can escape, leaving him in limbo. However, Hank reunites with brother Donny, as they team up to help other lost souls escape.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about his exit, Ritchson revealed that the decision was "made" for him by show bosses, though admitted he was also "ready to move on and try something else and enter a more mature phase of life".

"I was surprised by the call," he said. "I was content with the show. I really enjoyed the character, and I enjoyed the schedule."

Explaining that the pace of life worked for him, the actor continued: "It's a luxury that I didn't take for granted because I've been the lead of a show before, and it's all consuming, and you have no life.

"No, I'm not complaining. It just is the reality. So understanding that going into Titans, I did not take for granted the gift of sharing the screen with so many great actors. It lightens the load for you on a personal level, and I really enjoyed that.

"So I would've stayed for 50 seasons probably if I'd never been confronted with leaving, but no, really. The decision was made for me, and it was for the best."

Related: Titans star lands lead role in new Netflix movie

Recalling the phone call from his team to break the news, Ritchson said: "I was like, 'Wow, okay.' Because I'd been hearing that Hawk is well-liked by the fans and by the producers and writers, and so they were like, 'It was really difficult, but we have to reduce the cast. We have to slim down who we're talking about.'"

He went on to reveal that he always held on "loosely" to the role, especially as he only initially joined the show for two episodes and there was a deal for a Hawk and Dove spin-off.

"So when it happened, I was surprised, but it was like, okay, that's all right," he added of the exit.

Titans season 3 airs on HBO Max in the US. In the UK, the show streams on Netflix with no release date announced yet for season 3.

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Sam Warner

Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.