Arrow Casts Glee Villain as The Flash
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.
I like the guy, it’ll be good to see him in something where I don’t have to FF his scenes.
you might like him but he wrong for the part. Putting aside anyone from Glee is a joke. The CW just makes these great characters into pretty boys. It’s sad. They should be stopped. Super Man, Green Arrow. Now this.
“anyone from glee is a joke”, what about mike o malley? he recently guest starred in justified and was absolutely fantastic. im not going to ignorantly write someone off just for being a working actor and taking whatever parts they can find. maybe we should wait until we actually see him in the role before complaining, stephen amell worked out quite well in the end so im not going to say anything against the casting until there is reason to complain.
Mike o Malley was around long before Glee. So was Jane Lynch who was on a great show (Party Down. That’s why I wrote from Glee. As in that’s their main credit. And honestly, do you know where you are? That’s all these comments are for is to complain or praise. If you’re into the gayness of Glee that’s great but this actor is wrong for the character but that is not something the CW cares about. They just want cute hunks.
please dont use gay as an insult, it makes you sound like an ignorant moron. anyway ive seen about 5 seconds of glee, i have no interest in the thing but im not going to ignorantly say he will be terrible just because he took a job, actors need to eat just as much as everyone else. maybe we could all wait until we actually see him in the role before declaring world war three? nothing worse than entitled idiots on the internet prejudging things and insulting people just because they are anonymous.
i don’t see the Micronian (go Robotech) using gayness as an insult rather a statement of fact, Glee is really really gay. They focus on the gay characters more then anything else and try to push a gay agenda or gay acceptance whatever you want to call it. Glee is a gay show. It became too much for me when they added that horrible and horrendous Unique character
And what, exactly, is ” the gay agenda”?
i was trying to present both interpretations. Gay agenda for people that see glee as pushing an agenda to try and normalize homosexuality, Gay acceptance, for people that see glee as trying to educate and inform people about homosexuality.
@D. thank you. that is exactly what I meant. I don’t see gay as a negative.
@Alan. you’re the only person here insulting someone.
So 23 year old Grant Gustin is a forensic scientist?
….ok.
I don’t see how that’s weird. If he graduated HS at 18, he’d have his bachelor’s degree at 21, and the on-the-job training (the apprenticeship) would be done before he was 23.
Also, he may have graduated a year early (which quite a few bright American HS students do) and finally – although it goes without saying – he may well play someone 24-25.
If he was in college for four years (as most students are) he’d be 22/23 when he graduated undergrad. In order to be a scientist I’m pretty certain you need to go to additional school to get your doctorate/masters. Then enter the workforce and kick around long enough to actually end up getting to work as a scientist.
All of this may seem like nitpicking but regardless of the numbers he LOOKS like a baby. It seems laughable that anyone would buy him as a SCIENTIST. Intern, sure.
Yeah, I think the problem is more that last year we were all looking at him as if he was about 16 on Glee, so it’s a bit of adjustment to suddenly have to see him as an adult.
Sorry, guys. If you get your Bachelors in Forensic Science, you can get a job as a Forensic Scientist when you graduate college. If you graduate in 4 years, you are not 21/22, not 22/23.
Well again, regardless of numbers he doesn’t pass for someone who could be a forensic scientist. He looks like a kid.
Actually, you don’t necessarily need a masters or a doctorate to be considered a forensic scientist. There are different levels of forensic scientists that necessitate different trainings. Flash could be at an entry or training position. Sure you can get a advanced degree there are higher chances of advancement, but I don’t think this casting is entirely unreasonable.
He went through high school and college in a…flash!
well done :)
The spinoff would be another origin story so either he’s just work in forensic while getting an advanced degree or he’s another TV super genius.
For perspective, Greg Sanders on CSI was 25 in season 1, and he wasn’t even a CSI. Nick, the youngest member of the CSI team and the junior member, was 33.
This actor is not going to play older than his own age, so Barry as a 23 year old CSI on a level other than one that a junior like Nick Stokes defies credibility.
And before ANYONE comes in with the tired “it’s based on a comic book, it doesn’t have to be credible” or/and “it’s a guy who runs at super speed, it doesn’t have to be credible” or any of that crap, save it and spare us.
These characters may be fantastic in some ways but they are grounded in others. Yes, as Flash he may be able to defy physics, but as Barry Allen there is no way he can be a 23 year old senior CSI, not unless he’s depicted as being a super genius who managed to skip several steps due to his talent.
I for one hope he is depicted as a 23 year old junior CSI. There really is no need for him to be any level higher than that. If this is “Flash Begins” or “Central City” for Flash like Smallville was for Superman, then making him a lab specialists starting out on the road to becoming a CSI, like Greg on that show, makes sense.
1 he is an actor and since most actors tend to have an age range of about 5 years either side of their real age so it wouldnt be that inconceivable.
2 we need to see him in costume first before deciding if he looks old enough for the part, no point comparing how he looked in glee to how he would look in this.
Don’t you just love the people who say this guy can’t play a forensic scientist because he doesn’t ‘look like one’, but probably have no issue with teenage characters with crazy inventing capacities (e.g. Spider-Man, depening on the incarnation). Also, I know 19-year olds who look 16 and others who look easily into their mid-twenties. Age is often not something you can mark on sight.
Wow I’m disappointed. Not really sure who I was thinking would fit this role, but he seems like a terrible choice. Doesn’t have the look, the swag, etc. He was very predictable and rather annoying in Glee.
To be fair predictable is more on the writers part, though annoying is on his. My main issue is he can’t act. Not that Amell is a fantastic actor(especially in the beginning. He was a charisma dark hole, but has definitely improved), but this guy stood out as a bad actor on Glee…acting opposite Darren Criss…That says a lot about ones (lack) of acting skills.
I agree. I hated him on glee. He is a punk.
First casting choice on Arrow I’ve questioned.
Still say they NEED John Wesley Shipp in the backdoor pilot, somehow!
Ditto on JWS.
Such a horrible actor! And a 23 year old(who looks about 19)as a forensic scientist. Gotta love the CW consistency.
I honestly thought they would go with Matt Barr becauae he fit the image of Barry Allen but I guess Grant must have something special that the producers liked more. Grant is a talented actor and singer. I hope he brings his A game, in order to bring the Flash to series.
Auuugh, Matt Barr would have been perfect!!! Seriously, CW, put him as the hunky male lead in a comic show. I’d be so into that.
I also think that Matt Barr would be good as the Flash. I think Grant Gustin does look too young and it would only be believable if he was playing an intern.
Exactly what I was thinking… why not Matt Barr?? He looks the part (especially the age) and he has played in at least two CW shows as far as I know, One Tree Hill (only a couple of episodes) and Hellcats (which was cancelled after the first season, but he was one of two male leads). So, the CW knows and likes him (his looks).. why not choose him for this?
Also, he was amazingly creepy as the psychopath in OTH!
Well, I guess I need to add Arrow to my DVR!
Dear god why?
This casting makes me wanna zzzzz. The dude has no charisma just another boring pretty boy actor on the CW. Oh joy.
Keeping an open mind to this, leaning towards excited though. I really like Grant, so I can’t wait to see him jump into it.
That’s a strange casting choice. I don’t really think of this guy as a lead actor. I liked him in what he did in other shows, but I’ve only seen him play the same evil weaselly guy in 90210 and Glee.
First casting fail by the Arrow crew. Not feeling this guy as Flash.
Amell is already boring, yeah lets add another boring white guy who cant act to the mix. Couldn’t they give us someone with actual charm to play along boring Green Arrow. That’s what you get with the CW casting, as long as you have 6 pack abs you’re good to go.
why mention that they are white guys? the characters are white anyway, that makes no sense.
Ugh. I usually try and stay positive when they cast actors that I don’t really have in mind but this guy? As a forensic scientist? and he looks a lot younger than his age. I don’t know CW… He better be really good.
I’ve never watched an episode of Glee in my life, so I don’t mind it too much for a few epusodes. However, if they do make a Flash series and this guy is the lead, I won’t be watching it. He just seems so typical amd bland.
Not impressed. Just doesn’t seem like Barry Allen to me.
Well, I love grant. Now Arrow isn’t losing a viewer.
He was deliciously bitchy while on Glee.
Should be cool.
Horrible actor. At least Colty Haynes will have some eye-candy for himself to enjoy with Grant.
I tought that role was for the guy from Orphan Black?
Nope — Dylan Bruce is playing Laurel’s colleague: https://tvline.com/2013/08/02/arrow-season-2-cast-dylan-bruce-adam-donner/
Meh. Matt Barr would have been a much better choice. This guy looks more like Kid Flash.
He good actor like him on Glee but can we get a woman superhero show
They’ve had Huntress already, with Speedy (Thea, I’m guessing) and Black Canary working their way into the business. With two of the series regulars playing characters based on female superheroes, what’s to complain about?
The characters are the opposite of strong, resilient, independent women. They’re written as such: a stereotypical crazy stalker ex that murders people, a rich spoiled brat, and an annoying plot device. All motivated by men. That’s what.
what about felicity? i think she is well written.
this is not good casting from my view, but that’s because i’m always going to see him as a douche like on Glee, if he’s good he can change that…but i’m not convinced he is
Hmm, probably not who I thought would be cast as I thought of Barry as being older.
Still, I will try to hold back my judgement until I have actually seen him on the show. Maybe he’ll be great, but for now I’ll stay skeptical.
I tried getting into this show but just wasn’t feeling the lead.. I mean, Oliver is supposed to be the jolly green, old-school lefty archer.. But this casting news has me excited. He was the most exciting thing I’ve seen on Glee.. Smooth Criminal is still one of my favs.