 "Cane" was cancelled during the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, freeing Carbonell from his contract with CBS.In 2008, "Lost" showrunner Carlton Cuse stated that Carbonell would reprise his role as Richard Alpert towards the end of the series' fourth season, as a result of "Cane" cancellation.Carbonell made appearances in the episodes "Cabin Fever" and "There's No Place Like Home".