(UTV | COLOMBO) – In since-deleted postings on social media on Friday night, actor Dominic Purcell says he’s ‘walking away’ from his role as Mick Rory, aka Heatwave, on The CW’s “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”.
Variety reports that in an updated caption on Saturday, he claimed the original post was that he needed a laugh “and the press went nuts”.
However, he maintains he’s still leaving the series saying: “Yes I am leaving @cw_legendsoftomorrow but will come back periodically. It’s a handshake deal with my boss Phil Klemmer. I don’t have a beef with studio @warnerbrostv.”
Purcell’s original announcement suggested the decision came out of some sort of bureaucratic conflict, but the original posting also thanked the show for the experience and said “much love to all. It’s not lost on me how very fortunate I am.” He also asked his fellow regular cast colleagues Caity Lotz and Nick Zano to take care of the show’s newcomers.
Purcell has played the hot-headed Mick on the show since the pilot and has been a regular through including the currently filming sixth season. That season will wrap its shoot in about 2-3 weeks, ending filming a week after its May 2nd premiere.
Back in February Purcell reportedly said in an Instagram post that he would be leaving at the end of Season 7 when his contract is up and had no intention of leaving the show before then. That post has since been deleted.
For now, it appears as though Purcell will be full-time on the sixth season, but only make brief appearances in the seventh. Neither DC nor The CW has commented on Purcell’s recent statements.
This follows in the wake of the abrupt departures of Brandon Routh, Courtney Ford, and Maisie Richardson-Sellers last year. With Purcell out, that leaves Lotz as the only remaining original cast member in the seventh season.
