Yes, you read that correctly. Hot on the heels of the news that Candice Patton will play Iris West in the upcoming Flash TV pilot, Deadline announces that Carlos Valdes will play Cisco Ramon, “a mechanical engineering genius and the youngest member of the team of scientists at STAR Labs” (maybe working with Caitlin Snow?) — or, as New 52 comic book readers know him, Vibe. TVLine notes that he is currently performing in the Broadway play, Once.
This brings the known cast up to six: Valdes and Patton join Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, Jesse L. Martin as Detective West, Rick Cosnet as Detective Eddie Thawne (probably the Reverse Flash in disguise), and Danielle Panabaker as scientist Caitlin Snow (probably the future Killer Frost).
Update: THR has more info on the character:
Valdes will play the series regular role of Cisco Ramon, a mechanical engineering genius and the youngest member of the team of scientists at STAR Labs. Born into a lower-income family, Cisco’s brains and talent helped him reach his potential. He is loyal and eager and provides the comic relief in contrast to his stiff co-workers. Best part: He is as much of a comic book fanboy as Barry.
THR also confirms that Hartley Rathaway, aka the Pied Piper, will appear as a regular character on the show. He and Harrison Wells (not a character from the comics as far as I can recall, but STAR Labs’ CEO) are the last two “regular roles” remaining to be cast.
If it was any other network producing this show, I’d be excited….
I think this might be your fault.
Hahaha! (For anyone wondering about what he’s referring to, Firestorm Fan and I did an April Fools’ joke way back in 2009 about Geoff Johns launching Vibe: Rebirth.) https://speedforce.org/2009/04/vibe-rebirth/
Vibe? Really? Before characters like Elongated Man or Wally West?
Not really liking all of these creative liberties. I’m glad we are getting Hartley, but I wish we could get more characters from the Flash universe.Because the characters who are supposedly on the recurring cast seem to have their backstory heavily altered from the comics(Iris West, Eobard Thawne), aren’t from the Flash universe (Vibe, Killer Frost, Harrison Wells) or are made up for this show (Detective West). A lot of Flash characters can easily be brought to live action. Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard, Mazdan, Mob Rule, Murmur, etc. would be awesome to see.
Keep in mind that this is casting for
(a) the pilot, so it’s part exposition and part proof-of-concept (sometimes characters get dropped before the series goes into production), and
(b) regulars, meaning it’s mostly the supporting cast, not the rotating gallery of villains and guest stars. I wouldn’t expect to see the entire Rogues Gallery in the pilot and every subsequent episode, even with Geoff Johns involved.
Hmm, I seem to remember something about the Flash having a team of STAR scientists helping him out (similar to Tina McGee in the 1990s show, but more than one). Maybe that’s Snow, Ramon and Rathaway to begin with? A bioengineer, an engineer, and an expert in hypersonics. Over time, they could break out into their own powered identities.
I think your last paragraph nails it. I think he’s a team mate that will eventually gain powers.
Dear DC comics, You did not get the joke. Vibe Rebirth was funny because nobody wants that. Please make it stop.
So they’re casting the role of Hartley Rathaway, huh? Good to know someone at DC/WB likes the character.