The Shocking Truth Behind Wally West's Unexpected Departure from The Flash: Unveiling the Real Reasons

Summary

Wally West, played by Keiynan Lonsdale, was a beloved character on The Flash but left the show after just two seasons, leaving fans questioning why.

Lonsdale's departure from The Flash was a deliberate narrative choice, as his character embarked on a soul-searching journey and ultimately became part of the Legends of Tomorrow team. While leaving the Arrowverse to explore fresh career opportunities, Lonsdale made significant returns as a special guest star in multiple seasons, leaving an enduring impact on The Flash.

Wally West, also known as Kid Flash, quickly became a fan-favorite character in the DC show The Flash. However, his time on the show was short-lived as he departed after the fourth season, having only appeared for a total of two seasons. Wally West was introduced in the third season as a result of the Flashpoint event, where he took on the role of protecting Central City. Although he temporarily lost his super-speed after the Flashpoint, he later regained it with the help of Doctor Alchemy, suggesting that he would remain a prominent character. However, this was not the case.

Keiynan Lonsdale portrayed Wally West on-screen and delivered a remarkable performance as Kid Flash. Despite this, Lonsdale made the decision to leave the show not long after joining, although he did have a brief stint on Legends of Tomorrow. Despite only being part of the Arrowverse for two years, Wally West left a lasting impact, leaving fans to wonder about the reasons behind his departure from The Flash.

Why Keiynan Lonsdale Left The Flash For Legends Of Tomorrow

Lonsdale's departure from The Flash occurred when his character, Wally West, decided to embark on a journey of self-discovery early on in Season 4. Following this choice, Wally made only a few brief appearances on The Flash. It was during his stay at a Chinese monastery that he was approached by Rip Hunter, the leader of the Legends. This led to Kid Flash joining the team during the latter part of Season 3 of the DC series.

In essence, Lonsdale's transition from The Flash to Legends of Tomorrow was a story-driven decision that greatly benefited his character. Wally had been struggling to establish himself outside of Barry Allen's shadow, so it made more sense for him to seize the opportunity to shine aboard The Waverider. However, this tenure was short-lived, as Lonsdale's portrayal of Wally West departed from The Arrowverse entirely after just one season on Legends of Tomorrow.

Why Wally West Left The Arrowverse

Wally West's departure from the wider Arrowverse is directly linked to actor Keiynan Lonsdale. In 2018, Lonsdale announced on Instagram that he would be leaving the Arrowverse to pursue a new career path. However, he spoke highly of his experience in the Arrowverse and there were no negative feelings involved.

Despite leaving the show, Wally West did make a few appearances in the Arrowverse. Lonsdale returned as a special guest star in Seasons 6, 5, and 9. In the season 9 finale of The Flash, he even killed Barry Allen while being controlled by Bloodwork. The departure of Wally West, along with other prominent DC heroes in the Arrowverse, had a lasting impact and contributed to The Flash's success.