Michael Rosenbaum "Lex Luthor" made a deal

Great news, Smallville fans: Michael Rosenbaum – aka Lex Luthor — made a deal late Friday to make a much-anticipated comeback for the series finale. The superhero drama ends its epic 10-year run in May.

“It feels like the stars are aligning, literally,” according to a statement from Executive Producers Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson. “We couldn’t be more excited about having Michael back. And as far as the way he returns…there’ll be no doubt about how Lex becomes the great rival in Clark Kent’s life. He is the villain of the story.”

Rosenbaum released a statement of his own: “I’m delighted to return for the series finale. I’m simply doing it for all of the fans out there who made Smallville the great success it is. I appreciate all of their passion, their relentlessness and even their threats.”

He can say that again. After EW posted a story Thursday that said Rosenbaum may not return, EW message boards immediately lit up with angry posts from fans who were mad the actor wasn’t going to see off the show that helped to make him a star. Apart from watching the Man of Steel finally put on the spandex suit and fly like he means it, a re-appearance by Rosenbaum was the top request by viewers looking for creative closure in Smallville‘s final season.

“What a joke,” said a fan named Joe on the EW boards. “Clearly he doesn’t give a rats arse about the fans that built his career. Hope he disappears into Hollywood oblivion…” Others questioned whether something mysterious was keeping him away from the Smallville set. “I wonder if there’s some bad blood between Michael and the show,” said a fan named Attia. “Even Julianne Moore returned to the soap opera As The World Turns that she starred in back in the’ 80s for its final [season].”

Rosenbaum played Superman’s arch rival for seven seasons on the drama. Producers had been taking a ”you’ll have to tune in to find out” stance when asked whether Rosenbaum will show up, all the while naturally hoping the actor will change his mind. Fortunately for the show’s rabid fans, he’s coming home.