The Flash season 9 casts Batwoman star Javicia Leslie in a mystery role that may be revealed as Red Death. Based on the popular DC Comics character of the same name, The Flash premiered on The CW back in 2014, expanding the shared universe established by Arrow and becoming one of the network's most successful series in terms of ratings. It follows Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), a crime scene investigator with super-human speed, and his efforts to fight criminals and other superpowered individuals in Central City. The longest-running show within the Arrowverse was confirmed in August that The Flash would end after season 9.
Fans of The CW are familiar with Leslie and her portrayal of Ryan Wilder in the series Batwoman. Her character discovers the Batsuit among plane crash wreckage, eventually replacing Ruby Rose's Kate Kane in the titular role. Red Death, in the comics, is presented as an alternate version of the Batman from Earth-52, first introduced in 2017 as a member of the Dark Knights. The Flash briefly alluded to the existence of Red Death in a season 5 episode titled "Memorabilia," though the character has not been seen in the show yet. Fans expressed disappointment over the network's cancelation of Batwoman back in April. However, it now seems Leslie's Ryan Wilder will return in some capacity.
EW confirms that Javicia Leslie has been cast as a mystery character in The Flash season 9. While the character's identity is being kept under wraps for now, there's a solid chance Leslie could don a Batsuit once more to portray the previously mentioned Red Death in the show's final season.
How Red Death Factors Into Arrowverse's Future
With all the changes implemented by Warner Bros. Discovery and previously announced CW programs getting canceled, it is hard to imagine the Arrowverse continuing beyond the conclusion of The Flash. However, Red Death's potential appearance in season 9 does hint at the direction of the show's final episodes. The concept of a multiverse has always been a significant part of The Flash's story. Despite the ending of "Crisis on Infinite Earths," including a Ryan Wilder variant could suggest one last crossover event, along with introducing the Dark Knights.
Fans of the short-lived Batwoman series will be excited to hear that Leslie is returning to the Arrowverse once more. Whether her role is confirmed as Red Death remains to be seen, but it could also lead to future projects within other DC Comics-based content. Audiences looking forward to learning more about Javicia Leslie's character and how The Flash ultimately ends can be sure to check out the final season when it premieres.
Source: EW