Y&R FANS ARE FIGHTING OVER RECASTING CANE
TL;DR: Cane Ashby is back on The Young and the Restless but he’s younger, American, and played by Days of Our Lives‘ alum Billy Flynn instead of Daniel Goddard. Fans are SPLIT: Some think Flynn is crushing it with his darker, more intense take on the character.
Others miss Goddard’s sexy Australian accent and charm, wanting the original back immediately. We’re comparing the two portrayals, analyzing whether Cane’s Aristotle Dumas persona is working, and asking: Can Flynn make fans forget about Goddard’s decade-long legacy, or will he always be “the replacement Cane“?
The Recast Nobody Expected
Daniel Goddard played Cane Ashby from 2007 to 2019—over a decade of establishing the character as a charming Australian with a complicated past, a deep love for Lily Winters (Christel Khalil), and enough family drama to fill a miniseries. When Goddard exited in 2019, he posted on social media that he was “shocked and gutted” by the decision to let him go.
Fast forward to 2025, and Y&R announced Billy Flynn, who is best known as Chad DiMera on Days of Our Lives, would be taking over the role. But with a twist: Cane returned under the alias Aristotle Dumas, a mysterious billionaire with plans to take over Genoa City’s legacy companies.
The casting was announced in March 2025, and Flynn made his debut on June 19. The reveal that Dumas was actually Cane came the very next day, and fans immediately started choosing sides. Now that the character has settled in, let’s take a look at what viewers are thinking.
What Billy Flynn Brings to the Role
Flynn isn’t trying to recreate Goddard’s Cane. He’s playing a completely different version of the character. Gone is the charming Aussie with the working-class background. This Cane is a polished, calculating billionaire who’s been planning his Genoa City takeover for years.
Flynn brings intensity and edge to the role. His Cane is strategic, mysterious, and willing to play dirty to get what he wants. There’s a darkness to Flynn’s portrayal that Goddard’s version never had. This Cane feels genuinely dangerous.
The Aristotle Dumas persona adds another layer. Flynn has explained that Cane created this refined businessman identity almost like The Great Gatsby – reinventing himself to achieve power and win back Lily. It’s ambitious storytelling that gives Flynn room to create something new rather than just imitating his predecessor.
What Fans Miss About Daniel Goddard
Here’s what Goddard had that Flynn doesn’t: That sexy Australian accent, natural charm, and over a decade of history with the character. Goddard’s Cane felt like someone you’d want to grab a beer with. He was likable even when making mistakes, vulnerable even when trying to be strong.
The chemistry between Goddard and Christel Khalil was legendary. “Cane and Lily” (dubbed “Lane” by fans) became one of Y&R’s most beloved supercouples. Viewers watched them fall in love, get married, have children, survive scandals, and fight for each other repeatedly over twelve years.
That’s a LOT of history to overcome. No matter how good Billy Flynn is—and he IS good—he’s fighting against years of emotional investment fans made in Goddard’s version of the character.
Plus, let’s be real: Goddard is currently playing Professor Henry “Hank” Dalton on General Hospital, reminding former Y&R viewers exactly what they’re missing every time he appears on screen.
The Age and Accent Issues
Flynn is noticeably younger than Goddard, and he’s American, so no Australian accent. The show addressed this by explaining Cane deliberately lost his accent while building his Aristotle Dumas persona. Highly unlikely but since when is that a deterrent? As for the age difference, Y&R is just pretending Cane doesn’t look ten years younger than he did six years ago.
Some fans buy it. Others can’t get past it. Social media is full of comments like “He doesn’t SOUND like Cane” and “Where’s the accent?” mixed with “Billy Flynn is KILLING IT” and “This version of Cane is so much better.”
The accent thing is particularly divisive. Goddard’s Australian accent was a defining characteristic of the character. Hearing Cane speak in an American accent feels fundamentally WRONG to longtime fans, even if the in-story explanation makes sense. Sort of.
The Cane and Lily Chemistry Test
The ultimate test for any Cane recast is chemistry with Lily. “Lane” was one of Y&R’s most popular couples, and fans have high expectations for Flynn and Khalil to recreate that magic.
Early scenes between Flynn’s Cane and Lily have been… complicated. There’s tension, history, and unresolved feelings, which makes sense given Cane’s mysterious return and villainous schemes. But is there ROMANTIC chemistry? That’s what fans are watching for.
Some fans are willing to give them time to develop it. Others are already declaring it doesn’t work and demanding Goddard back. The custody battle for Cane continues.
Team Flynn vs. Team Goddard
Team Flynn argues: This is a fresh take on a character who’d grown stale. Billy Flynn is an excellent actor who brings gravitas and intensity. The villain arc is compelling. Give him a chance to make the role his own instead of comparing him to Goddard constantly.
Team Goddard counters: Daniel Goddard WAS Cane Ashby for twelve years. He was let go unfairly. No one asked for this recast. Flynn is talented, but he’s not OUR Cane. Bring back Goddard and fix this mistake.
Both sides have valid points. Recasts are always controversial in soaps, and replacing an actor who played a character for over a decade is especially difficult. Flynn faces an uphill battle winning over fans who adored Goddard.
The AI Software Villain Arc
Currently on Y&R, Cane (as Aristotle Dumas) has gathered Genoa City’s elite at his French villa and revealed plans to use AI software to take control of the town’s legacy companies—Newman Enterprises, Jabot, and Chancellor Industries. This is why Victor and Jack have teamed up against him.
The storyline is ambitious and gives Flynn meaty material to work with. His Cane isn’t just a lovesick romantic trying to win back Lily—he’s a legitimate threat to the power structure of Genoa City.
But there’s also tragedy behind his schemes. Chance Chancellor (his nephew) died on Cane’s property in France, and that death has consequences rippling through multiple families. Flynn gets to play both the calculating villain and the man dealing with devastating loss.
The Verdict (So Far)
Billy Flynn is doing good work with a nearly impossible job. He’s creating a distinct version of Cane that stands apart from Goddard’s portrayal while still honoring the character’s history. His villain arc is entertaining, his scenes with the core cast are compelling, and he’s bringing energy to Y&R that the show needed.
But will he ever stop being “the replacement Cane“? That depends on how long he stays and what the writers do with him. If Flynn sticks around for years and gets meaty storylines, fans will eventually accept him. If this is a short-term stint that ends with Cane being killed off or written out again, Flynn will always be an asterisk in the character’s history.
For now, fans are divided. Some love Flynn’s darker, more complex take. Others desperately miss Goddard’s charm and authenticity. The custody battle for Cane Ashby’s soul continues, and neither side is backing down.
The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount+. Tune in to watch Billy Flynn continue making Cane Ashby his own—or to keep wishing Daniel Goddard would come back.
Are you Team Flynn or Team Goddard? Do you think Billy Flynn can make fans forget about Daniel Goddard’s decade-long legacy, or will he always be “the replacement Cane”? Tell us in the comments!
Got a theory about upcoming twists? Email [email protected] — your prediction might be our next highlight!
