Joe West will be leaving the team in The Flash.
Deadline reports that actor Jesse L. Martin will no longer be a member of The Flash's regular cast. Martin, who was one of just four of the series' original cast members still on the show, is leaving to star in the pilot for The Irrational, a new drama series in production at NBC. The report states that the character of Joe West may still appear in a few episodes of The Flash's ninth season, which is scheduled to premiere next fall.
Grant Gustin, who plays the series' main protagonist Barry Allen/The Flash, recently signed on to star in one more season of the superhero drama. Candice Patton, who plays Iris West-Allen, and Daniella Panabaker, who portrays Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost, are reported to be currently negotiating their return. According to the report, Martin was not approached to return for another season, which freed him up to pursue other projects. Martin will be the latest high profile departure from the show: Tom Cavanaugh, who played Harrison Welles/The Reverse Flash and Carlos Valdes, who played Ramon Cisco/Vibe, both left the series following its seventh season, though Cavanugh returned in a reoccuring role for Season 8.
While The Flash was renewed for a ninth season last March alongside other CW hits such as Riverdale and Superman & Lois, rumors have continued to circulate that the show may be nearing its end. A new report suggests that Season 9 of The Flash will have fewer episodes than past seasons, as The CW is now considering canceling the show.
The eighth season of The Flash is currently airing. Recently leaked images from the show's set suggest that it may be adding yet another Speedster to its roster of meta-humans. The show airs Tuesday nights on The CW.
Martin's new series, The Irrational, is based on the book Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely. The Tony-award winning actor and former Law and Order star will play the role of Alec Baker, a behavioral psychology professor who uses his knowledge of human nature to help his clients, which includes world governments and law enforcement. The series will begin filming in late May and will be shot in the Vancouver area, nearby to where The Flash films. A premiere date for Martin's new show has yet to be announced.
Source: Deadline