Brooke Bunny
Barry Allen’s appearance on “Arrow” has gone down so well with network execs that the CW have decided not to continue telling his story on the show (he’s seen in episodes 8 and 9, and was to be seen in one more – which would’ve served as a backdoor pilot for the spin-off), but pick it up on the spin-off.
The character, whose alter-ego is the speedy superhero The Flash, would’ve returned for season two’s 20th episode, but those plans have now been scrapped with the network confident that the character deserves to next be seen headlining his own series.
Deadline have the scoop :
There has been a change in the CW‘s plans for The Flash. Originally, the character, played by Grant Gustin, was supposed to appear in three episodes of Arrow this season — No. 8, No. 9 and No. 20, the last one serving as a backdoor pilot directed by David Nutter. Episodes 8 and 9, in which the superhero is introduced only as his alter ego Barry Allen, have already been shot. But now the CW has opted to film a traditional stand-alone Flash pilot instead of doing a
backdoor pilot as Arrow‘s Episode 20. With Episodes 8 and 9 serving as an origin story, the plan was for The Flash character to make his debut — red costume and all — in Arrow‘s Episode 20. He will now do it in the pilot. The creative team remains the same, with Arrow co-creators Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg and series scribe Geoff Johns writing the pilot and Nutter, who helmed the pilot for Arrow, directing. Berlanti, Kreisberg and Nutter executive produce, with Melissa Kellner Berman co-executive producing.
The decision was made after CW brass saw cuts of Episodes 8 and 9, which have been very well received. Filming a stand-alone Flash pilot would allow the creators to better flesh out the superhero’s story and his world on a bigger budget, as pilot budgets are significantly higher than episodic ones. While no longer a full-blown spinoff, The Flash still will be tethered to the Arrow universe since the the character (as Barry Allen) will first be introduced there. In light of the pilot order, it is unclear whether Episode 20 of Arrow will feature the Flash or any reference to him.
This, is of course, the second live-action “Flash” series to hit our screens. The first, which aired in the ’90s, starred John Wesley Shipp in the title role.
