[OT] THE FLASH: Season 5 is here
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[h=1]‘The Flash’ Casts Dominic Purcell as Villain ‘Heat Wave’[/h]
Comic book fans can add yet another classic member of The Flash‘s Rogues Gallery to those set to appear in the upcoming CW TV series, as Dominic Purcell (Prison Break, Blade Trinity) has reportedly been cast as the villainous Heat Wave. Beyond adding another supervillain to the roster of the series’ Rogues, the casting means that Purcell will once again share the screen with his former Prison Break co-star (and fictional brother) Wentworth Miller.
News of Purcell’s casting comes from sources of THR, claiming that his character will be set to appear in Episode 10 of the show’s first season, although a mention of the pyromaniac could appear in Episode 4, when Miller’s version of Rogues’ leader Captain Cold is set to make his debut.
The villain Mick Rory a.k.a. ‘Heat Wave’ (two words, not one for you sticklers) first appeared in the comics as a young boy traumatized by an encounter with a refrigerated meat locker, leading him to an absolute fear of the cold. That fear soon turned to an obsession with fire, leading him to burn his own home down – with his family inside – before adopted the adult identity of serial arsonist Heat Wave.
In the New 52 re-launch, Rory was re-imagined as a villain capable of producing fire through an altered physiology; a rewrite to the character’s origins that, much the same as Captain Cold, will likely be adopted for the series as well. The pilot episode of The Flash set the stage for a whole new world of metahuman heroes and villains granted powers alongside Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), and in the case of Rory’s ability to generate fire from his chest, a path to villainy seems almost unavoidable.
Thankfully, the character’s ties to Captain Cold (both in the comics and given the actors’ past work) implies something a bit more complicated. As is the case with most of the other Rogues (the name given to The Flash’s team of villains), Rory’s character was one driven by an obsession, not simply a desire to ‘be bad.’ If that’s preserved in the show, then fans will have something to look forward to – besides the special effects needed to bring his character to life.
All things considered, the devoted “Flash” fans will be pleased to see another established Rogue confirmed for the series, as recent casting announcements have added characters that were either confined to background roles, or more closely related to other heroes. With Captain Cold and now Heat Wave in the mix, could the like of Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, or Pied Piper be far behind?
What do you Prison Break fans think of the upcoming reunion? Will Miller and Purcell’s chemistry add to the series? Or were you comic book fans hoping to see a different villain – or actor – added to the show next?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: THR
News of Purcell’s casting comes from sources of THR, claiming that his character will be set to appear in Episode 10 of the show’s first season, although a mention of the pyromaniac could appear in Episode 4, when Miller’s version of Rogues’ leader Captain Cold is set to make his debut.
The villain Mick Rory a.k.a. ‘Heat Wave’ (two words, not one for you sticklers) first appeared in the comics as a young boy traumatized by an encounter with a refrigerated meat locker, leading him to an absolute fear of the cold. That fear soon turned to an obsession with fire, leading him to burn his own home down – with his family inside – before adopted the adult identity of serial arsonist Heat Wave.
In the New 52 re-launch, Rory was re-imagined as a villain capable of producing fire through an altered physiology; a rewrite to the character’s origins that, much the same as Captain Cold, will likely be adopted for the series as well. The pilot episode of The Flash set the stage for a whole new world of metahuman heroes and villains granted powers alongside Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), and in the case of Rory’s ability to generate fire from his chest, a path to villainy seems almost unavoidable.
Thankfully, the character’s ties to Captain Cold (both in the comics and given the actors’ past work) implies something a bit more complicated. As is the case with most of the other Rogues (the name given to The Flash’s team of villains), Rory’s character was one driven by an obsession, not simply a desire to ‘be bad.’ If that’s preserved in the show, then fans will have something to look forward to – besides the special effects needed to bring his character to life.
All things considered, the devoted “Flash” fans will be pleased to see another established Rogue confirmed for the series, as recent casting announcements have added characters that were either confined to background roles, or more closely related to other heroes. With Captain Cold and now Heat Wave in the mix, could the like of Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, or Pied Piper be far behind?
What do you Prison Break fans think of the upcoming reunion? Will Miller and Purcell’s chemistry add to the series? Or were you comic book fans hoping to see a different villain – or actor – added to the show next?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: THR
[h=1]‘Flashpoint’ Character Blackout to Appear on ‘The Flash’[/h]
CW’s Arrow spinoff The Flash is set to debut a month from now, and in the run-up to the premiere, we’ve seen a new, darker trailer and an Easter Egg-filled poster which may hint at what’s in store for Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and the soon-to-be-imperiled residents of Central City.
Much of the news surrounding The Flash has been centered on the various super-powered characters – mainly villains – who will appear during the show’s inaugural season. Weather Wizard will kick things off in the series pilot, but numerous comic book metahumans have already been cast, including Girder (Greg Finley), Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) and Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell), with characters like Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) potentially joining those ranks.
Now, TV Line (by way of CBM) reports that yet another superpowered character will join the roster, and this one has an interesting backstory. The character called both Farooq and Blackout will show up in episode 7 of The Flash, Described as “an electricity-wielding metahuman,”
Blackout reportedly seeks some kind of vengeance against Barry Allen’s new mentor Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh). He apparently causes some kind of “outage” of the Flash’s powers, which makes stopping him that much more challenging. There is no word on who will be playing the character.
Interestingly enough, Farooq/Blackout was first introduced in the Flashpoint comic book event which led to DC’s “New 52″ reboot of its properties. In the radically different universe presented in the crossover series, Cyborg rose to prominence among the world’s superheroes and attempted to unite them to stop the world-threatening war between Emperor Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Blackout was one of a team of superpowered Americans gathered together by Cyborg to confront the leaders of Atlantis and the Amazons head-on.
So the character is something of a hero in the Flashpoint story, but it sounds like Blackout will be retconned into a villain for The Flash. Given his ties to the Flashpoint universe – which pivoted on Barry Allen’s reality-shattering attempts to prevent his mother’s murder – will Blackout eventually have a change of heart and stick around as a force of good?
Given the villain-of-the-week nature of The Flash‘s first season, this isn’t likely. Then again, some villains from season 1 of Arrow made return appearances – Deadshot even became something of an anti-hero – so it’s possible.
The notion of de-powering The Flash so early in the show’s run seems curious, since he’s unlikely to have mastered them by the seventh episode, but forcing a superhero to rely on something other than his powers usually provides an opportunity for character-building (see: Iron Man 3), but we’ll see how things work out for The Flash in a few months.
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Source: TV Line
CW’s Arrow spinoff The Flash is set to debut a month from now, and in the run-up to the premiere, we’ve seen a new, darker trailer and an Easter Egg-filled poster which may hint at what’s in store for Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and the soon-to-be-imperiled residents of Central City.
Much of the news surrounding The Flash has been centered on the various super-powered characters – mainly villains – who will appear during the show’s inaugural season. Weather Wizard will kick things off in the series pilot, but numerous comic book metahumans have already been cast, including Girder (Greg Finley), Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) and Heat Wave (Dominic Purcell), with characters like Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh) potentially joining those ranks.
Now, TV Line (by way of CBM) reports that yet another superpowered character will join the roster, and this one has an interesting backstory. The character called both Farooq and Blackout will show up in episode 7 of The Flash, Described as “an electricity-wielding metahuman,”
Blackout reportedly seeks some kind of vengeance against Barry Allen’s new mentor Dr. Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh). He apparently causes some kind of “outage” of the Flash’s powers, which makes stopping him that much more challenging. There is no word on who will be playing the character.
So the character is something of a hero in the Flashpoint story, but it sounds like Blackout will be retconned into a villain for The Flash. Given his ties to the Flashpoint universe – which pivoted on Barry Allen’s reality-shattering attempts to prevent his mother’s murder – will Blackout eventually have a change of heart and stick around as a force of good?
Given the villain-of-the-week nature of The Flash‘s first season, this isn’t likely. Then again, some villains from season 1 of Arrow made return appearances – Deadshot even became something of an anti-hero – so it’s possible.
The notion of de-powering The Flash so early in the show’s run seems curious, since he’s unlikely to have mastered them by the seventh episode, but forcing a superhero to rely on something other than his powers usually provides an opportunity for character-building (see: Iron Man 3), but we’ll see how things work out for The Flash in a few months.
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Source: TV Line
[h=1]‘The Flash’: New 52 Version of Wally West Could Appear ‘Eventually’[/h]
The appeal of a superhero blessed with superspeed isn’t hard to grasp, but it was never just the powers of The Flash that attracted fans, but his many allies. It was Barry Allen’s successor, Wally West that came to represent the hero for an entire generation (thanks to animated TV shows and films), and while producers of the upcoming series aren’t promising anything just yet, they confirm that the hero could make an appearance “eventually.”
During The CW’s panel at this weekend’s PaleyFest (hat tip to TheWrap), The Flash executive producer and writer Andrew Kreisberg confirmed that the existence of Wally West is, indeed, on the showrunners’ minds. In fact, the casting of both Iris West (Candice Patton) and her father, Joe (Jesse L. Martin) was no coincidence. While he had previously been depicted as a red-haired Caucasian, the company-wide reboot that returned Barry to the role of the one and only Flash also cast Iris West’s nephew Wally as African-American.
Comic book enthusiasts can be just as critical and outspoken as movie fans when it comes to changing the ethnicity of heroes or villains, but DC – and the producers of The Flash – are standing behind their decision. In fact, it’s one that was made with both the TV show and comic in mind. That means that if and when Wally appears in the Flash/Arrow TV universe, he’ll do so resembling his latest incarnation:
Fans shouldn’t look too deeply into Kreisberg or Berlanti’s comments as a confirmation that Wally will appear as he did in the comics, since the mere fact the the New 52 version of Iris West is not African-American – and that her father Joe has been created specifically for the TV show – proves the showrunners aren’t forced to strictly adhere to the comics.
Since it’s also unlikely that the show’s writer are already looking past establishing Grant Gustin’s Flash and Robbie Amell’s Firestorm, the important thing to take away from these comments is: DC re-imagined a famous character as African-American, and the show is following suit. The arrival of Wally as a costumed hero may be years away, but Kreisberg and co. have prepared their world for his arrival.
In the process, they have taken an even larger step forward than DC, by establishing that the West family (from Iris to Wally) is an African-American one. Even if Joe is a new addition to the Flash mythology, acting as a second father to Barry Allen is already cementing his role as an important one going forward.
Changing the ethnicity of a comic book superhero (or gender, for that matter) is always met with varying levels of concern from the fans. After all, some of these characters in question have been depicted as a specific ethnicity for decades, whether it was directly tied to their origins or not. But speaking purely from the perspective of a producer on a TV show aimed at a wide audience, Berlanti explained his feelings on diversity:
What do you think of Kreisberg and Berlanti’s comments? Are you happy to see the TV show plan to support the New 52 universe, or does your focus rest squarely on Barry Allen? More importantly, do story and performance come before ethnicity?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: TheWrap, ComicBook.com
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One more Black superhero.
During The CW’s panel at this weekend’s PaleyFest (hat tip to TheWrap), The Flash executive producer and writer Andrew Kreisberg confirmed that the existence of Wally West is, indeed, on the showrunners’ minds. In fact, the casting of both Iris West (Candice Patton) and her father, Joe (Jesse L. Martin) was no coincidence. While he had previously been depicted as a red-haired Caucasian, the company-wide reboot that returned Barry to the role of the one and only Flash also cast Iris West’s nephew Wally as African-American.
Comic book enthusiasts can be just as critical and outspoken as movie fans when it comes to changing the ethnicity of heroes or villains, but DC – and the producers of The Flash – are standing behind their decision. In fact, it’s one that was made with both the TV show and comic in mind. That means that if and when Wally appears in the Flash/Arrow TV universe, he’ll do so resembling his latest incarnation:
“What’s very cool is in the New 52 they hadn’t reintroduced Wally [yet]. When they reintroduced Wally [in the New 52], they made him African-American. So now and forever, Kid Flash will be African-American.”
Executive producer Greg Berlanti (Arrow) reiterated the fact that the change in ethnicity was the plan from the beginning:
We made the West characters African American so we can eventually head in that direction, absolutely… That’s our hope.”
Fans shouldn’t look too deeply into Kreisberg or Berlanti’s comments as a confirmation that Wally will appear as he did in the comics, since the mere fact the the New 52 version of Iris West is not African-American – and that her father Joe has been created specifically for the TV show – proves the showrunners aren’t forced to strictly adhere to the comics.
Since it’s also unlikely that the show’s writer are already looking past establishing Grant Gustin’s Flash and Robbie Amell’s Firestorm, the important thing to take away from these comments is: DC re-imagined a famous character as African-American, and the show is following suit. The arrival of Wally as a costumed hero may be years away, but Kreisberg and co. have prepared their world for his arrival.
In the process, they have taken an even larger step forward than DC, by establishing that the West family (from Iris to Wally) is an African-American one. Even if Joe is a new addition to the Flash mythology, acting as a second father to Barry Allen is already cementing his role as an important one going forward.
Changing the ethnicity of a comic book superhero (or gender, for that matter) is always met with varying levels of concern from the fans. After all, some of these characters in question have been depicted as a specific ethnicity for decades, whether it was directly tied to their origins or not. But speaking purely from the perspective of a producer on a TV show aimed at a wide audience, Berlanti explained his feelings on diversity:
“You want to go to a place where you work everyday where you get to tell stories that look and feel like the audience in America that are watching.”
That’s a sentiment being seen across all entertainment these days, even if comic book superheroes having grown to level of “American myths” means their re-casting carries extra weight. It will be interesting to see if the show’s skeptics are as quick to embrace some added diversity in The Flash when it applies to a Justice League member, not his love interest.
What do you think of Kreisberg and Berlanti’s comments? Are you happy to see the TV show plan to support the New 52 universe, or does your focus rest squarely on Barry Allen? More importantly, do story and performance come before ethnicity?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: TheWrap, ComicBook.com
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One more Black superhero.
[h=1]‘The Flash’ Producers Talk Geoff Johns’ ‘Rebirth’ Influence; New Images Released[/h]
When Andrew Kreisberg and Greg Berlanti set out to adapt the DC Comics’ character Green Arrow for the small screen, they made the character more grounded and realistic. For their second show on The CW, they’ll be taking a more faithful approach to adapting ‘the fastest man alive’ in The Flash.
Obviously, a series starring Grant Gustin as DC Comics’ speedster/detective Barry Allen will have to involve superpowers, and already the series has cast several metahuman characters. The Flash will be more science fiction than Arrow, which only recently began introducing characters with supernatural abilities. For Barry, this means he won’t simply be facing off against petty criminals, but also villains with destructive and dangerous capabilities.
And the sci-fi elements don’t stop with the villains. Barry’s backstory – which was hinted at during his time on Arrow and has been teased in the series’ trailer – also includes some supernatural and unexplainable events. It’s a tragic backstory first given to the character in Geoff John’s celebrated Flash: Rebirth comic book, and previous trailers have already shown glimpses of that origin where Barry’s mother is murdered by an inexplicable blur.
Rebirth will have a strong influence on The Flash, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the comic. In a new video released by The CW, Kreisberg and Berlanti briefly discuss how excited they are for the villains appearing this season, as well as how they’re incorporating elements from Rebirth. Check it out above.
The murder of Barry’s mother definitely won’t be all The Flash series borrows from John’s Rebirth, but it’ll likely be the most literal. Berlanti mentions in the above video that fans will notice aspects from Rebirth throughout the season, starting with the pilot, “but how we twist and turn that is hopefully what makes it exciting for the audience as we go along.”
Speaking of their excitement for the series’ villains, Kreisberg says:
Considering that The Flash is eager to include those more sci-fi, supernatural elements its story telling, it’s very likely that their Captain Cold and Heat Wave will be these newer, inherently super powered versions. In fact, it wouldn’t be out of the question that the same S.T.A.R. Labs accident that gave Barry his superpowers, also affected other residents of Central City, turning them into metahumans who will either use their new powers for good or evil.
A few new images have been released The Flash ahead of its October premiere. They feature a great look as Barry’s super-speed in action as well as John Wesley Shipp (who played The Flash in the 1990s TV show) as Barry’s father. Check them out below:
To make matters worse for a young Barry Allen, his father was the police’s prime suspect in his mother’s murder and went to jail for the crime. Having his father wrongly accused only furthered Barry’s determination to find the true culprit, and his new abilities will definitely help in his ongoing investigation.
In the meantime, however, it looks like super speed will also come in handy when it comes to visiting dear old dad in prison. Will Barry consider springing his dad from jail once he learns he has the power to do so?
Which of The Flash’s iconic villains are you most excited to see? And what do you think about The Flash being heavily influence by Geoff John’s Rebirth?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
When Andrew Kreisberg and Greg Berlanti set out to adapt the DC Comics’ character Green Arrow for the small screen, they made the character more grounded and realistic. For their second show on The CW, they’ll be taking a more faithful approach to adapting ‘the fastest man alive’ in The Flash.
Obviously, a series starring Grant Gustin as DC Comics’ speedster/detective Barry Allen will have to involve superpowers, and already the series has cast several metahuman characters. The Flash will be more science fiction than Arrow, which only recently began introducing characters with supernatural abilities. For Barry, this means he won’t simply be facing off against petty criminals, but also villains with destructive and dangerous capabilities.
And the sci-fi elements don’t stop with the villains. Barry’s backstory – which was hinted at during his time on Arrow and has been teased in the series’ trailer – also includes some supernatural and unexplainable events. It’s a tragic backstory first given to the character in Geoff John’s celebrated Flash: Rebirth comic book, and previous trailers have already shown glimpses of that origin where Barry’s mother is murdered by an inexplicable blur.
Rebirth will have a strong influence on The Flash, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the comic. In a new video released by The CW, Kreisberg and Berlanti briefly discuss how excited they are for the villains appearing this season, as well as how they’re incorporating elements from Rebirth. Check it out above.
The murder of Barry’s mother definitely won’t be all The Flash series borrows from John’s Rebirth, but it’ll likely be the most literal. Berlanti mentions in the above video that fans will notice aspects from Rebirth throughout the season, starting with the pilot, “but how we twist and turn that is hopefully what makes it exciting for the audience as we go along.”
Aside from Batman, The Flash probably has the best villains of anybody in the comic books. It’s always our drive to dip as much as we can into the DC Comics playbook and I think that people are going to be amazed to see those amazing Flash villains showing up a lot earlier than people probably expected.
Two of those villains we already know will appear are Captain Cold and Heat Wave. Originally, both of these characters were non-superpowered villains, relying on advance technology for their extreme hot and cold abilities. Yet, thanks to changes made in DC Comics’ New 52, Captain Cold and Heat Wave are now metahumans with cold and heat based superpowers.
Considering that The Flash is eager to include those more sci-fi, supernatural elements its story telling, it’s very likely that their Captain Cold and Heat Wave will be these newer, inherently super powered versions. In fact, it wouldn’t be out of the question that the same S.T.A.R. Labs accident that gave Barry his superpowers, also affected other residents of Central City, turning them into metahumans who will either use their new powers for good or evil.
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The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.A few new images have been released The Flash ahead of its October premiere. They feature a great look as Barry’s super-speed in action as well as John Wesley Shipp (who played The Flash in the 1990s TV show) as Barry’s father. Check them out below:
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To make matters worse for a young Barry Allen, his father was the police’s prime suspect in his mother’s murder and went to jail for the crime. Having his father wrongly accused only furthered Barry’s determination to find the true culprit, and his new abilities will definitely help in his ongoing investigation.
In the meantime, however, it looks like super speed will also come in handy when it comes to visiting dear old dad in prison. Will Barry consider springing his dad from jail once he learns he has the power to do so?
Which of The Flash’s iconic villains are you most excited to see? And what do you think about The Flash being heavily influence by Geoff John’s Rebirth?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
[h=1]‘The Flash’ Adds Original Series Co-Star; Grant Gustin Talks ‘Surreal’ Casting[/h]
Unlike many of the current and upcoming superhero TV adaptations, The Flash is one of the few who have already enjoyed some time on the small screen, thanks to the short-lived TV 1990-1991 TV series. The showrunners of the newest version saw fit to add the star of that series, John Wesley Shipp as the new Flash’s father, and it looks like he’ll bringing his main co-star along with him: Amanda Pays, known to fans as S.T.A.R. Labs’ ‘Dr. Tina McGee.’
Those following the show’s development know that the showrunners had already created a Prison Break reunion by casting its two leads, and now, it seems yet another (and frankly, more fitting) return will be in the cards. For those who may not know, Amanda Pays played the original Dr. Christina ‘Tina’ McGee, a S.T.A.R. Labs scientist who helped Barry Allen (in this case, Shipp) come to grips with his newfound powers.
But where the former Flash was given a new role in the re-imagined series, Pays will apparently be reprising her role, although her expertise in metahuman metabolism and the ‘Speed Force’ will find her employed at a rival technology company. According to Variety, executive producer Andrew Kreisberg claims that the decision to include the good doctor came before a plan to bring Pays back as well:
Since McGee acted as something of a romantic opposite for Allen in the original series, the age gap between Pays and new lead Grant Gustin seems to imply a new plot is being created. That new plot is wide open to speculation, since the series’ pilot episode (and marketing) have suggested that it was S.T.A.R. Labs’ Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) who would be helping Barry understand his new physiology.
Fans can speculate on just how McGee will be worked back into the story – and if she’ll be crossing paths with her former subject, in or out of prison – but for now, the tone surrounding the show is shamelessly optimistic. Despite recent trailers focusing more on Barry Allen’s tragic upbringing, Grant Gustin seems overwhelmingly positive about the prospect of playing a certified member of the Justice League
What are you most looking forward to about The Flash: the cast, the returning characters, or just the chance to see Barry Allen in live action? Or is there another show coming this Fall that’s gotten your attention?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: Variety
Those following the show’s development know that the showrunners had already created a Prison Break reunion by casting its two leads, and now, it seems yet another (and frankly, more fitting) return will be in the cards. For those who may not know, Amanda Pays played the original Dr. Christina ‘Tina’ McGee, a S.T.A.R. Labs scientist who helped Barry Allen (in this case, Shipp) come to grips with his newfound powers.
But where the former Flash was given a new role in the re-imagined series, Pays will apparently be reprising her role, although her expertise in metahuman metabolism and the ‘Speed Force’ will find her employed at a rival technology company. According to Variety, executive producer Andrew Kreisberg claims that the decision to include the good doctor came before a plan to bring Pays back as well:
“When we decided to bring Tina onto our version of ‘The Flash,’ who better to get than the amazing actress who originated the part? Like with John Wesley Shipp, we are so proud and excited to have another actor from the original series join us on our new adventures for Barry Allen.”
Since McGee acted as something of a romantic opposite for Allen in the original series, the age gap between Pays and new lead Grant Gustin seems to imply a new plot is being created. That new plot is wide open to speculation, since the series’ pilot episode (and marketing) have suggested that it was S.T.A.R. Labs’ Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes) and Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) who would be helping Barry understand his new physiology.
Fans can speculate on just how McGee will be worked back into the story – and if she’ll be crossing paths with her former subject, in or out of prison – but for now, the tone surrounding the show is shamelessly optimistic. Despite recent trailers focusing more on Barry Allen’s tragic upbringing, Grant Gustin seems overwhelmingly positive about the prospect of playing a certified member of the Justice League
What are you most looking forward to about The Flash: the cast, the returning characters, or just the chance to see Barry Allen in live action? Or is there another show coming this Fall that’s gotten your attention?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: Variety
[h=1]‘The Flash’: Barry Allen To Visit ‘Both Past and Future’?[/h]
[WARNING: This article contains POTENTIAL SPOILERS for The Flash TV series.]-There aren’t many literary devices that can break a story’s logic like time travel, but that’s clearly not scaring off the minds behind The Flash. It may have seemed that linking the world of Barry Allen with that of Arrow would make the speedster’s fantastic time-bending powers even less likely; yet the producers have been teasing that the ability wouldn’t be ruled out, so even optimistic fans hoped they had only years to wait for Barry to throw time out of order. But according to a new series description, Barry’s gift for changing history could play a much large role in the story
To this point, there’s been plenty of reasons to suspect that time travel could play a significant role in the TV series in one way or another. We’ll steer clear of spoiling the show’s first episode (for now), but suffice to say that the show’s writers aren’t shy about dropping serious hints that Barry Allen’s history with the timestream is common knowledge for any comic fan. And when the show’s executive producer mentions “Crisis on Infinite Earths” by name, secrecy over Barry Allen’s past and future is clearly not a priority.
But speculation was newly fuelled when SpoilerTV reported what appeared to be an extended synopsis of Episode 1 – titled “City of Heroes” – that explicitly confirmed that not only would Barry Allen be tied to a mysterious “energy” (read: Speed Force) but that he will gain access to moments “out of time,” whether set in his past or future.
That choice of words can actually be found on DC Comics’ official website, and while exact details are impossible to glean, it seems that The CW’s showrunners aren’t hesitating to make their plans perfectly clear:
Since executive producer Geoff Johns having used that very theme in his recent Flashpoint event, it was inevitable that Barry would start to consider altering time… in time. We just didn’t expect to see Barry’s ‘Cosmic Treadmill’ any time soon.
The question of Barry’s ability to travel through time will be easier to discuss once the show’s first episode has been seen and dissected by fans (along with the multiple hints contained within), but despite what this synopsis might claim, we would advise that fans shouldn’t hold their breath just yet. Aside from the obvious problems that any sense of time travel would bring, the show’s runners seem to have a hard enough time sharing the metahuman-filled world of Central City with the grounded characters of Arrow‘s Starling City.
It’s safe to assume that more details or hints will be given soon, so viewers can get a sense of just how far into the future (pardon the pun) Barry’s experiments in history-altering may be. The scarlet speedster owes his costume to the brilliant minds at S.T.A.R. Labs, but a time travel device seems like it would require a bit more research. That being said, The CW now has one massive twist with which to rewrite much of their budding TV universe, should they need one.
Are you thrilled to hear that time travel is being openly discussed as a part of The Flash, or do you have concerns over how it might be used by the showrunners? Are there any specific comic book stories you would hope to see adapted once Barry learns to break more than just the sound barrier?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: DC Comics, SpoilerTV
To this point, there’s been plenty of reasons to suspect that time travel could play a significant role in the TV series in one way or another. We’ll steer clear of spoiling the show’s first episode (for now), but suffice to say that the show’s writers aren’t shy about dropping serious hints that Barry Allen’s history with the timestream is common knowledge for any comic fan. And when the show’s executive producer mentions “Crisis on Infinite Earths” by name, secrecy over Barry Allen’s past and future is clearly not a priority.
But speculation was newly fuelled when SpoilerTV reported what appeared to be an extended synopsis of Episode 1 – titled “City of Heroes” – that explicitly confirmed that not only would Barry Allen be tied to a mysterious “energy” (read: Speed Force) but that he will gain access to moments “out of time,” whether set in his past or future.
That choice of words can actually be found on DC Comics’ official website, and while exact details are impossible to glean, it seems that The CW’s showrunners aren’t hesitating to make their plans perfectly clear:
Standing still emotionally since the day his mother was murdered (and his father unjustly jailed for the crime), Barry was taken in as a child by the investigating Detective West and raised in a cop’s home alongside West’s supersmart daughter (and Barry’s dream girl) Iris. But when an unexpected and devastating accident at the S.T.A.R. Labs Particle Accelerator facility strikes Barry, he finds himself suddenly charged with the incredible power to move at super speeds.
While Barry has always been a hero in his soul, his newfound powers have finally given him the ability to act like one. With the help of the research team at S.T.A.R. Labs — including billionaire visionary Harrison Wells, biogenetics expert Caitlin Snow and the eternally upbeat Cisco Ramon — Barry begins testing the limits of his evolving powers and using them to stop crime, ensuring that no one suffers a similar tragedy to his own family history. Working with his adopted father Detective West, West’s conceited partner Detective Eddie Thawne and Iris West, who’s earning her degree in Criminal Psychology, Barry uses his superhuman abilities to help the people of Central City and stop the rogues’ gallery of villains — many of whom have also been altered by the particle accelerator explosion.
Concealing his identity behind his incredible velocity, Barry can not only accomplish feats faster than human comprehension, but also taps into an energy that allows him to access moments out of time — both past and future. With a winning personality and a smile on his face, Barry Allen — aka The Flash — is finally moving forward in life… very, very fast!
It doesn’t take much imagination to see why Barry Allen will have reason to put his mastery over time and space into work; with his mother’s death destroying the life he might have had, the chance to catch her killer - before committing the act – could be impossible to pass up.While Barry has always been a hero in his soul, his newfound powers have finally given him the ability to act like one. With the help of the research team at S.T.A.R. Labs — including billionaire visionary Harrison Wells, biogenetics expert Caitlin Snow and the eternally upbeat Cisco Ramon — Barry begins testing the limits of his evolving powers and using them to stop crime, ensuring that no one suffers a similar tragedy to his own family history. Working with his adopted father Detective West, West’s conceited partner Detective Eddie Thawne and Iris West, who’s earning her degree in Criminal Psychology, Barry uses his superhuman abilities to help the people of Central City and stop the rogues’ gallery of villains — many of whom have also been altered by the particle accelerator explosion.
Concealing his identity behind his incredible velocity, Barry can not only accomplish feats faster than human comprehension, but also taps into an energy that allows him to access moments out of time — both past and future. With a winning personality and a smile on his face, Barry Allen — aka The Flash — is finally moving forward in life… very, very fast!
Since executive producer Geoff Johns having used that very theme in his recent Flashpoint event, it was inevitable that Barry would start to consider altering time… in time. We just didn’t expect to see Barry’s ‘Cosmic Treadmill’ any time soon.
The question of Barry’s ability to travel through time will be easier to discuss once the show’s first episode has been seen and dissected by fans (along with the multiple hints contained within), but despite what this synopsis might claim, we would advise that fans shouldn’t hold their breath just yet. Aside from the obvious problems that any sense of time travel would bring, the show’s runners seem to have a hard enough time sharing the metahuman-filled world of Central City with the grounded characters of Arrow‘s Starling City.
It’s safe to assume that more details or hints will be given soon, so viewers can get a sense of just how far into the future (pardon the pun) Barry’s experiments in history-altering may be. The scarlet speedster owes his costume to the brilliant minds at S.T.A.R. Labs, but a time travel device seems like it would require a bit more research. That being said, The CW now has one massive twist with which to rewrite much of their budding TV universe, should they need one.
Are you thrilled to hear that time travel is being openly discussed as a part of The Flash, or do you have concerns over how it might be used by the showrunners? Are there any specific comic book stories you would hope to see adapted once Barry learns to break more than just the sound barrier?
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: DC Comics, SpoilerTV
[h=1]The CW’s ‘Flash’ Will Introduce A ‘Very Different Barry Allen’[/h]
Fans are counting the days to the premiere of CW’s The Flash, and despite the overwhelming odds against nearly any superhero casting, most seem to be viewing star Grant Gustin’s portrayal with enthusiasm. Whether that’s due to the showrunners’ ability to launch The Flash using Arrow‘s existing universe, or simply a solid match, it seems that fan loyalty may be tested. According to Gustin, the show’s version of the hero is one fans have never seen before
With Barry Allen’s Flash removed from his most well-known allies Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman (thanks to WB’s division of film and TV), the writers have been given a bit more flexibility than might normally be expected. That was clearly the case with Stephen Amell’s Arrow, since the show’s twist on Batman Begins is a departure from the social crusader (and borderline ‘hippie’) of the “Green Arrow” comic books.
Since more of the core of Allen’s character seemed to be kept intact – with executive producer Geoff Johns calling the show “the most faithful DC adaptation to date” – fans may have come to expect a familiar speedster. But changes are already starting to show: classic Rogues being co-opted by Arrow, another young woman giving (an uninterested) Iris West some competition for Barry’s affection, his arch-nemesis being introduced as a Central City detective, and more.
Speaking in an interview with ComicBook.com, star Grant Gustin revealed that in preparing for the role, he intended to dive into as much Flash history as possible. Before long that challenge became far too great to accomplish, but they also proved to have little real influence on the version he’ll be bringing to life. And the comics he has been given to study speak volumes about what to expect from The CW series:
As for The Flash offering something that hasn’t been seen in the comics, only time will tell if comic fans come to a similar conclusion. But from Gustin’s point of view, being cast as a superhero only made sense once he understood the character the producers wanted to add to the Arrow universe:
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: ComicBook.com
With Barry Allen’s Flash removed from his most well-known allies Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman (thanks to WB’s division of film and TV), the writers have been given a bit more flexibility than might normally be expected. That was clearly the case with Stephen Amell’s Arrow, since the show’s twist on Batman Begins is a departure from the social crusader (and borderline ‘hippie’) of the “Green Arrow” comic books.
Since more of the core of Allen’s character seemed to be kept intact – with executive producer Geoff Johns calling the show “the most faithful DC adaptation to date” – fans may have come to expect a familiar speedster. But changes are already starting to show: classic Rogues being co-opted by Arrow, another young woman giving (an uninterested) Iris West some competition for Barry’s affection, his arch-nemesis being introduced as a Central City detective, and more.
Speaking in an interview with ComicBook.com, star Grant Gustin revealed that in preparing for the role, he intended to dive into as much Flash history as possible. Before long that challenge became far too great to accomplish, but they also proved to have little real influence on the version he’ll be bringing to life. And the comics he has been given to study speak volumes about what to expect from The CW series:
“I started at the beginning at first. I thought I’d go all the way back and then kind of read. Then I was like: ‘Wait a second, this is impossible. I can’t do all that.’ So I read some of the old stuff but then once I worked my way toward the New 52 series, I’m pretty much just reading that now because it’s the closest to what we’re kind of doing. But at the same time, what we’re doing has not been done in the comics. It’s a very different Barry Allen. A lot of the characters are very different than they are in the comics, but they have the same heart.
“I mean, I’ve done plenty of the research but Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns and Greg Berlanti are my research. If I need information, I can just talk to them. I don’t have to try to flip through the comics that relates to the episode we’re doing. I just call and have a conversation with them about it.”
The showrunners have spoken in the past about the influencec taken from Geoff Johns’ “Rebirth” reboot – a story in which Barry Allen was brought back into the DC Universe as the new star and current titleholder of ‘fastest man alive.’ With the New 52 version springing off of that reboot directly, it’s no surprise to hear that it’s been deemed the best starting point for any fan (or actor).“I mean, I’ve done plenty of the research but Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns and Greg Berlanti are my research. If I need information, I can just talk to them. I don’t have to try to flip through the comics that relates to the episode we’re doing. I just call and have a conversation with them about it.”
As for The Flash offering something that hasn’t been seen in the comics, only time will tell if comic fans come to a similar conclusion. But from Gustin’s point of view, being cast as a superhero only made sense once he understood the character the producers wanted to add to the Arrow universe:
“It was a little daunting when I got the role. It was a little daunting when I got the audition actually. I was excited to have the opportunity and didn’t… I mean, some things you’re like, “I have a really good chance at this,” and I didn’t necessarily think that about this role. But now that I have it I see why they wanted to go in this direction.
“It’s kind of a different take on The Flash and I’m definitely starting to feel like I’m in the skin and I’m having a lot of fun. The writing is like they’ve already written in my voice so it’s easy enough to just kind of do it. And it’s just the most fun I’ve ever had, so it’s great.”
It’s hard to say if that enthusiasm for The Flash will continue when it heads up against an ever-growing field of comic book competition on the major networks. For now, Gustin is simply acknowledging that the fans are helping to relieve the stress that comes with playing a future Justice League member. Well, some of the stress:
“They’ve been just really accepting, I think because of the team mostly. They earned their trust with Arrow and they trust that this is going to be good. But now I think it’s just, honestly, I’m trying to with the shooting schedule we have trying to maintain also being able to train and eat as much as I can. I’m a thin guy and just trying to maintain my body while doing the schedule.”
Are you open to the new spin on Barry Allen that The CW is shaping? Have the makers of Arrow earned your trust, or do you have different hopes for The Flash? Sound off in the comments.
The Flash premieres Tuesday, October 7th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: ComicBook.com
[h=1]‘The Flash’ Producer: ‘Chances Are Good’ Of Seeing Booster Gold[/h]
Now that The Flash has hit the airwaves with its series premiere (read our review), fans have a far clearer picture of just how time travel may or may not factor into the series down the line. But in the world of fan-favorite DC Comics characters, it isn’t just The Flash who is most often tied to the notion of time-hopping; that honor falls to the hero known as Booster Gold. And in a bit of news sure to elate fans, executive producer Geoff Johns has confirmed that a live-action Booster isn’t too far off, with a guest role on The Flash the most likely plan.
Whether a die-hard fan or casual comic reader, there’s no denying the appeal of Booster Gold’s story: born in a future that idolized the golden age of superheroes, he acquires artifacts in his job as a night security guard, and travels back in time to become a costumed hero himself. That unorthodox origin story has led to his inclusion on Smallville, an easter egg in Man of Steel, and an attempt at his very own series (not to mention being listed as a possible DC/WB movie).
Given the popularity of the character – and his history with time-jumping – it’s no surprise that during a recent premiere screening (courtesy of MTV) Geoff Johns confirmed the hero isn’t out of the question. But the momentum behind The CW’s superhero universe is clearly building confidence, as Johns didn’t mince words when stating the likelihood of Booster Gold being seen on The Flash:
For clarification, it would seem that Johns is referring to the Booster Gold series briefly developed for Syfy by both Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, current writers and executive producers of both The Flash and Arrow. While we would advise against fans holding their breath that Johns’ statements imply that Booster is back in development, a guest spot on The Flash could help gain him some more supporters.
That being said, the president of The CW has confirmed that discussions of even more DC Comics spinoffs are already taking place. And with Johns, Berlanti and Kreisberg clearly fans of Booster’s style, it could be safe to assume that he’s on their shortlist. But could Booster slide ahead of the likes of Firestorm, The Atom, or even Suicide Squad of those in line for their own TV series? Given the surprise of The Flash‘s premiere – and the one on its way in the Arrow/Flash crossover event – anything seems possible now.
What are your thoughts, Booster fans? Is a tie-in story helping to shed some light on the time travel mysteries of The Flash a worthy use of the character? Or are you hoping it’s simply a first step towards Booster getting his very own CW series?
Arrow Season 3 premieres October 8th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: MTV
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[h=1]‘The Flash’ Producer: ‘Chances Are Good’ Of Seeing Booster Gold[/h]
Now that The Flash has hit the airwaves with its series premiere (read our review), fans have a far clearer picture of just how time travel may or may not factor into the series down the line. But in the world of fan-favorite DC Comics characters, it isn’t just The Flash who is most often tied to the notion of time-hopping; that honor falls to the hero known as Booster Gold. And in a bit of news sure to elate fans, executive producer Geoff Johns has confirmed that a live-action Booster isn’t too far off, with a guest role on The Flash the most likely plan.
Whether a die-hard fan or casual comic reader, there’s no denying the appeal of Booster Gold’s story: born in a future that idolized the golden age of superheroes, he acquires artifacts in his job as a night security guard, and travels back in time to become a costumed hero himself. That unorthodox origin story has led to his inclusion on Smallville, an easter egg in Man of Steel, and an attempt at his very own series (not to mention being listed as a possible DC/WB movie).
Given the popularity of the character – and his history with time-jumping – it’s no surprise that during a recent premiere screening (courtesy of MTV) Geoff Johns confirmed the hero isn’t out of the question. But the momentum behind The CW’s superhero universe is clearly building confidence, as Johns didn’t mince words when stating the likelihood of Booster Gold being seen on The Flash:
For clarification, it would seem that Johns is referring to the Booster Gold series briefly developed for Syfy by both Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, current writers and executive producers of both The Flash and Arrow. While we would advise against fans holding their breath that Johns’ statements imply that Booster is back in development, a guest spot on The Flash could help gain him some more supporters.
That being said, the president of The CW has confirmed that discussions of even more DC Comics spinoffs are already taking place. And with Johns, Berlanti and Kreisberg clearly fans of Booster’s style, it could be safe to assume that he’s on their shortlist. But could Booster slide ahead of the likes of Firestorm, The Atom, or even Suicide Squad of those in line for their own TV series? Given the surprise of The Flash‘s premiere – and the one on its way in the Arrow/Flash crossover event – anything seems possible now.
What are your thoughts, Booster fans? Is a tie-in story helping to shed some light on the time travel mysteries of The Flash a worthy use of the character? Or are you hoping it’s simply a first step towards Booster getting his very own CW series?
Arrow Season 3 premieres October 8th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: MTV
Whether a die-hard fan or casual comic reader, there’s no denying the appeal of Booster Gold’s story: born in a future that idolized the golden age of superheroes, he acquires artifacts in his job as a night security guard, and travels back in time to become a costumed hero himself. That unorthodox origin story has led to his inclusion on Smallville, an easter egg in Man of Steel, and an attempt at his very own series (not to mention being listed as a possible DC/WB movie).
Given the popularity of the character – and his history with time-jumping – it’s no surprise that during a recent premiere screening (courtesy of MTV) Geoff Johns confirmed the hero isn’t out of the question. But the momentum behind The CW’s superhero universe is clearly building confidence, as Johns didn’t mince words when stating the likelihood of Booster Gold being seen on The Flash:
“There’s no rights issues and quite honestly Andrew and Greg have a great Booster Gold script, and Booster Gold’s a beloved character, so I would say chances are good.”
For clarification, it would seem that Johns is referring to the Booster Gold series briefly developed for Syfy by both Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, current writers and executive producers of both The Flash and Arrow. While we would advise against fans holding their breath that Johns’ statements imply that Booster is back in development, a guest spot on The Flash could help gain him some more supporters.
That being said, the president of The CW has confirmed that discussions of even more DC Comics spinoffs are already taking place. And with Johns, Berlanti and Kreisberg clearly fans of Booster’s style, it could be safe to assume that he’s on their shortlist. But could Booster slide ahead of the likes of Firestorm, The Atom, or even Suicide Squad of those in line for their own TV series? Given the surprise of The Flash‘s premiere – and the one on its way in the Arrow/Flash crossover event – anything seems possible now.
What are your thoughts, Booster fans? Is a tie-in story helping to shed some light on the time travel mysteries of The Flash a worthy use of the character? Or are you hoping it’s simply a first step towards Booster getting his very own CW series?
Arrow Season 3 premieres October 8th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: MTV
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[h=1]‘The Flash’ Producer: ‘Chances Are Good’ Of Seeing Booster Gold[/h]
Whether a die-hard fan or casual comic reader, there’s no denying the appeal of Booster Gold’s story: born in a future that idolized the golden age of superheroes, he acquires artifacts in his job as a night security guard, and travels back in time to become a costumed hero himself. That unorthodox origin story has led to his inclusion on Smallville, an easter egg in Man of Steel, and an attempt at his very own series (not to mention being listed as a possible DC/WB movie).
Given the popularity of the character – and his history with time-jumping – it’s no surprise that during a recent premiere screening (courtesy of MTV) Geoff Johns confirmed the hero isn’t out of the question. But the momentum behind The CW’s superhero universe is clearly building confidence, as Johns didn’t mince words when stating the likelihood of Booster Gold being seen on The Flash:
“There’s no rights issues and quite honestly Andrew and Greg have a great Booster Gold script, and Booster Gold’s a beloved character, so I would say chances are good.”
For clarification, it would seem that Johns is referring to the Booster Gold series briefly developed for Syfy by both Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg, current writers and executive producers of both The Flash and Arrow. While we would advise against fans holding their breath that Johns’ statements imply that Booster is back in development, a guest spot on The Flash could help gain him some more supporters.
That being said, the president of The CW has confirmed that discussions of even more DC Comics spinoffs are already taking place. And with Johns, Berlanti and Kreisberg clearly fans of Booster’s style, it could be safe to assume that he’s on their shortlist. But could Booster slide ahead of the likes of Firestorm, The Atom, or even Suicide Squad of those in line for their own TV series? Given the surprise of The Flash‘s premiere – and the one on its way in the Arrow/Flash crossover event – anything seems possible now.
What are your thoughts, Booster fans? Is a tie-in story helping to shed some light on the time travel mysteries of The Flash a worthy use of the character? Or are you hoping it’s simply a first step towards Booster getting his very own CW series?
Arrow Season 3 premieres October 8th, 2014 @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: MTV
[h=1]‘The Flash’ Adds Another Rogue in Pied Piper; First Photos of Robbie Amell[/h]
It’s not easy for any Rogue to debut alongside the Reverse-Flash, but that isn’t stopping The Flash. With the scarlet speedster’s arch-nemesis apparently already having his scenes filmed, yet another member of Barry Allen’s Rogues Gallery has been added to the cast. This time, it’s Andy Mientus (Smash, Chasing Life) who has landed the role of Hartley Rathaway a.k.a. the Pied Piper, in what is another step for The CW towards promoting diversity in their most-watched programming
The casting announcement comes courtesy of TVLine, after rumors suggested that Rathaway – a brilliant scientist in his own right, presumably working at S.T.A.R. Labs prior to its famous disaster – was actually included in the pilot’s original script. Those who saw The Flash‘s series premiere know that was eventually changed, but there’s a good chance that Rathaway could play a larger role in the show’s future.
In the original comics, Rathaway was born deaf (later cured) and devoted his substantial intelligence towards the study and manipulation of sound waves. Initially embracing the role of the Pied Piper and hypnotizing the citizens of Central City with his signature flute, it was only Wally West taking up the mantle from Barry Allen that led to significant expansions on his character.
In short, Rathaway became one of the few Rogues to reform and actually stay on the right side of the law. As a close personal friend to Wally, Rathaway even ended up working against the Rogues on a number of occasions. But what Hartley Rathaway is arguably most well-known for is his title as one of the few openly-gay DC Comics characters. And if the showrunners’ commitment to honoring the source material – while continuing to represent the diversity they believe to exist in their audience – wasn’t clear enough, their decision to cast Mientus – himself an openly gay actor – makes their intentions clear.
Of course, the sexuality of either the character or the actor isn’t the be-all, end-all of Rathaway’s potential. It merely falls in line with the other DC Comics adaptations being brought to TV: Arrow‘s Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) has had romantic relationships with both men and women, and even Fox’s Gotham has implied that Barbara Kean-Gordon and Renee Montoya have a romantic history.
The broad acceptance of those characters shows that audiences are all in favor of adapting characters as a whole, and it’s worth mentioning that Barry Allen’s boss, Lieutenant Singh (Patrick Sabongui) also happens to be gay (and a partner of Rathaway in the comics, as well). But for all the speculation surrounding the character’s role in both The Flash‘s plot and The CW’s promotion of diverse casts, there’s one couple already set for a rocky romance.
The couple in question is Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) and Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell), with the latter presumed dead following the S.T.A.R. Labs’ particle accelerator incident. But Raymond wasn’t killed in the explosion; he was fused with Dr. Martin Stein (played by the recently-cast Victor Garber) to become the superhero known as Firestorm. Although the real action will come when that side of Amell’s character is featured in official images, but what looks to be a flashback sequence is better than nothing.
What do you think of the casting? Are you interested to see how closely the writers stick to the comic book source material of both these future Flash-allies? We’ll keep you updated as more of the Rogues are confirmed, and when the showrunners finally start teasing Ronnie Raymond’s superpowered persona.
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: TVLine
The casting announcement comes courtesy of TVLine, after rumors suggested that Rathaway – a brilliant scientist in his own right, presumably working at S.T.A.R. Labs prior to its famous disaster – was actually included in the pilot’s original script. Those who saw The Flash‘s series premiere know that was eventually changed, but there’s a good chance that Rathaway could play a larger role in the show’s future.
In the original comics, Rathaway was born deaf (later cured) and devoted his substantial intelligence towards the study and manipulation of sound waves. Initially embracing the role of the Pied Piper and hypnotizing the citizens of Central City with his signature flute, it was only Wally West taking up the mantle from Barry Allen that led to significant expansions on his character.
In short, Rathaway became one of the few Rogues to reform and actually stay on the right side of the law. As a close personal friend to Wally, Rathaway even ended up working against the Rogues on a number of occasions. But what Hartley Rathaway is arguably most well-known for is his title as one of the few openly-gay DC Comics characters. And if the showrunners’ commitment to honoring the source material – while continuing to represent the diversity they believe to exist in their audience – wasn’t clear enough, their decision to cast Mientus – himself an openly gay actor – makes their intentions clear.
Of course, the sexuality of either the character or the actor isn’t the be-all, end-all of Rathaway’s potential. It merely falls in line with the other DC Comics adaptations being brought to TV: Arrow‘s Sara Lance (Caity Lotz) has had romantic relationships with both men and women, and even Fox’s Gotham has implied that Barbara Kean-Gordon and Renee Montoya have a romantic history.
The broad acceptance of those characters shows that audiences are all in favor of adapting characters as a whole, and it’s worth mentioning that Barry Allen’s boss, Lieutenant Singh (Patrick Sabongui) also happens to be gay (and a partner of Rathaway in the comics, as well). But for all the speculation surrounding the character’s role in both The Flash‘s plot and The CW’s promotion of diverse casts, there’s one couple already set for a rocky romance.
The couple in question is Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) and Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell), with the latter presumed dead following the S.T.A.R. Labs’ particle accelerator incident. But Raymond wasn’t killed in the explosion; he was fused with Dr. Martin Stein (played by the recently-cast Victor Garber) to become the superhero known as Firestorm. Although the real action will come when that side of Amell’s character is featured in official images, but what looks to be a flashback sequence is better than nothing.
What do you think of the casting? Are you interested to see how closely the writers stick to the comic book source material of both these future Flash-allies? We’ll keep you updated as more of the Rogues are confirmed, and when the showrunners finally start teasing Ronnie Raymond’s superpowered persona.
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: TVLine
[h=1]‘The Flash’ Set Photos: Captain Cold & Heat Wave Team Up[/h]
One of the big surprises in the Warner Bros. recent bombshell list of DC-property releases was the plan to introduce a new movie version of The Flash, to be played by Ezra Miller. Still, if the studio sticks to its current schedule, we won’t see that movie until 2018, which means our current incarnation of the Scarlet Speedster, Grant Gustin on the CW’s The Flash, could be the face of the character for literally years to come.
As problematic as the first two episodes of a show about the Fastest Man Alive could’ve been – given that it’s a spinoff of Arrow, a superhero series which has avoided overt superpowers - The Flash has already proven itself a tonally coherent and entertaining comic book adaptation, albeit one with underwhelming episodic villains (so far).
Still, this will almost certainly change. We know from the pilot’s depiction of Barry Allen’s mother’s murder – as well as certain set photos – that Barry’s arch-nemesis the Reverse-Flash is waiting in the wings. Not to mention potential enemies currently in supporting roles, the mysterious Harrison Wells, and various rogues, such as Pied Piper, Heat Wave and Captain Cold.
Given the long history of Heat Wave (to be played by Dominic Purcell) and Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) teaming up against the Flash in the comics, fans were heartened to learn that the two would join forces against Barry Allen down the line and sure enough, set pictures of the two characters have surfaced, via The Arrowverse.
With his flamethrower-gun and presumably asbestos-lined, flame-retardant suit, it appears safe to assume that Heat Wave – along with Captain Cold – will not be presented as two more metahumans created by the pilot episode’s S.T.A.R. labs particle accelerator explosion, but rather as ingenious criminals who have upped their game in the wake of the Flash’s appearance in Central City.
Still, these two arch-villains of the Flash may eventually take on their New 52 traits as the series progresses. In fact, it’s a fairly good bet that will be the case. We know that the Flash will eventually take on Captain Cold solo and best him, leading to this team-up later on. Will these two somehow develop their reboot superpowers, perhaps even before the end of the show’s first season? At this point, nothing should be counted out.
The Flash returns on Tuesday with “Things You Can’t Outrun” @8pm on The CW.
Source: The Arrowverse
One of the big surprises in the Warner Bros. recent bombshell list of DC-property releases was the plan to introduce a new movie version of The Flash, to be played by Ezra Miller. Still, if the studio sticks to its current schedule, we won’t see that movie until 2018, which means our current incarnation of the Scarlet Speedster, Grant Gustin on the CW’s The Flash, could be the face of the character for literally years to come.
As problematic as the first two episodes of a show about the Fastest Man Alive could’ve been – given that it’s a spinoff of Arrow, a superhero series which has avoided overt superpowers - The Flash has already proven itself a tonally coherent and entertaining comic book adaptation, albeit one with underwhelming episodic villains (so far).
Still, this will almost certainly change. We know from the pilot’s depiction of Barry Allen’s mother’s murder – as well as certain set photos – that Barry’s arch-nemesis the Reverse-Flash is waiting in the wings. Not to mention potential enemies currently in supporting roles, the mysterious Harrison Wells, and various rogues, such as Pied Piper, Heat Wave and Captain Cold.
Given the long history of Heat Wave (to be played by Dominic Purcell) and Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller) teaming up against the Flash in the comics, fans were heartened to learn that the two would join forces against Barry Allen down the line and sure enough, set pictures of the two characters have surfaced, via The Arrowverse.
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[h=2]CLICK HERE FOR THE FLASH SET PHOTOS[/h]-
The main takeaways from these images are the reinforcement of our initial impression of Wentworth Miller’s Captain Cold hewing close to the pre-New 52 incarnation of the character, who used a ‘cold gun’ to bring anything in his path down to absolute zero. The glimpse at Heat Wave, who in this version of The Flash looks closer in appearance to his classic characterization, as well.
Still, these two arch-villains of the Flash may eventually take on their New 52 traits as the series progresses. In fact, it’s a fairly good bet that will be the case. We know that the Flash will eventually take on Captain Cold solo and best him, leading to this team-up later on. Will these two somehow develop their reboot superpowers, perhaps even before the end of the show’s first season? At this point, nothing should be counted out.
The Flash returns on Tuesday with “Things You Can’t Outrun” @8pm on The CW.
Source: The Arrowverse
[h=1]‘The Flash’: Robbie Amell Talks ‘Firestorm’s Powers[/h]
It was in just the second episode of The Flash that fans got their very first mention of yet another DC Comic superhero on their way to The CW’s shared universe: Ronnie Raymond a.k.a. Firestorm – played by Robbie Amell (The Tomorrow People). As yet another victim of the S.T.A.R. Labs disaster that blessed the good – and bad – of Central City with metahuman abilities, Amell has offered the first details about what fans can expect. And from the sound of it, Ronnie’s return will be a painful one.
While the hero known as as ‘Firestorm: The Nuclear Man’ may not be as much of a household name as The Flash or his other Justice League colleagues, the show’s writers have claimed that Ronnie’s role alongside Barry was conceived of from the very start. Playing the part of Caitlin Snow’s (Danielle Panabaker) presumed-dead fiancé – with Episode 2 offering the first ‘Ronnie’ name-drop – Raymond’s path to superheroics makes that of either Barry Allen or Oliver Queen seem like child’s play.
In the original comic books, Raymond was caught in an experimental physics catastrophe that fused the teenager with the brilliant Dr. Martin Stein. As two men occupying a single body, it was Ronnie who controlled their physical form (and powers), with Stein merely a disembodied voice within his head; often supplying the brains needed to put his control over matter and chemistry into practice.
With that origin story to draw from, Amell explains to THR that The Flash writers aren’t lightening the tone to match that of the show, but going the extra mile to make Ronnie’s transformation a darker reflection of Barry’s:
Comic fans will know there is plenty of room for writers to make Ronnie’s powers more a curse than a blessing; modern writers have taken that route many times, framing the fusion of two people into a single hero as a painful one. And the belief that Ronnie is “schizophrenic” speaks directly to that fusion – initially unable to make sense of the new voice inside his own head. That’s not even addressing the fact that his hands and head are perpetually burning.
It’s also been officially announced that role of the ‘voice in his head’ a.k.a. Dr. Martin Stein will be played by Victor Garber (Argo, Titanic). Beyond embracing the chance to act with the veteran Canadian actor, Amell provides a few more details on how closely the show’s incarnation of Firestorm will keep to the original comics run:
And although Amell admits to have had only a little knowledge of Firestorm when he landed the part, he has done his homework in the meantime; the showrunners made sure of it:
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: THR
While the hero known as as ‘Firestorm: The Nuclear Man’ may not be as much of a household name as The Flash or his other Justice League colleagues, the show’s writers have claimed that Ronnie’s role alongside Barry was conceived of from the very start. Playing the part of Caitlin Snow’s (Danielle Panabaker) presumed-dead fiancé – with Episode 2 offering the first ‘Ronnie’ name-drop – Raymond’s path to superheroics makes that of either Barry Allen or Oliver Queen seem like child’s play.
In the original comic books, Raymond was caught in an experimental physics catastrophe that fused the teenager with the brilliant Dr. Martin Stein. As two men occupying a single body, it was Ronnie who controlled their physical form (and powers), with Stein merely a disembodied voice within his head; often supplying the brains needed to put his control over matter and chemistry into practice.
With that origin story to draw from, Amell explains to THR that The Flash writers aren’t lightening the tone to match that of the show, but going the extra mile to make Ronnie’s transformation a darker reflection of Barry’s:
“You meet Ronnie Raymond tomorrow [in "Fastest Man Alive"] and then in December, you meet Firestorm. It’ll take a minute before Firestorm turns back into Ronnie because when they find him in December, my character is really going through some stuff. He’s schizophrenic, doesn’t know what’s happening, he’s confused and dangerous to the people around him. You may not see Ronnie Raymond for a little while, but you’ll see Firestorm.
“It’s a huge difference. People will barely recognize him in December, but they’ll know it’s him when the fire bursts in the hands and the fire bursts in the head. The particle accelerator almost killed Ronnie and the fallout from it will definitely be seen in December… It’s tough because when Firestorm comes back, it should be this great reunion but Firestorm is so far removed from Ronnie Raymond that it’s not quite the reunion people will be hoping for.”
“It’s a huge difference. People will barely recognize him in December, but they’ll know it’s him when the fire bursts in the hands and the fire bursts in the head. The particle accelerator almost killed Ronnie and the fallout from it will definitely be seen in December… It’s tough because when Firestorm comes back, it should be this great reunion but Firestorm is so far removed from Ronnie Raymond that it’s not quite the reunion people will be hoping for.”
Comic fans will know there is plenty of room for writers to make Ronnie’s powers more a curse than a blessing; modern writers have taken that route many times, framing the fusion of two people into a single hero as a painful one. And the belief that Ronnie is “schizophrenic” speaks directly to that fusion – initially unable to make sense of the new voice inside his own head. That’s not even addressing the fact that his hands and head are perpetually burning.
It’s also been officially announced that role of the ‘voice in his head’ a.k.a. Dr. Martin Stein will be played by Victor Garber (Argo, Titanic). Beyond embracing the chance to act with the veteran Canadian actor, Amell provides a few more details on how closely the show’s incarnation of Firestorm will keep to the original comics run:
“It’s the best! It’s so awesome! I worked with Victor Garber on a TV movie a couple years ago and he was awesome. He’s so freakin’ talented and it doesn’t hurt that my fiancee is the biggest Titanic fan I’ve ever met. She’s more excited about me working with Victor Garber than anything else. I gotta start watching Alias and start working on my Victor Garber impression. Sometimes Firestorm is Ronnie and sometimes he’s Martin Stein, but physically it’s going to be my body. I’m just excited to work opposite him because, I mean, he’s Victor Garber. The fact that I get to share a character with this guy is going to be really fun.”
How Ronnie/Martin will come to grips with their new existence, and whether they’ll be able to separate or fuse when needed – or be forever bonded – are all questions that will likely be answered in December’s episodes. But there’s no denying that Amell’s past work makes him a strong fit for the role (confirmed by the actor to be the “hands-on mechanic” at S.T.A.R. Labs prior to the explosion). And Garber is a talent The CW is certainly happy to have on board.
And although Amell admits to have had only a little knowledge of Firestorm when he landed the part, he has done his homework in the meantime; the showrunners made sure of it:
“I got a care package from DC with a couple comics and a couple action figures. My mom went out to a comic book store and bought out every Firestorm piece of merchandise they had, and I dove head-first into the universe. I think I’m going to do something that Firestorm fans will like.
“I hadn’t seen the pilot [when I filmed that episode], but I’m glad I hadn’t since the flashbacks happen at the same time as the pilot. I got to walk into it as completely blank slate. We shot the celebratory scene first, which was great; it’s always exciting coming into a new project… I’ve only seen a couple clips; I’m excited to watch the episode tomorrow night. I’ve become a big fan of the show.”
Going by The Flash‘s early ratings, he isn’t alone. And if he manages to find his stride with a cast already showing off its chemistry, then Ronnie Raymond’s nuclear powers will be an addition that comic fans will definitely get behind. What do you make of his casting or description of Ronnie’s early arc? Does this sound like a welcome change for the show or are you more interested in seeing his human side?“I hadn’t seen the pilot [when I filmed that episode], but I’m glad I hadn’t since the flashbacks happen at the same time as the pilot. I got to walk into it as completely blank slate. We shot the celebratory scene first, which was great; it’s always exciting coming into a new project… I’ve only seen a couple clips; I’m excited to watch the episode tomorrow night. I’ve become a big fan of the show.”
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: THR
[h=1]‘The Flash’ Casts Classic Character – Will We See Wally West?[/h]
To this point fans of DC Comics’ most well-known speedster have had a solid handle on the overall story being played out in The Flash; even if the showrunners promised a brand new taken on Barry Allen, and his adoptive family is a new creation of The CW, the basic elements and story of Allen’s rise have been faithfully adapted. That’s all set to change, thanks to the brand new love interest announced for Central City’s guardian angel, pulled straight from the pages of “The Flash” comics – with major changes.
The bombshell dropped by THR is possibly the most fan-pleasing casting announcement yet – on the side of the good, at least – revealing that actress Malese Jow (The Vampire Diaries, Star Crossed) has been cast as Linda Park, “a quick-witted reporter for the Central City Picture News.” Although that description reveals Linda will closely resemble her comic book counterpart, her pivotal role within “The Flash” mythology centers not on Barry Allen, but the second ‘Flash,’ Wally West.
According to the outlet, Linda Park will be introduced as a co-worker to Iris West (Candice Patton) when Barry’s adopted sister turns her curiosity about ‘The Red Streak’ into a career in journalism (aided by her CCPN mentor, Mason Bridge). But when Park encounters Barry (Grant Gustin) outside of work, a spark ignites, making the young reporter an immediate love interest.
Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed Linda Park’s inclusion in the show’s pilot episode, but has been re-cast with a younger actress, likely to make her a more direct peer of Iris’.And just a few weeks into existence, Barry Allen’s romantic life is becoming increasingly complicated.
To those who may not be versed in the realm of comic book adaptation, or that of The Flash in particular, this announcement carries far more weight than one might assume. As one of DC Comics’ few headlining ‘legacy heroes’ – a title and super-identity passed down from one person to the next – Wally West has become just as, if not more well known than his predecessor (thanks to WB and DC’s animated universe).
But in the comics themselves, the enduring romance between Wally and Linda didn’t just make them one of the most beloved couples of DC’s universe, but their marriage, children, and family unit ultimately came to define Wally as a whole.
DC’s recent New 52 reboot changed all that, introducing a brand new take on Wally West, though remaining the nephew of his aunt Iris West. The Flash producers have hinted that they may intend to bring Wally West to their TV series, but with Linda Park’s future in the New 52 comic universe still unclear, the writers have some room to craft their own take.
If nothing else, the casting of Linda Park as a love interest for Barry should provide fans with yet another major hint that if Wally appears, it may not be in a form that older comics fans will expect. On the bright side, the show’s writers are already making it possible to roll the best parts of both Barry and Wally’s runs into their series; and with well-received roles on previous CW series, Jow is another strong addition to a show already off to a strong start.
What do you think of the casting? Does the possible impact on a future version (or versions) of Wally West seem disappointing, or have the showrunners earned the benefit of the doubt? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: THR
The bombshell dropped by THR is possibly the most fan-pleasing casting announcement yet – on the side of the good, at least – revealing that actress Malese Jow (The Vampire Diaries, Star Crossed) has been cast as Linda Park, “a quick-witted reporter for the Central City Picture News.” Although that description reveals Linda will closely resemble her comic book counterpart, her pivotal role within “The Flash” mythology centers not on Barry Allen, but the second ‘Flash,’ Wally West.
According to the outlet, Linda Park will be introduced as a co-worker to Iris West (Candice Patton) when Barry’s adopted sister turns her curiosity about ‘The Red Streak’ into a career in journalism (aided by her CCPN mentor, Mason Bridge). But when Park encounters Barry (Grant Gustin) outside of work, a spark ignites, making the young reporter an immediate love interest.
Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed Linda Park’s inclusion in the show’s pilot episode, but has been re-cast with a younger actress, likely to make her a more direct peer of Iris’.And just a few weeks into existence, Barry Allen’s romantic life is becoming increasingly complicated.
To those who may not be versed in the realm of comic book adaptation, or that of The Flash in particular, this announcement carries far more weight than one might assume. As one of DC Comics’ few headlining ‘legacy heroes’ – a title and super-identity passed down from one person to the next – Wally West has become just as, if not more well known than his predecessor (thanks to WB and DC’s animated universe).
But in the comics themselves, the enduring romance between Wally and Linda didn’t just make them one of the most beloved couples of DC’s universe, but their marriage, children, and family unit ultimately came to define Wally as a whole.
DC’s recent New 52 reboot changed all that, introducing a brand new take on Wally West, though remaining the nephew of his aunt Iris West. The Flash producers have hinted that they may intend to bring Wally West to their TV series, but with Linda Park’s future in the New 52 comic universe still unclear, the writers have some room to craft their own take.
If nothing else, the casting of Linda Park as a love interest for Barry should provide fans with yet another major hint that if Wally appears, it may not be in a form that older comics fans will expect. On the bright side, the show’s writers are already making it possible to roll the best parts of both Barry and Wally’s runs into their series; and with well-received roles on previous CW series, Jow is another strong addition to a show already off to a strong start.
What do you think of the casting? Does the possible impact on a future version (or versions) of Wally West seem disappointing, or have the showrunners earned the benefit of the doubt? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: THR
[h=1]‘The Flash’: Gorilla Grodd, Time Travel To Be ‘Dealt With’ in Season 1[/h]
When the showrunners of The Flash dropped their very first nod to comic book villain Gorilla Grodd in the pilot episode, even devoted fans took it as a wink placed entirely for their benefit (in an episode downright filled with easter eggs). But keeping with the show’s theme that anything is possible, the ape has already made his first (cameo) appearance – and according to the show’s producer, it really – no, really – is a character they plan to deal with in the show’s inaugural season.
Skepticism from even optimistic fans can be understood; while The Flash has delivered some impressive visual effects already, and looks to push the envelope even farther when Firestorm arrives, bringing a psychic gorilla to life is a task so singular, it’s hard to know where to even begin. But executive producer Greg Berlanti explains to TVLine that the history hinted at between Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) and Grodd is much, much more than a nod to the the fans:
Berlanti’s comments clearly stop short of confirming that Grodd will take on his full persona and power set when he takes the spotlight; in the case of Deathstroke, audiences got to see the character grow into his comic book stature over the course of an entire year. Is a similar fate in store for Grodd? It’s hard to stay. Even if the writers can explain the source of Grodd’s powers convincingly, it’s the effects side of the equation that, as Berlanti notes, may be the biggest hurdle.
With stunt performer Simon Burnett slipping inside the gorilla suit for the first Grodd cameo (shrouded in almost complete darkness), the show is in need of a more permanent solution, be it CG, practical, or a combination of the two. All things considered, the team’s ambition is commendable. But in the end, fans would likely be willing to let them off the hook if a convincing Grodd is simply beyond their reach.
That doesn’t mean outlandish or fantastic powers aren’t already on their way to The Flash this season, with Berlanti adding that more of Barry’s own comic book superpowers will be brought into the show’s fiction, both in the short and long term:
Those who’ve been watching the show can guess at what Berlanti is alluding to, with no shortage of hints at time travel existing beneath the surface of Barry Allen’s life, and even a few overt confirmations. How close the writers will keep to the source material is anyone’s guess, but they’re obviously not intent on keeping too many twists up their sleeve (Reverse-Flash will appear before the winter break, after all).
With no opportunity to expand The Flash‘s mythology being passed up, the network seems just as eager to get their shared universe off the ground. The crossover event coming in Episode 8 of The Flash and Arrow is the biggest step yet, and while it has yet to air, Berlanti claims that more crossovers are already being discussed for the latter half of each show’s season. In the meantime, they need to figure out how to bring a psychic gorilla to life.
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: TVLine
Skepticism from even optimistic fans can be understood; while The Flash has delivered some impressive visual effects already, and looks to push the envelope even farther when Firestorm arrives, bringing a psychic gorilla to life is a task so singular, it’s hard to know where to even begin. But executive producer Greg Berlanti explains to TVLine that the history hinted at between Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) and Grodd is much, much more than a nod to the the fans:
I wouldn’t say teased. I would say we’re going to deal with it this year. The comparison I make is a little bit to Slade the first year on Arrow in the sense of we started with the mask in the pilot and then we saw which way we were going. He was, ultimately, in the back half of that first season even more than we would ever do with Grodd this first year because… We’re going to have to get the technology right and all the stuff right to make it look and feel real. But a lot of times, we do this stuff not as a tease as much as a challenge to ourselves of, “Can we do it?” Grodd’s definitely one of those, so we hope we pull it off.
Berlanti’s comments clearly stop short of confirming that Grodd will take on his full persona and power set when he takes the spotlight; in the case of Deathstroke, audiences got to see the character grow into his comic book stature over the course of an entire year. Is a similar fate in store for Grodd? It’s hard to stay. Even if the writers can explain the source of Grodd’s powers convincingly, it’s the effects side of the equation that, as Berlanti notes, may be the biggest hurdle.
With stunt performer Simon Burnett slipping inside the gorilla suit for the first Grodd cameo (shrouded in almost complete darkness), the show is in need of a more permanent solution, be it CG, practical, or a combination of the two. All things considered, the team’s ambition is commendable. But in the end, fans would likely be willing to let them off the hook if a convincing Grodd is simply beyond their reach.
That doesn’t mean outlandish or fantastic powers aren’t already on their way to The Flash this season, with Berlanti adding that more of Barry’s own comic book superpowers will be brought into the show’s fiction, both in the short and long term:
We’re holding back on some big ones still. He famously can phase through things. We haven’t seen him do that yet. [Time travel] is the one that we deal with directly in the winter. We, obviously, hint at it from the pilot episode. That is a big — “theme” is the wrong word for it — but that is a big part of the DNA of who The Flash was, so we do deal with that.
Those who’ve been watching the show can guess at what Berlanti is alluding to, with no shortage of hints at time travel existing beneath the surface of Barry Allen’s life, and even a few overt confirmations. How close the writers will keep to the source material is anyone’s guess, but they’re obviously not intent on keeping too many twists up their sleeve (Reverse-Flash will appear before the winter break, after all).
With no opportunity to expand The Flash‘s mythology being passed up, the network seems just as eager to get their shared universe off the ground. The crossover event coming in Episode 8 of The Flash and Arrow is the biggest step yet, and while it has yet to air, Berlanti claims that more crossovers are already being discussed for the latter half of each show’s season. In the meantime, they need to figure out how to bring a psychic gorilla to life.
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: TVLine
[h=1]‘The Flash’ Cast Teases Reverse-Flash’s Secret Identity[/h]
[WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for The Flash TV series]When the producers of The Flash made the shocking decision to not just allude to the role played by Barry Allen’s nemesis – Eobard Thawne a.k.a. Professor Zoom, ‘the Reverse-Flash’ – but include an overt cameo of the villain in the pilot episode. Add to that the presence of police detective Eddie Thawne, and many comic fans assumed they knew the show’s plot before the second episode debuted.
Those assumptions have been challenged in the time since, with Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett) proving to be a hero in his own rite, and another shadowy character implied as a force for evil. Thankfully, viewers won’t have to wait long for a bit more clarity. In another surprise, the Reverse-Flash was confirmed to appearing in Episode 9, “The Man in The Yellow Suit.” The cast have finally offered some details about the showdown, and the mystery of the man under the yellow mask.
The cat was let out of the bag when the first set photos of the Reverse-Flash appeared, depicting the two speedsters in combat (apparently Barry’s battle with Oliver Queen is just a warm-up). Star Grant Gustin now explains to EW that it’s no coincidence the man wearing the yellow suit on set was a stuntman – not a member of the cast – but that even fans who think they know the villain’s secret may want to exercise some patience:
Grant Gustin News @GustinNews
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For his part, Cosnett explains that the devious future many see for his character isn’t a concern just yet:
The stakes are high in doing Barry Allen’s nemesis justice, but the producers have also committed to introducing both time travel and Gorilla Grodd by the season’s end, so perhaps another blurry speedster is a relatively easy challenge. Either way, Kreisberg is confident that Reverse-Flash will be terrifying enough to get the job done:
Gustin also warns that he heard most of the theories rumored, but was as surprised as anyone to find out exactly what the writers have been building toward:
What are your thoughts on the identity of “The Man in The Yellow Suit”? Do Gustin’s comments throw your own suspicions out the window, or do you have a likely culprit in mind?
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: EW
Those assumptions have been challenged in the time since, with Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett) proving to be a hero in his own rite, and another shadowy character implied as a force for evil. Thankfully, viewers won’t have to wait long for a bit more clarity. In another surprise, the Reverse-Flash was confirmed to appearing in Episode 9, “The Man in The Yellow Suit.” The cast have finally offered some details about the showdown, and the mystery of the man under the yellow mask.
The cat was let out of the bag when the first set photos of the Reverse-Flash appeared, depicting the two speedsters in combat (apparently Barry’s battle with Oliver Queen is just a warm-up). Star Grant Gustin now explains to EW that it’s no coincidence the man wearing the yellow suit on set was a stuntman – not a member of the cast – but that even fans who think they know the villain’s secret may want to exercise some patience:
“Barry will actually get to come face to face with him, not just running with him, but standing face to face with him, looking at him… He’s vibrating, so he doesn’t know who he is. We don’t see his face. No characters see his face and the audience doesn’t necessarily see his face either, but Barry gets to hear him say that he killed his mom.
Following that, we have a huge fight that we shot in the football stadium in Vancouver. That was huge.”
Following that, we have a huge fight that we shot in the football stadium in Vancouver. That was huge.”
Grant Gustin News @GustinNews Follow
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For his part, Cosnett explains that the devious future many see for his character isn’t a concern just yet:
“The thing about this show is we always want people to be surprised. We just don’t want any plotlines getting out before the episode comes out… It’s exciting. When a character has such a history, you get to bring all this reality to it and all these layers. I just wanted to make him a human being, first and foremost. Then, from there, it’s fascinating to see how that progresses.”
Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg admits that it’s hard not to consider the expectations and assumptions made by fans. But it’s safe to assume that a large part of the audience will need more than a comic book villain’s appearance to thrill them; for them, it won’t be Barry tackling the ‘man inside the lightning’ by himself, but along with his friends, working to capture the murderer with the help of prior Flash star Amanda Pays.
The stakes are high in doing Barry Allen’s nemesis justice, but the producers have also committed to introducing both time travel and Gorilla Grodd by the season’s end, so perhaps another blurry speedster is a relatively easy challenge. Either way, Kreisberg is confident that Reverse-Flash will be terrifying enough to get the job done:
“I like to think that we’ve done a good job on both shows of meeting fans’ expectations and subverting them… The show has to appeal to everybody. It can’t just appeal to comic fans and it can’t ignore them either. We’re always treading this fine line of trying to bring something new, honoring what’s always been done and turning it into this brand new thing.
“It’s fun when you finally see our team confronting the Reverse Flash and seeing everybody’s reactions, because he is the devil, in a way, to the show. When you finally see everybody confront him, it’s really scary. It’s certainly the scariest thing we’ve done on the show. Our tone note to Tom, Jesse and Grant was to pretend you were in the room with the alien from Alien. You should all be that scared.”
“It’s fun when you finally see our team confronting the Reverse Flash and seeing everybody’s reactions, because he is the devil, in a way, to the show. When you finally see everybody confront him, it’s really scary. It’s certainly the scariest thing we’ve done on the show. Our tone note to Tom, Jesse and Grant was to pretend you were in the room with the alien from Alien. You should all be that scared.”
Gustin also warns that he heard most of the theories rumored, but was as surprised as anyone to find out exactly what the writers have been building toward:
“I didn’t even remotely see coming what Andrew Kreisberg told me is going to be one of the turning points with that storyline. I’ve heard so many theories surrounding Reverse Flash that are all interesting. I was like, ‘Oh, I know what’s going on,’ but literally no one knows what’s going on. Anyone who thinks they know what’s going on is wrong. I’m in the in and I thought I knew, but Andrew told me and I was like, ‘Holy crap.’”
Since Thawne’s own superspeed has been credited not to a bolt of lightning, but being removed from the flow of space and time itself, it’s anyone’s guess who could be responsible for the murder of Barry Allen’s mother. Even if Thawne and Dr. Harrison Wells are present to help bring down the Reverse-Flash, it doesn’t rule out their future selves; meaning the episode won’t silence any popular fan theories. Although the fight isn’t likely to solve any mysteries, the action itself should still prove worthwhile.
What are your thoughts on the identity of “The Man in The Yellow Suit”? Do Gustin’s comments throw your own suspicions out the window, or do you have a likely culprit in mind?
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: EW
[h=1]‘The Flash’: Firestorm Details, Amell Family Team-Up Confirmed[/h]
Those tuning into The Flash have already been treated to not just one DC Comics superhero, but the introduction (and superpowered set-up) of a second: ‘Firestorm the Nuclear Man‘ played by Robbie Amell. Set to reappear as his nuclear alter ego before the show’s mid-season finale, Amell has offered up a few more details of just what to expect from his new role, and what the writers may have planned in the future.
When Firestorm a.k.a. Ronnie Raymond was last seen, he was sacrificing his own life to save the crowds gathered at S.T.A.R. Labs from the particle accelerator disaster (including his fiancee, Caitlin Snow). But when the mysterious explosion turns out not to have killed him, it won’t be a happy reunion, or a glorious superhero origin story. Amell has promised that Ronnie will return “schizophrenic, “confused” and “dangerous” to himself and others.
Comic fans will know what’s likely behind Ronnie’s mental state, as the original version of the hero has his mind fused with that of brilliant scientist Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber). As for the danger, well, nuclear fire pouring out of Ronnie’s body puts everyone at risk. Speaking with Access Hollywood, Amell claims that he’ll arrive back on the scene looking “like all hell broke loose”:
With Barry Allen’s own tale of coming to grips with his new powers being a dream come true for any superhero fan (including Barry), it’s promising to see The Flash‘s writers taking the opposite route with Ronnie Raymond. Barry was a tortured soul given the means to make a difference, where Ronnie had his life laid out ahead of him, losing it all to a horrific accident. Just like Arrow‘s take on Ray Palmer a.k.a. ‘The Atom’ being more secretive than comic fans expect, Amell says Ronnie may not be a hero to begin with:
Only the show itself will solve the mystery, but an image captured by Amell on the set of The Flash gives another intriguing tease of how he and Garber will co-exist:
Wearing identical wardrobe – aside from Amell’s being burnt to shreds – sheds some light on the need for a ‘Victor Garber’ impression; it seems that both actors may get their chance to act as the face of the split-character. That may result in viewers getting to see when Dr. Stein takes control of Ronnie’s body, while his outward appearance remains unchanged (hence Amell’s need to embody Garber’s voice and mannerisms).
While we await the chance to see that challenge tackled, it’s another double-act for which many CW fans have been holding out hope. Ever since Robbie was announced to be joining The CW’s shared universe – launched by cousin Stephen Amell’s Arrow – many fans have wondered if the pair would get the chance to share the screen.
Having previously combined their respective Tomorrow People and Arrow audiences in a night referred to by the cousins as ‘Amell Wednesdays,’ Robbie confirmed that viewers will get to see them share an episode before long:
What are your thoughts on the apparent plan for introducing Ronnie Raymond as Firestorm? Will you be hoping to see the Amells share scenes in the future, or is it Arrow and Firestorm you wish to see fighting side by side?
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: Access Hollywood
When Firestorm a.k.a. Ronnie Raymond was last seen, he was sacrificing his own life to save the crowds gathered at S.T.A.R. Labs from the particle accelerator disaster (including his fiancee, Caitlin Snow). But when the mysterious explosion turns out not to have killed him, it won’t be a happy reunion, or a glorious superhero origin story. Amell has promised that Ronnie will return “schizophrenic, “confused” and “dangerous” to himself and others.
Comic fans will know what’s likely behind Ronnie’s mental state, as the original version of the hero has his mind fused with that of brilliant scientist Dr. Martin Stein (Victor Garber). As for the danger, well, nuclear fire pouring out of Ronnie’s body puts everyone at risk. Speaking with Access Hollywood, Amell claims that he’ll arrive back on the scene looking “like all hell broke loose”:
I look ridiculous when you see me next. Most people probably won’t even recognize me for at least a couple of seconds when they see my character return. But you’ll know it’s Firestorm shortly after.
“I hate wearing wigs… My friend sent me a picture of Tom Cruise from Rock of Ages when he saw a picture of it on me, so it’s pretty good. But even worse than that is the fake facial hair because I can’t grow mine at all. I get a neck beard, I can’t grow the cheeks in.”
“I hate wearing wigs… My friend sent me a picture of Tom Cruise from Rock of Ages when he saw a picture of it on me, so it’s pretty good. But even worse than that is the fake facial hair because I can’t grow mine at all. I get a neck beard, I can’t grow the cheeks in.”
With Barry Allen’s own tale of coming to grips with his new powers being a dream come true for any superhero fan (including Barry), it’s promising to see The Flash‘s writers taking the opposite route with Ronnie Raymond. Barry was a tortured soul given the means to make a difference, where Ronnie had his life laid out ahead of him, losing it all to a horrific accident. Just like Arrow‘s take on Ray Palmer a.k.a. ‘The Atom’ being more secretive than comic fans expect, Amell says Ronnie may not be a hero to begin with:
“You don’t know if I’m good or bad when I first show up. You will find out that there’s something going on mentally; I’m not exactly the same person I was when I left… I’ve got [Martin Stein actor] Victor Garber in my head, which is terrifying because Victor Garber is this amazing, incredible actor, and I have to do a Victor Garber impression for a bit of an episode, which is an actor’s dream and an actor’s nightmare… I’ve worked with him before which is nice, because I know that he’s a great guy and he won’t hold it against me.”
The question remains as to exactly how the show will choose to portray Firestorm on-screen. Apparently Ronnie will arrive dishevelled, boasting wild hair and beard, but the exact nature of the Ronnie/Dr. Stein dynamic has varied wildly over the years. One may call the other to them in time of need, fusing to form the ‘Nuclear Man,’ with one or both left completely unaware of what has taken place; Dr. Stein may exist permanently in Ronnie’s mind whether in the nuclear form or not.
Only the show itself will solve the mystery, but an image captured by Amell on the set of The Flash gives another intriguing tease of how he and Garber will co-exist:
A photo posted by Robbie Amell (@robbieamell) on Nov 11, 2014 at 6:30pm PST
While we await the chance to see that challenge tackled, it’s another double-act for which many CW fans have been holding out hope. Ever since Robbie was announced to be joining The CW’s shared universe – launched by cousin Stephen Amell’s Arrow – many fans have wondered if the pair would get the chance to share the screen.
Having previously combined their respective Tomorrow People and Arrow audiences in a night referred to by the cousins as ‘Amell Wednesdays,’ Robbie confirmed that viewers will get to see them share an episode before long:
“We will both be in the same episode of The Flash coming up, but I have not crossed over to Arrow yet. I would really like to, and I have a pretty good relationship with Greg Berlanti, so I’m trying to push that on him. We’ll see what happens.”
Given how much the Arrow star has been talking up the benefits of a shared TV universe, we would wager the joining of forces will happen before long (once Ronnie gets his powers under control, that is). That’s assuming that the producers solve the problem of bringing superpowers into Starling City; as it stands, even Brandon Routh thinks The Atom would have to move to The Flash to show off his own superpowers. That being said: where there’s a will, there’s a way.
What are your thoughts on the apparent plan for introducing Ronnie Raymond as Firestorm? Will you be hoping to see the Amells share scenes in the future, or is it Arrow and Firestorm you wish to see fighting side by side?
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce for updates on The Flash as well as movie, TV, and gaming news.
Source: Access Hollywood
[h=1]‘The Flash’: Mark Hamill to Reprise as The Trickster[/h]
Next year, moviegoers will see Mark Hamill reprise the iconic role of Luke Skywalker in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (despite his absence in the endlessly analyzed teaser trailer). Yet, that role is far from the only one the actor is known for.
In addition to his work in a galaxy far, far away, Hamill is known throughout the comic book world for a variety of roles, most notably his stellar voice work as the Joker on Batman: The Animated Series back in the 1990s. However, we’ve now received word that Hamill will return to the DC universe as a different character, one that he has brought to life before.
According to HitFix, The CW has announced that Hamill will appear on its new series The Flash as James Jesse, best known as the villainous Trickster. The actor previously played the character on two episodes of the original CBS series The Flash, which ran for one season from 1990 to 1991. Hamill also isn’t the first actor to appear on both shows, as original Flash actor John Wesley Shipp has already popped up in a few episodes of the 2014 version.
On the new show, Hamill’s character will be reimagined as an incarcerated anarchist who assists Barry (Grant Gustin) in stopping the city-wide attacks of a criminal aiming to become the new Trickster. The episode will air as the 17th installment of season one and will feature a reunion between Hamill and Shipp.
The way the new show is incorporating elements of the character’s history calls to mind Smallville’s regular practice of bringing in notable actors who played key roles in previous incarnations of the Superman mythos. One could make an argument that Hamill’s inclusion here is a bit too driven by fan service, but considering the overwhelming affection the geek community (understandably) has for the actor, his appearance here – especially in the story’s Silence of the Lambs-esque twist – should please both old and new fans alike and provide Hamill with some fun, over-the-top material to work with before he reaches for his lightsaber once more.
Are you excited to see Hamill return to the small screen as the Trickster, or would you prefer the new Flash to stop paying homage to the titular hero’s past? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts.
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8pm on The CW.
Source: HitFix
In addition to his work in a galaxy far, far away, Hamill is known throughout the comic book world for a variety of roles, most notably his stellar voice work as the Joker on Batman: The Animated Series back in the 1990s. However, we’ve now received word that Hamill will return to the DC universe as a different character, one that he has brought to life before.
According to HitFix, The CW has announced that Hamill will appear on its new series The Flash as James Jesse, best known as the villainous Trickster. The actor previously played the character on two episodes of the original CBS series The Flash, which ran for one season from 1990 to 1991. Hamill also isn’t the first actor to appear on both shows, as original Flash actor John Wesley Shipp has already popped up in a few episodes of the 2014 version.
On the new show, Hamill’s character will be reimagined as an incarcerated anarchist who assists Barry (Grant Gustin) in stopping the city-wide attacks of a criminal aiming to become the new Trickster. The episode will air as the 17th installment of season one and will feature a reunion between Hamill and Shipp.
The way the new show is incorporating elements of the character’s history calls to mind Smallville’s regular practice of bringing in notable actors who played key roles in previous incarnations of the Superman mythos. One could make an argument that Hamill’s inclusion here is a bit too driven by fan service, but considering the overwhelming affection the geek community (understandably) has for the actor, his appearance here – especially in the story’s Silence of the Lambs-esque twist – should please both old and new fans alike and provide Hamill with some fun, over-the-top material to work with before he reaches for his lightsaber once more.
Are you excited to see Hamill return to the small screen as the Trickster, or would you prefer the new Flash to stop paying homage to the titular hero’s past? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts.
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8pm on The CW.
Source: HitFix
[MENTION=1245]HAMMER of THOR[/MENTION] Talking the talk from the tv show thread here 
and YES what A FIT finale it was and who doesn't like flash its AWESOME
so one mystery done and the other is how come there were two reverse flash at the same time ! and than eddie thawne back at the precinct tells the detective that why didn't reverse flash kill him, my theory there are two reverse flash... one is dr wells and the other eobard thawne from the future, ofcourse thawne from the future didn't kile eddie coz if he did, he wouldn't exist therefore didn't kill him as eddie said so himself.. btw check this out very informative ‘The Flash’: Our Top Theories On Reverse-Flash’s Identity
[MENTION=13555]federer38[/MENTION] yeah man suspense solved but than again another suspense added !
and YES what A FIT finale it was and who doesn't like flash its AWESOMEso one mystery done and the other is how come there were two reverse flash at the same time ! and than eddie thawne back at the precinct tells the detective that why didn't reverse flash kill him, my theory there are two reverse flash... one is dr wells and the other eobard thawne from the future, ofcourse thawne from the future didn't kile eddie coz if he did, he wouldn't exist therefore didn't kill him as eddie said so himself.. btw check this out very informative ‘The Flash’: Our Top Theories On Reverse-Flash’s Identity
[MENTION=13555]federer38[/MENTION] yeah man suspense solved but than again another suspense added !
well i think that the one fighting flash was thawne's future relative otherwise he might have killed eddie or hurt him... that makes sense... but i also think that dr. wells is zoom the one who travels faster than anyone else due to him manipulating time rather than utilizing speed force... it could be opposite though... isn't zoom wally west's villain? haven't read comics much so i just know outline stories...@HAMMER of THOR Talking the talk from the tv show thread here
so one mystery done and the other is how come there were two reverse flash at the same time ! and than eddie thawne back at the precinct tells the detective that why didn't reverse flash kill him, my theory there are two reverse flash... one is dr wells and the other eobard thawne from the future, ofcourse thawne from the future didn't kile eddie coz if he did, he wouldn't exist therefore didn't kill him as eddie said so himself.. btw check this out very informative ‘The Flash’: Our Top Theories On Reverse-Flash’s Identity
@federer38 yeah man suspense solved but than again another suspense added !
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Necrokiller:
Phil should be held responsible for this shitfest too, just like Sarah, but it's highly likely that these decisions are coming from Satya. And this isn't even the end of it. More closures are coming. -
SolitarySoldier:
if we are moving towards more and more popular trash across platforms that make billions for companies, I'm happy with all the barriers and exclusivity because at least that brings some pressure to create good stuff. -
SolitarySoldier:
Phil keeps talking about breaking barriers to gaming, making it accessible on all platforms yada yada, while killing competition and creativity at the same time. the fact that i actually believed him for a second lol
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SolitarySoldier:
"These changes are not a reflection of the creativity and skill of the talented individuals at these teams or the risks they took to try new things" ... seems to me that's exactly what it is
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XPremiuM:
Microsoft deserves all the hate they can get. Seriously i can't explain how much i want to curse them out. -
XPremiuM:
They could've sold the studios instead of closing them, but the nazi bastards just didn't want competition down the road.
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XPremiuM:
What's the f*** is wrong with them? I mean really? Have they completely lost it? F***ing retards.
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XPremiuM:
So i just found out that f***ing s***bag Microsoft shut down Arkane Studio (makers of the brilliant Dishonored series) and Tango Gameworks (makers of the iconic The Evil Within series), among some other studios. I just want to say a giant F*** Y**! to Microsoft. THEY'VE F***ED UP BIG TIME this time.
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XPremiuM:
Started Dead Island 2, and i find it pretty lame. The story is shit. The characters are either cringe or bland (all 6 of them), The gameplay isn't fun. Even the goddamn zombies don't behave like proper zombies. They're all fast & intelligent unlike how zombies are supposed to be like. Any fan of "zombie" genre cannot possibly like this shitfest of a game. Dying Light 2 was million times better than this shit.
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faraany3k:
tbh gaming industry as a whole is failing much like tech industry. They have buckled down too much to Corporate suites then relying on passionate and innovative people. A corporate only believes in financial growth and shareholders.Necrokiller said:
