The Flash loses two major players prior to its eighth season.
Actors Carlos Valdes and Tom Cavanaugh – Cisco Ramon/Vibe and Dr. Harrison Wells et al, respectively – have decided not to renew their contracts during negotiations for season eight.
The Flash Loses Cisco and Wells – Why is This A Big Deal?
Carlos had made his debut as Cisco alongside Danielle Panabaker’s Caitlin Snow in the latter half of Arrow‘s second season. The initial plan had been to create a backdoor pilot for The Flash on Arrow following Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) being struck by lightning in the midseason finale. However, feeling The Fastest Man Alive deserved a bigger stage, they kept Barry in a coma until the fall of 2014. Since then, S.T.A.R. Labs’ resident engineer and chief geek has provided Barry Allen with his trademark suit and the team with numerous gadgets. He then gained his own powers to become the hero Vibe, as well as later voluntarily giving them up as the first subject of his metahuman cure. He’s been lucky and unlucky in love, having had a fling with Hawkgirl and a long-distance relationship with fellow “breacher” Gypsy. His current subplot involves him breaking in the latest Team Flash member Chester P. Runk (Brandon McKnight) while dating Kamilla Hwang (Victoria Park).
Cavanaugh allegedly had planned to leave after the conclusion of the sixth season prior to the pandemic. His final bow for that finale was recycled into the third episode of this season, entitled “Mother.” Since the pilot, portraying both the original Earth-1 Wells as his impostor, Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash, Tom has gone on to play numerous doppelgangers. From Earth-2’s Harry Wells, HR Wells, Sherloque Wells and finally to Nash Wells/Pariah, the writers have given Tom plenty of creative opportunities. Recent seasons have even seen him reprise his more popular version of The Reverse-Flash after Matt Letcher – Thawne’s original face – took the role in season two and did a stint as primary villain on the second season of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. In “Mother,” following the sacrifice of Nash Wells, the original Harrison Wells murdered by Reverse-Flash was resurrected as “Timeless Wells,” imbued with time manipulating abilities and the memories of all of his previous incarnations. The details on his appearance on this season are being kept close to the chest, but Tom had hinted at his departure on Instagram a year ago. Under a provided photo, he wrote, “It has been a joy creating and playing the myriad Wells that make up Wells st. on [The Flash.] At times brusque, sunny, capricious, and perpetually shameless, they will always be linked by a single unbreakable threat of gratitude. My thanks to everyone on all sides that makes up this wee superhero show of ours.”
Executive Producer and Showrunner Eric Wallace, in response to the news, was full of praise for the outgoing actors. “Tom and Carlos have been an integral part of our show for seven seasons, and will be greatly [missed.] Both are incredible talents who created beloved characters that fans and audiences around the world have come to love. Which is why we are happily leaving the door open for return appearances.”
Catch the next seventh season episode of The Flash Tuesday, May 11th at 8/7 Central on The CW.
Original Source – ‘The Flash’ Original Cast Members Tom Cavanagh & Carlos Valdes Exit – Deadline
