While The CW’s The Flash is slated to return for an eighth season, two of its original stars will leave the show after its current season is concluded, according to Variety. Tom Cavanagh (Ed) and Carlos Valdes (Tom and Grant) will be leaving the show.
Cavanagh, who played several alternate versions of scientist Harrison Wells, was originally meant to conclude his appearances as a series regular in season six, however, with the pandemic shutdown, the actor continued his character to wrap up his storyline in the first three episodes of the show’s seventh season. Meanwhile, Valdes, who played Francisco “Cisco” Ramon through all seven seasons of The Flash, will conclude his character’s storyline with the season seven finale.
Despite these departures, showrunner and executive producer Eric Wallace (Teen Wolf) has said that both actors are welcome to return to reprise their characters, “Tom and Carlos have been an integral part of our show for seven seasons, and will be greatly missed,” he said. “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,” via Variety.
The duo’s departure only leaves the show’s original cast as Grant Gustin (Glee) as Barry Allen or “The Flash,” Candice Patton (The Game) as Iris West-Allen, Danielle Panabaker (Sky High) as Caitlin Snow or “Killer Frost,” and Jesse L. Martin (Rent) as Joe West. The next episode of The Flash will air on The CW on May 11 and is entitled “Timeless.”