UPDATE (5:00 pm PT): Contrary to THR's initial report, writer/producer Greg Berlanti posted the following tweet, indicating that Savitar has yet to be cast on "The Flash":

 

For all those tweeting me or elsewhere. We have NOT cast Savitar. Those reports are incorrect. #theflash

— Greg Berlanti (@GBerlanti) August 23, 2016

ORIGINAL STORY:

"The Vampire Diaries" alum Todd Lasance will reportedly play the villainous speedster Savitar on "The Flash" Season 3.

RELATED: "The Flash's" New Speedster Villain Savitar 'is Not Like Zoom or Reverse Flash'

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Savitar will be one of two "big bads" in "The Flash's" third season -- the other being Doctor Alchemy.

Created in 1995's "The Flash" (Vol. 2)" #108 by Mark Waid and Oscar Jimenez, the villain was central in the fan-favorite "Dead Heat" arc, and went on to appear in Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver's "Flash: Rebirth." Savitar was a Cold War-era pilot from a third-world nation whose plane was struck by lightning, giving him super-speed and a strong connection to the Speed Force. Naming himself after Savitr, the Hindu god of motion, the character studied elements of the Speed Force that were unknown to other speedsters at the time, eventually forming his own cult. Savitar developed the ability to create a force field, regenerate and transfer speed to other objects and people.

Lasance starred as the antagonistic vampire character Julian on "The Vampire Diaries'" seventh season. He has also appeared in "Spartacus: War of the Damned," "Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms," "Crownies" and "Home and Away."

RELATED: Villainous Speedster Savitar to Debut in "The Flash" Season 3

"The Flash" races back to the small screen on Tuesday, October 4 at 8pm ET on the CW.