Is Joe West leaving Central City? 'The Flash' star Jesse L. Martin is exiting as series regular after eight seasons to star in a new NBC pilot — find out what that means for his character.
				
					
						
							 
						
					
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Jesse L. Martin exiting The Flash as series regular after 8 seasons to star in NBC pilot
But don't worry — Joe West is still expected to appear in multiple episodes of season 9 of the CW's Arrowverse series.
By 
Sydney BucksbaumApril 13, 2022 at 05:53 PM EDT
Jesse L. Martin is speeding his way to a new series.
After eight seasons playing sage father figure/detective Joe West on 
The Flash, the actor is stepping down from being a series regular to star in a new NBC pilot. But don't worry — EW has confirmed he is still expected to appear in "multiple episodes" of the 
recently-renewed season 9 of the CW's Arrowverse series.
Jesse L. Martin as Captain Joe West on 'The Flash.'
| CREDIT: KATIE YU/THE CW
As of now, Martin is one of only four original series regulars left on 
The Flash after eight seasons — along with 
Grant Gustin, 
Candice Patton, and 
Danielle Panabaker. 
Deadline reports that while Gustin closed a deal to return for season 9 and Patton and Panabaker are still in negotiations, Martin had not yet been approached to return, so he was available to accept the starring role in NBC's drama pilot 
The Irrational.
Based on author Dan Ariely's 
Predictably Irrational and written by Arika Mittman, the potential new series follows Alec Baker (Martin), a world-renowned professor of behavioral psychology with a unique insight into human nature who lends his expertise to an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, corporations, and law enforcement. But his world gets turned upside down when he meets his match in a female domestic terror suspect. The pilot will shoot in Vancouver, which is where 
The Flash is currently finishing production on season 8.
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Martin is best known for his Tony-winning role as Tom Collins in the Broadway run of 
Rent, for which he reprised his role in the 2005 movie. He also starred on NBC's 
Law & Order for nine seasons. He will next be seen portraying iconic singer Marvin Gaye in the upcoming biopic 
Sexual Healing.