While it may be sad news that CW's The Flash is coming to an end with its upcoming ninth season, fans will be happy to know that David Ramsey, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Sendhil Ramamurthy will be reprising their roles as John Diggle/Spartan, Wally West/Kid Flash, and Ramsey Rosso/Bloodwork, respectively.
As reported by Deadline, The Flash executive producer Eric Wallace shared a few words about the returning characters, beginning with Spartan. David Ramsey's John Diggle made his first appearance in Season 1 of The Flash, and has shown up in 10 episodes total.
"As one of the legacy Arrowverse characters who helped start it all, John Diggle holds a special place in our hearts, as well as the fans," Wallace said. “Plus, the commanding presence and commitment to excellence actor/director David Ramsey brings to the screen each-and every time is truly inspiring. So, of course, it was a no-brainer to have Diggle join Team Flash in our final season! So, get ready for a very emotional reunion as John Diggle aka Spartan helps protect Central City alongside Team Flash one, last time.”
Lonsdale's Wally West/Kid Flash became a series regular in the second and third season, a recurring character in Season 4, and a guest star in Season 5. Lonsdale's character appeared in a total of 45 episodes.
“We’re so happy to reunite with the incredibly talented Keiynan Lonsdale as a part of The Flash’s final season. Because Kid Flash isn’t just another speedster—he’s a beloved part of our Team Flash family,” said Wallace. “So as soon as we knew he was coming back, we set out to create a special and heartfelt story for his return. The result is a brilliant performance from Keiynan that showcases a side of Wally West you’ve never seen before.”
Ramamurthy's Ramsey Rosso/Bloodwork didn't join the cast until Season 6, but the nine episodes he was in were some of the most memorable.
“Ever since Sendhil turned in such a brilliantly haunting and unforgettable performance as the tortured Ramsey Rosso in Season Six, we’ve been looking for a way to bring him back,” said Wallace. “We also knew we wanted to have Ramsey play a part in Flash’s final race. Fortunately, everything came together and now the villainous Bloodwork’s return will set into motion one of the Flash’s wildest and most emotional adventures yet.”
The Flash had an impressive run, but it speeding towards the finish line signals the larger loss of the "OG Arrowverse" shows that ended between 2020 and 2022, including Arrow, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Black LIghtning, and Batwoman.
Despite the troubles in the DCEU, many praised the Arrowverse shows and its take on DC Comics lore. To further understand why, be sure to check out our picks for the 25 best Arrowverse episodes.
If you are upset The Flash is coming to an end, you'll be happy to know that the DCEU film of the same name will race into theaters on June 16, 2023.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.