Fans of The Young and the Restless got a major surprise when Billy Flynn first appeared as the mysterious Aristotle Dumas, only to later discover he was actually Cane Ashby in disguise. Now, Flynn has broken down how he made the iconic role his own while staying true to the character’s roots.
Billy Flynn on his approach to Cane Ashby in The Young and the Restless
When Flynn joined The Young and the Restless, he didn’t know he’d be stepping into the shoes of Cane Ashby, a role Daniel Goddard played for over a decade. After learning about the recast, Flynn dove into Cane’s past, watching old episodes and studying his relationships, especially with ex-wife Lily Winters, played by Christel Khalil.
“Cane and Lily were already a big thing,” Flynn told TV Insider. “So, I come in and not only do I have to have that [connection] with Christel, but I’m not Australian and I’m a bit younger. The relationship that Cane and Lily had is a testament to their work.” He praised Goddard’s performance but made it clear he won’t just mimic it.
Flynn isn’t trying to copy Goddard’s version of Cane in The Young and the Restless. Instead, he’s putting his own stamp on the character, dropping the accent and adjusting the age dynamic with Lily.
“We’re going to rebrand it a bit, so they have a closer age range, and I don’t have a sexy accent. I can’t replicate it, so I’m going to do my thing. When people see this Cane and the relationship that I have as Cane with Lily, I think they’ll be happy,” the actor shared.
Despite the changes, Flynn is confident fans will still recognize the essence of Cane, especially in his relationship with Lily. “There are a lot of things that are going to be different, but Lily is Cane’s one true love, and I know how to do that,” he said.
