Glee alum Grant Gustin has landed a Flashy new role.
Arrow has tapped the 23-year-old actor to play the pivotal role of Barry Allen (aka The Flash), TVLine has confirmed.
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Gustin’s Barry will be introduced in Episodes 8 and 9 of Arrow Season 2 (which premieres Oct. 9) as an (UPDATED) assistant forensics investigator working for the Central City police department — “just an ordinary man,” EP Andrew Kreisberg has said — who arrives in Starling City to look into a series of robberies that may have a connection to a tragedy in his past. A comic book fan boy, Barry is obsessed with Oliver’s crimefighting alter ego.
Barry will also appear in Episode 20, a formal backdoor pilot for a potential spin-off more focused on this new character.
DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns, Kreisberg and fellow EP Greg Berlanti will cowrite the three Barry Allen episodes, while Arrow/Smallville pilot director David Nutter is on board to direct Episode 20.
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Though the show’s creatives had said a blonde actor “would be preferred,” ultimately they wanted “the best actor for the part” — and/or “someone who look good in red,” Johns quipped.
