The Flash is still running full-steam ahead in its seventh season, renewed for Season 8, but two of the show’s original cast members won’t be along for the ride. Tom Cavanaugh and Carlos Valdes will depart during The Flash Season 7, Deadline reports.
Carlos Valdes, who has played the part of tech genius Cisco Ramon–and his super-powered alter ego Vibe–will reportedly end his run with the Season 7 finale.
Tom Cavanaugh has played a variety of characters in the show. He has to be in the running for most characters portrayed in a live-action series, right? He began as Reverse-Flash/Eobard Thawne, disguised as scientist Harrison Wells. Upon Thawne’s initial defeat, Cavanaugh returned as Harry Wells, H.R. Wells, Sherloque Wells, and Nash Wells–not to mention a whole host of silly one-shot Wells variants. Cavanaugh’s departure is a bit muddier. The actor was reportedly set to end his run with the Season 6 finale, but The Flash’s season was cut short like so many others.
The show gave what looked like a send-off to Cavanaugh’s character in Season 7, Episode 3, when a sort of cosmic-ghost version of the original Harrison Wells disappeared into the time stream. Showrunners have said that Cavanaugh will be back yet this season, but his final appearance is still under wraps.
“Tom and Carlos have been an integral part of our show for seven seasons, and will be greatly missed,” said showrunner Eric Wallace in a statement to Deadline. “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 keeping the door open for return appearances.”
Harrison Wells never truly dies, and it sounds like Cisco won’t be gasping out his final words on the show, either. According to Deadline, while actor Grant Gustin is already set to return in Season 8, Candice Patton (Iris West-Allen), Danielle Panabaker (Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost), and presumably Jesse L. Martin (Joe West) are currently re-negotiating their contracts. The Flash Season 7, Episode 8, “The People vs. Killer Frost,” airs tonight on the CW.
