THE FLASH Star Tom Cavanagh Talks Possible Return As Reverse-Flash In DCU; DC Studios' James Gunn Responds

THE FLASH Star Tom Cavanagh Talks Possible Return As Reverse-Flash In DCU; DC Studios' James Gunn Responds

The Flash star Tom Cavanagh has addressed his possible return as Reverse-Flash in DC Studios' DCU, prompting James Gunn to respond! Find out exactly what the Arrowverse actor had to say after the jump...

By JoshWilding - Mar 21, 2024 06:03 AM EST
Filed Under: The Flash

Say what you will about the Arrowverse, but Tom Cavanagh's performance as the Reverse-Flash was hard to find fault with. As the years passed, The Flash diluted the character by having the actor play multiple versions of "Harrison Wells." However, in that suit, Cavanagh was a suitably formidable villain. 

With DC Studios seemingly moving on from the increasingly unpopular Multiverse concept (especially after The Flash movie), we don't anticipate seeing any of these Arrowverse characters ever again. 

Recently, James Gunn said he'd be open to working with Barry Allen actor Grant Gustin and, at a recent fan convention, Cavanagh (jokingly?) shared his desire to play Eobard Thawne in the new DCU. 

"Yes, James Gunn, James, where are you? James, I'm right here, pretty solidly built, still athletic," the actor can be heard saying in the video below. "You know, not the youngest cat, but pretty good, pretty fast on their feet, [I] can move pretty good."

"I would love to work for you, Gunn. I hear all this stuff on social media about Grant Gustin, c'mon, he's got a job!"

Gunn later responded on Threads after a fan brought the video to his attention; alas, while he seemed to find amusement in Cavanagh's remarks, the SUPERMAN helmer didn't offer any sort of hint that he might take the Reverse-Flash actor up on his offer to return. 

He'd then add, "Anyone responding to this thinking I’m laughing AT Tom obviously hasn’t watched the clip. He’s being hilarious. I’m acknowledging that."

Screenshot-2024-03-21-at-09-51-34-copy

When The Flash ended, Cavanagh shared his hopes for a Reverse-Flash spin-off. "I pitched Greg [Berlanti]...this idea that was like, 'Look at him as one of those Dragons of Yore that are impenetrable but for one weakness that is a scale and that is the vulnerability. What if Reverse-Flash fell for some paramore on Earth and that created the obstacle for him getting back, because much against his will, he’d fallen in love.'"

"That’s a human story. You can’t really tell that complicated of a Reverse-Flash story on a television show called The Flash, because you have to serve The Flash," he continued. "As a cast member, I’ve always been more than willing and ready to do that, but now that The Flash is done, there’s always room to explore that story. So, you never know."

The Flash movie bombed last year and, for now, it doesn't appear as if DC Studios has any plans to introduce a new version of the Scarlet Speedster (bringing Ezra Miller back is surely also off the table). 

Reverse-Flash deserves to grace the big screen at some point, though, don't you think?

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LeonNova
LeonNova - 3/21/2024, 6:19 AM
I don’t think he should return as Thawne, but he’s a brilliant actor, so I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him in some other role.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 3/21/2024, 6:24 AM
@LeonNova - same. Goes for all actors that wanna return. Enough other characters they could portray
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/21/2024, 7:47 AM
@LeonNova - he was great (though I do feel that they utilized the character so much that it became somewhat of a case of diminishing returns)

However that first season man…

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krayzeman
krayzeman - 3/21/2024, 9:21 AM
@TheVisionary25 - That first season was one of the best seasons of superhero tv i ever seen! Then it went downhill from there lol. This scene however was THE highpoint of the series! The acting between these two and Cisco's tears and the way Thawne raised his hand where you KNEW what was about to happen but it's TV so you didnt know if they were gonna go through with it was mindboggling Then it cut to commercial! What a scene!
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/21/2024, 9:24 AM
@krayzeman - I liked season 2 and there were times it got close to this again but S1 remained its peak imo.
TheShape9859
TheShape9859 - 3/21/2024, 6:21 AM
Cavanagh looks ridiculous in that suit. I'm glad Gunn laughed at the thought....because it's laughable and stupid
dragon316
dragon316 - 3/21/2024, 6:55 AM
@TheShape9859 - doesn’t go down to his nose fat enough that’s weird looking thing on it
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 3/21/2024, 2:54 PM
@TheShape9859 - That's the most accurate Reverse-Flash suit you are ever gonna see for a now until WBD/DC Studios learn how to properly make a Flash one actually look good, lmao. Your post should look in a mirror, it'll find the actual laughable and stupid in it.
TheShape9859
TheShape9859 - 3/21/2024, 3:18 PM
@NinnesMBC - oh man you sure got me 😐
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 3/21/2024, 6:23 AM
As much as I like him and Gustin in their respective roles, I do wanna see new actors take over in the DCU. Their time has passed
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 3/21/2024, 7:20 AM
@bkmeijer1 - Plus, I know the TV show has its fans, but they were good for TV. Their take wouldn't translate well to a movie. Not every TV actor has what it takes to move to movies.
MotherGooseUPus
MotherGooseUPus - 3/21/2024, 7:26 AM
@bkmeijer1 - agreed... but i thought they were both great in their respective roles... especially Tom in S1...he knocked it out of the park
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 3/21/2024, 2:52 PM
@Urubrodi - Tell that to Austin Butler, Chris Pratt, Jenna Ortega, Kathryn Newton, Charles Melton etc who began in TV. In fact the list of actors that go from serialized series to films is huge now.

It's about the writers behind, they define the "takes" of the characters actors play.
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 3/21/2024, 6:30 AM
I honestly want both DC and Marvel to start from scratch. Lets see Zack Snyder take over Marvel for a dark and bloddy and sexy Marvel universe. Then let Kevin Feige take over DC and make a pretty cool DC universe before letting it all go to shit.
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 3/21/2024, 6:35 AM
Ironman murders all the bad guys he sees after his boyfriend Spiderman is killed by Green Goblin played by Jared Leto. Until Captain America is woken up from the ice, even though he is hated by modern day Americans for punching Nazi's without their consent, he still takes his sad face and beats Iron Man with a sink. But without either of their parents sharing a name, they unfortunately never find common ground and beat each other to death, and someone gets raped in a prison.
GarthRanzz
GarthRanzz - 3/21/2024, 10:23 AM
@TheVandalore - You mean Spider-Man. And I assume Iron Man has murdered a lot. Why else would he add a kill mode to the Spidey suit?
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 3/21/2024, 6:46 AM
F*ck no, guy just started whispering as the Reverse Flash and never stopped, he can't act.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/21/2024, 6:57 AM
Cavanagh’s a funny and likable guy in every interview I’ve seen if his…

I would rather someone new get the chance to play Reverse Flash but I wouldn’t mind seeing Tom in a different role in the DCU at some point.

I could see him as a Dr T.O Morrow or Will Magnus honestly.

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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/21/2024, 7:02 AM
I have 2 out of left field choices for DCU Reverse Flash…

Glenn Howerton

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Bill Hader

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elgaz
elgaz - 3/21/2024, 7:15 AM
I like Cavanagh, and God loves a trier, but no ............... not gonna happen.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 3/21/2024, 7:18 AM
He was good... for TV. Movie version requires someone with more range.
QuietStorm
QuietStorm - 3/21/2024, 8:13 AM
Damn good first season with Reverse Flash. User Comment Image
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/21/2024, 8:15 AM
@QuietStorm - remained the best season of the show imo

It got close at times but could never recapture that peak.
Fares
Fares - 3/21/2024, 8:48 AM
Mfers just want to continue the CW-verse at this point. Let the new universe be a new universe.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/21/2024, 8:54 AM
@Fares - agreed though to be fair…

The actors are being asked and very few if any one wouldn’t want a job haha.
Fares
Fares - 3/21/2024, 9:08 AM
@TheVisionary25 - 100% I would respond the same way. I'm more concerned with the fans than the actors themselves.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 3/21/2024, 9:25 AM
@Fares - I get yeah

People should realize change can be good and thus comes from someone who is a defender of the CW verse.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 3/21/2024, 2:56 PM
@Fares - How can that be possible when Gunn is keeping his band from Peacekamer?
Fares
Fares - 3/21/2024, 4:07 PM
@NinnesMBC - I'm not more thrilled about it than you are, but at least they're just a handful of C-list characters that were only recently introduced and I hope they remain in their own little corner. A Flash, a Reverse-Flash or even a Green Arrow kind of character is another story for me personally.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 3/22/2024, 1:30 AM
@Fares - With him calling the shots as one of the CEOs that'll remain to be seen. But okay, your point does make some sense.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 3/21/2024, 8:58 AM
Na, we don't want that
DocSpock
DocSpock - 3/21/2024, 9:12 AM

Aaah...

These CW TV guys wanting more paychecks. I can't blame them; everyone needs cash. Is he still making that cheesy game show?

Draggonne
Draggonne - 3/21/2024, 9:58 AM
Tom played an excellent character one of my favorites in the flash. I prefer Grant for the flash over anyone and Tom like very few other actors for in the arrow verse I think did an excellent jobs, his potential to play different versions (doppelganger) of his character was awesome. My opinion as for the flash anything is better than Ezra and not because I don't like him but because I think he is not a good choice for the flash.
manzi71
manzi71 - 3/21/2024, 11:07 AM
Always thought Ryan Reynolds would be a perfect adult Wally West/Flash. As for reverse Flash, I can see Matthew McConaughey playing him.
ReverseFlash202
ReverseFlash202 - 3/21/2024, 12:50 PM
We need Matt Letscher as the DCU Reverse Flash
AC1
AC1 - 3/21/2024, 2:50 PM
I actually liked some of the other Wells-es. Especially the Earth 2 one. But yeah they did go a bit overboard after a while, definitely didn't need a new one every season, should've just kept the Earth 2 one instead. It was weird gimmicky shit like that that kinda unraveled the series.

As for his spin-off idea - on the one hand that's a very interesting premise, but on the other hand isn't Thrawne meant to be completely incapable of love? Like completely filled with hatred and superiority?

Also, with all due respect, what he says about that not being possible in Flash's show is fundamentally untrue - having rich, complex, nuanced villains with complicated motivations and backstories only serves to make the overall narrative richer and the hero's journey and the conflicts they experience all the more satisfying. I'd have taken that over some of the hokey, gimmicky shit we got in later seasons any day.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 3/21/2024, 3:02 PM
@AC1 - There is a story years ago in the comics where they dived in his life before he lost his marbles even more when he met Barry and it showed his psychotic he was to his family, his brother (lowkey referenced in S8 as the name of place) and also how he fell in love with someone. Until she also got on his nerves for not fully reciprocating his feelings, leading him to take awful "measures" on her with his powers. I believe that is from where Tom was coming from about his RF spinoff.

Would fit more a short miniseries and as a character study type of series.
AC1
AC1 - 3/22/2024, 12:53 AM
@NinnesMBC - oh that's pretty interesting, and yeah I hadn't considered a dark ending like him turning on the person he'd fallen for
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 3/22/2024, 1:43 AM
@AC1 - Yes, that's pretty much the only logical ending that awaits him given the core of his character.
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