Mark Consuelos, who plays suave villain Hiram Lodge on The CW’s Riverdale, has left the comic-based drama series after four seasons in the role. Consuelos joined the popular teen show in season 2, episode 1, “Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying,” and has gone on to be credited in 75 episodes of the series. Lodge is the conniving businessman of the town and the father of principal character Veronica Lodge. For four seasons, he has plotted, played and preyed on the citizens of Riverdale.
Lodge’s corruption has plagued the young Riverdale gang for four years, but the recent season 5 finale saw him finally ousted from the town he has manipulated for all this time. Residents of the timeless town united in season 5, episode 19, “Chapter Ninety-Five: RIVERDALE: RIP (?)” to officially exile the morally-bankrupt billionaire. Lodge had one more trick up his sleeve, however, as he left behind a ticking bomb in one final chess move from the sly villain.
According to Deadline, Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa confirmed that this finale was Consuelos’ final regular appearance for now, and he won’t be returning for the upcoming season 6 of the show. Praising the actor’s performance, Aguirre-Sacasa commented on the differences between Lodge and Consuelos, who is apparently the complete opposite of the evil businessman in real life. After confirming the characters exit, the showrunner went on to say he hopes to see more of Lodge in the future.
“So tonight’s episode is Mark’s swan song playing our hunky villain Hiram Lodge on Riverdale after four insane, glorious years. From the moment Mark joined us, he was up for literally anything, a hundred percent committed to making Archie’s life a living hell. And what’s funny is, Mark couldn’t be more different from Hiram. A classy pro and the sweetest guy, always looking out for everyone ... We wish Mark the best and hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Hiram Lodge.”
Hiram’s exit from Riverdale shakes up the show as it heads into season 6 this fall. The series has been finding new ways to uproot the familiar gang of Archie, Veronica, Betty and Jughead, including a surprise seven-year time jump in season 5. Fans can assume the void left by Lodge’s exile will soon be filled by another suspicious character. Consuelos’ reign as the TV baddie has been an admirable one, and he even managed to cross over into Riverdale’s spin-off series, Katy Keene, for a one-off cameo last year.
For now, Lodge is gone, and both Veronica and the entire town are free of the villainous patriarch for the foreseeable future. However, as Aguirre-Sacasa has already noted, Consuelos’ character is still ripe for a possible return in years to come, so Archie and the gang shouldn't relax just yet. Riverdale fans and general TV audiences alike know very well that unless a character is truly dead, there’s always room for a comeback.
Source: Deadline