The CW's "The Flash" Discussion (2014-2023)

[lazystoner]

The network's median age is indeed 42.

[HDMe]

Originally Posted by r_webb18

How much older are you talking? The CW target age is much smaller than most networks.

Before I answer your first question...

Regardless of the network's target demographic, they had to cast men and women old enough to be the main "heartthrob" actors' parents, right?

And I kinda like Ollie's mom on the show... but I digress.

In the comics Barry Allen and Oliver Queen are essentially peers... but this show has skewed younger for Ollie... but that causes a problem with Barry Allen.

For him to be a credible forensic scientist/investigator he has to be post-graduate and probably needs a few years of police experience to fill the role.

In traditional DC lore, Superman is considered to be almost perpetually 35 years old or so... I would say Barry should be about that age as well.

Bart Allen started as a young teenager as did Wally West... so there's lots of leeway there if they wanted to do those versions of the Flash and fit their "hire young" casting target.

I don't know his actual age, but this actor appears to be younger than the guy playing Ollie... so I think it might be a little odd is all. It might work, for people less familiar with the comics, so I'm waiting to see how they do it before I nag too much.

[lazystoner]

The TV Guide article says that he's an assistant forensic scientist. It's not that far-fetched if it's a college internship or such.

[HDMe]

Originally Posted by lazystoner

The TV Guide article says that he's an assistant forensic scientist. It's not that far-fetched if it's a college internship or such.

That's basically what I've been dancing around... they appear to be making Barry Allen younger than the traditional Barry Allen.

It might work, the show has worked so far... but I kind of wish they were going with an older Barry Allen.

[Goldensuitcase]

They should have Tom Welling do a fun little cameo.

[Forever Knight]

Originally Posted by Goldensuitcase

They should have Tom Welling do a fun little cameo.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Goldensuitcase

They should have Tom Welling do a fun little cameo.

Or John Wesley Shipp.

[lazystoner]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Or John Wesley Shipp.

As Jay Garrick!

[remake]

The catty gay from Glee is going to be Flash? I'm interested.

[lazystoner]

Grant Gustin talks about being Flash:

http://www.eonline.com/news/461361/t...to-time-travel

I'm still not sure about his look, but he certainly has the right attitude. Also, he pretty much confirms that he'll be wearing the traditional Flash costume!

[lazystoner]

Grant Gustin talks about the casting process he went through:

http://www.etonline.com/tv/138724_Gr...lash/index.htm

I don't know whether it's his jawline or hair, but he looks a lot older in that video than any picture I've seen in him so far. He looks almost around Stephen Amell's age.

Also, filming for his first appearence on Arrow starts in a week!

[Forever Knight]

The only FLASH stuff I know is from Justice League's New 52. So is Barry Allen a cop or news reporter?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Forever Knight

The only FLASH stuff I know is from Justice League's New 52. So is Barry Allen a cop or news reporter?

Well, originally, he was a scientist working at a police lab. Whether they've changed that, I couldn't say. I haven't been reading comics for about the last 10 years.

[Clark Kent]

Barry has always been a forensic scientist (though that term didn't really exist when he first appeared) working for the police. It was the forensic chemicals he used in his police lab, combined with the lightning and his personal genetic make-up, that made him the fastest man alive. Incidentally, Wally has the exact same origin for his powers.

[Forever Knight]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Barry has always been a forensic scientist (though that term didn't really exist when he first appeared) working for the police. It was the forensic chemicals he used in his police lab, combined with the lightning and his personal genetic make-up, that made him the fastest man alive. Incidentally, Wally has the exact same origin for his powers.

Interesting. I'm gonna have to pick up the new 52 Flash, I really enjoy him in JL.

[lazystoner]

After seeing cuts of Grant Gustin in Arrow episodes 8 and 9, CW executives were pleased enough to decide that The Flash needed a traditional pilot instead of the planned backdoor pilot in Arrow.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/cws-...pilot-episode/

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by lazystoner

After seeing cuts of Grant Gustin in Arrow episodes 8 and 9, CW executives were pleased enough to decide that The Flash needed a traditional pilot instead of the planned backdoor pilot in Arrow.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/cws-...pilot-episode/

Arrow is going so well right now I don't think the CW wanted to mess with its current mojo. They've really de-aged this version of the Flash and every new show on the CW has to prove its worth outside their target 16-24 female demo. I have some reservations about Gustin's casting but the show should get several attempts to prove itself.

[Forever Knight]

I want Reverse-Flash!!!!

[ChiefSequatchie]

Originally Posted by lazystoner

After seeing cuts of Grant Gustin in Arrow episodes 8 and 9, CW executives were pleased enough to decide that The Flash needed a traditional pilot instead of the planned backdoor pilot in Arrow.

http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/cws-...pilot-episode/

If you read between the lines it means we like it enough to throw some real money at it. Which means more/better CGI!

[lazystoner]

Update time? Update time!

Casting is underway for two characters; Iris and Detective West.

Character descriptions:

[Show spoiler]IRIS - 22-28 - African-American - As smart as she is beautiful, Iris is in grad school studying psychology. She's also Barry's mile a minute, fast-talking, quick-witted best friend. Her father, Detective West, took in Barry when his mother was murdered, and his father was wrongly accused and imprisoned for her murder. In a tough childhood for Barry, she was the one "not tough" thing. She's unaware of Barry's strong feelings for her.


DETECTIVE WEST - Late 40s to Early 50s - African American -Detective West is an honest, blue-collar cop who's seen it all. A soulful, funny caring father to Iris, and a surrogate father to Barry, West came up through the foster system himself. He took in Barry after his mother's murder and his father's imprisonment. He believes in Barry and supports Barry's efforts to prove his father's innocence.

Casting for Iris is said to down to two actresses, Christine Shepherd and Tessa Thompson. Reports are that Ernie Hudson is in talks for the role of Detective West.

Also joining the show will be DC superhero Vibe, aka Cisco Ramon. http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethe...---report.html

Last but not least, something juicy. In the pilot, there's a character named Detective Eddie Thawne. Sounds an awful lot like Eobard Thawne, aka Professor Zoom or Reverse Flash. Here's his description:

[Show spoiler] "leading man handsome" (late 20s-early/mid 30s) and has recently transferred to Central City Police Department from Keystone. Thawne is set to be loved within the precinct and takes the credit for a lot of things that Barry can't. However, the most intriguing part about this character is that his past will be a complete mystery. No one knows where he comes from, and he harbors a dark secret.

http://www.bludhavenbanter.com/2013/...s-Regular.html