I’ve yet to see it myself (C’moooon massive DVD boxset), but apparently Arrow is a pretty darn good series. Or at least a popular one. The CW network obviously has a winning formula on their hands, to the point where not only are they going to to introduce a new hero into the world of Green Arrow, but they’re going to give him his own show as well.
So get ready to finally put your John Wesley Shipp posters away, because The Flash is racing back to the small screen.
The CW will be looking to bring the current incarnation of the Flash, Barry Allen, onto Arrow as a recurring character for the second season of that show. From that starting point, the Flash will get his own origin series, that has Arrow co-creators Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg currently working on it alongside his comic book writer Geoff Johns and Arrow director David Nutter according to Deadline.
What this means for the proposed 2015 Flash film is unclear, but this could serve a decent purpose if it takes off. If audiences become familiar with the character on the small screen, it could mean a feature film debut that doesn’t require a lengthy origin story before the action kicks off.
Choosing Allen is a also a good sign here. Allen works as a forensics investigator in the comics, and with shows such as CSI, CSI: New York, CSI: Miami and CSI: Bloemfontein proving to be popular, a superhero twist in that genre could pull audiences in.
This Flash will appear in episodes 8, 9 and 20 of the second Arrow Season, where Allen will be introduced as “an ordinary man” said Kreisberg, who says that this Flash will be as realistic as possible. As for how the rest of the Arrow cast views him, according to Kreisberg, it won’t be easy:
“[They’ll react] in a very realistic way [and his introduction] won’t be treated as commonplace on the show but as extraordinary events. It will be fun for the audience to see how we do our take on The Flash’s powers. Some will feel very familiar to those who know the comics, and other stuff will feel different yet fresh and exciting.”
Berlanti added:
“That said, he does need powers to become The Flash. And he will be The Flash. He will wear a red costume, and he will go by that name.”
As for taking The Flash back to a TV series, Kreisberg and Berlanti said:
“There’s something very relatable about Barry. He got his powers by accident, they just sort of came to him…He also isn’t a dark and tortured soul.”
“We think it fits well both in terms of (Arrow) and (as a stand-alone series).”
Casting for the role of Barry Allen/Flash begins this week. I’ll be digging out my old Flash marathon costume and jetting off to LA later this week.
Last Updated: July 31, 2013
Lourens Jordaan
July 31, 2013 at 13:41
CSI: Bloemfontein
This made me laugh.
Trevor Davies
July 31, 2013 at 14:14
“Someone killed him wiff a mielie.” “I noticed he can like to look a little… pap” JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Admiral Chief Minion 47
July 31, 2013 at 14:04
You mean blink and its over?
James Francis
July 31, 2013 at 14:13
Cool, I enjoyed the original show that ran somewhere in the Nineties. Also, Arrow has its flaws – it is a little prone to the same CW fluff, though not as bad as Smallville. But it is hands-down the best formula for a regular, lightweight superhero show.
Major Commodore 64 Darryn B
July 31, 2013 at 14:50
“Not as bad as Smallville”
That’s all I needed to hear.
DarthofZA
July 31, 2013 at 15:30
I tried to like the Arrow on TV. But I just couldn’t.