The CW’s DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is set to lose a couple of series regulars in its upcoming fifth season, with Deadline reporting that real-life couple Brandon Routh (Ray Palmer) and Courtney Ford (Nora Darhk) are exiting the Arrowverse show.
“Brandon and Courtney have been invaluable members of the Legends family,” said executive producers Phil Klemmer, Grianne Godfree and Keto Shimizu. “They have always brought a level passion and collaboration to their characters and to the show — both on and off the screen – that we deeply admire and for which we are eternally grateful.”
“As one of the foundingLegends of Tomorrow, Brandon is extremely beloved by the fans and everyone on the show,” they continued. “Of course, when we have had main characters in the past whose journeys take them away from the Waverider, it’s never truly goodbye. We love these characters and hope to check in with them in future seasons, to see how life off the ship has transformed them for better or worse.”
“I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to bring the big-hearted and humorous Ray Palmer to life for our fans over the last 5 years, but unfortunately, his storyline is pointed in another direction,” said Routh. “I’m saddened to see Ray’s journey end for now but wish my Legends family well.”
“Nora Darhk is very close to my heart,” added Ford. “If it were my choice, I’d play her for years to come. But I understand that stories run their course, and I’m grateful for the time I did have bringing Nora to life on Legends of Tomorrow.”
Before his time is up on Legends, Routh will be getting the opportunity to reprise his Superman Returns role as the Man of Steel, appearing in the event crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths as a version of Superman inspired by Kingdom Come.
The fifth season of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is set to get underway on The CW in January 2020.