News broke today that The Flash‘s beloved Wally West is officially joining the cast of Legends of Tomorrow. The actor, Keiynan Lonsdale, will become a series regular on the show moving forward. The news comes from EW, who reported on Wally’s transfer today.
According to EP Phil Klemmer, Wally will fit right in on the Waverider: “After all, our show is about a collection of unlikely heroes who all began their journeys questioning who they are and where they belong — only to find those answers while traveling through time and having wacky adventures. So now, Wally West is not only back in the company of old friends from the Arrowverse.”
Becoming a Speedster
Wally West joined The Flash back in Season 2, as Joe West’s long lost son and Iris’s long lost brother. He moved in with Joe, Iris and Barry after his mother died. It wasn’t long before he knew Barry’s secret identity and wanted to suit up with the team.
Wally received his powers in Season 3, when Savitar and Doctor Alchemy transformed him with the philosopher’s stone. After Wally became a metahuman and became a speedster, he joined the team as Kid Flash. He never quite appreciated the name though — who likes being called “Kid” all the time?
Becoming a Hero
Even though Wally was on Team Flash and faster than Barry, he was often sidelined. Joe, Iris and Barry all protected Wally, since he was the youngest member of the team. Barry loved working with him, but wasn’t ever allowed to be THE Flash, unless Barry was gone.
Wally was also sidelined when his girlfriend, Jesse Quick, became a speedster before him. When they both became speedsters they tried to date long distance, but with Jesse running around as The Flash on Earth-2, Wally was left behind again.
There was some speculation that Wally could be heading to the Waverider when he appeared in the Season 3 premiere of Legends of Tomorrow. In the premiere, he and Citizen Steel, Nate Heywood, were working together while Barry was trapped inside the speedforce. With Barry back in Central City, what better place for Wally to go then off into history with the Legends?
Legends of Tomorrow airs Tuesdays at 9PM on The CW.
