"The Flash" has recruited "The Vampire Diaries" actor Todd Lasance to play a villainous character in Season 3. Lasance has been tapped to play The Rival, a speedster who will be one of The Flash's adversaries in the new season.
In the DC comics lore, The Rival is known as a primary enemy of Jay Garrick, who created a formula to transform himself into a speedster. According to TV Line, the upcoming Big Bad will first appear on "The Flash" Season 3 opener, and will recur throughout the season. No word yet if he will be part of the buzzy Season 3's Flashpoint arc which will be tackled in the premiere.
The Rival is only one of the many villains going head to head with Barry on "The Flash" Season 3. He will be joined by the Mirror Master (Grey Damon), The Top (Ashley Rickards) and Magenta (Joey King). Dr. Alchemy and Savitar are also on board, but the duo has not yet been cast.
Previewing what to expect from the latter, executive producer Todd Helbing said in a report from Cosmic Book News that Savitar in Hindu means "the god of speed." Helbing described him as someone who elicit a cult following, and also a meta-human who act like the speed god. The showrunner noted, however, that he is very different from Zoom or the Reverse-Flash.
"The Flash" stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes and Keiynan Lonsdale, Tom Cavanagh and Jesse L. Martin. "The Flash" Season 3 premieres on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 8PM on the CW.