Grant Gustin Cast as The Flash in ‘Arrow’

Flash Full Suit
Grant Gustin stars as the Fastest Man Alive, Barry Allen/The Flash, in ‘The Flash’ (Photo © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc)

The CW hasn’t kept the fact they’re adding Barry Allen/The Flash as a character on Arrow this upcoming season a secret, announcing it this summer and even suggesting they’re interested in spinning off the character into his own series. Now word comes that Grant Gustin, best known for playing ‘Sebastian Smythe’ on Glee, has nabbed the role of The Flash.

The Flash will enter Arrow during episode eight and then will appear again in episodes nine and 20. That 20th episode will serve as a “backdoor pilot” for the possible Flash spin-off.

Filming’s expected to take place on Gustin’s first episode later this month.

Details on Barry Allen: “Barry Allen 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 fanboy, 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.”

Commenting on being cast as The Flash, Gustin told The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m unbelievably excited. I’ve been a lifelong fan of DC Comics, so I can’t be more honored and can’t wait to get started.”

Arrow premieres season two on October 9, 2013 at 8pm ET/PT.

(Updated with a photo of Grant Gustin as Barry Allen / The Flash.)