After the CW had narrowed down their casting choices to three top contenders for the role of Barry Allen/ The Flash, Grant Gustin has won the role after battling it out with James Mackay and Matt Barr.
Gustin is most well known for his roles as the villainous Sebastian Smythe in GLEE and as Campbell Price on the CW’s own 90210. The actor will portray Barry Allen in three episodes of the hit CW series ARROW, with the third episode serving as a backdoor pilot for the proposed Flash spin-off series. Gustin’s third appearance on the programme and supposed backdoor pilot will be directed by David Nutter which is said to involve the character receiving his powers in some form leading into his own series.
The character will reportedly journey to Starling City as an assistant police forensic investigator attempting to solve the mystery of his parents’ murder and will cross paths with the vigilante Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) along the way. Here’s the quote from Deadline:
‘Barry Allen (Gustin) is a Central City assistant police forensic investigator who arrives in Starling to look into a series of unexplained robberies that may have a connection to a tragedy in his past. A comic book fan boy, Barry is obsessed with the Arrow unaware that working with Oliver and Felicity to solve the crime has brought him right into the dangerous world of the vigilante’.
Whilst many fans will no doubt be concerned with the actors young age of twenty three, it’s not unlike the CW to cast young handsome actors to attract the young demographic they aim their shows towards. The other concern is how ARROW will handle the breaking of its ‘no super powers’ rule to incoroporate The Flash, and will this pave the way for more super powered DC Comics characters to make an appearance?
We’ll update you with any more news that comes our way.
Source: Deadline
