Matt Ryan to switch characters on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

In a bit of surprising news, Matt Ryan, who has played John Constantine on DC's Legends of Tomorrow since the series' third season, will be done playing the DC antihero as of the show's current season sixth season. Despite ending his run as Constantine, Ryan will still be sticking with the show but he will be switching characters.

During the Legends of Tomorrow Comic-Con@Home panel, executive producer/co-showrunner Phil Klemmer announced that Matt Ryan will be back as a series regular in season 7 as a new character. Ryan will be playing Dr. Gwyn Davies, described as an eccentric scientist from the early 20th century who be the team's only hope next season. Ryan originally portrayed John Constantine on the cult NBC series Constantine, which was canceled after only one season. The actor was so popular in the role with fans that he was brought on to Legends of Tomorrow as a recurring character in season 3 before becoming a series regular the following season.

Ryan is departing the role because J.J. Abrams Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV are developing a Constantine TV show for HBO Max with a darker tone and a new take on the character. The role can't run concurrently on both platforms so the creative team behind Legends of Tomorrow developed a new character for Ryan to keep him on the show. Here is what Matt Ryan has to say about switching characters on the popular CW series:

“As everyone who loves him knows, in the end, John Constantine will walk his path alone. The time has come for John to part ways with the Legends, and for me to part ways with John. I’m really excited to be creating this new role on the show and having some fun with it — discovering how this new character fits in and causes some trouble for the Legends."

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow stars Caity Lotz, Matt Ryan, Tala Ashe, Jes Macallan, Olivia Swann, Adam Tsekhman, Shayan Sobhian, Lisseth Chavez, with Nick Zano, and Dominic Purcell, who has indicated that he may leave after Season 6. The show follows time-traveling Rip Hunter as he recruits a rag-tag team of heroes and villains to help prevent an apocalypse that could impact not only Earth but all of time.

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