The Flash To Introduce Professor Stein: What About Jason Rusch?

When Robbie Amell comes to The Flash later this year to play Ronnie Raymond, one half of the Firestorm Matrix, who will be the other half?

If a story at TV Guide is to be believed, it will be Professor Martin Stein, meaning that, at least for the time being, Jason Rusch -- who is Raymond's other half in the comics at present -- will be out of luck.

During a story about Captain Cold's first appearance on the show in its upcoming fourth episode, TV Guide reported:

But Snart won't be the only familiar face popping up in Central City. As previously announced, The Tomorrow People alum Robbie Amell has been cast as one half of Firestorm, and Berlanti announced that the other half, Martin Stein, will later be introduced. Also, the producers are aiming high up on the DC roster. "Between [Arrow and Flash], we'll have half the Justice League on our two shows this year," Berlanti says.

Obviously, Professor Stein exists even in the New 52, so it doesn't rule out the possibility of Jason being included in the series or even the Firestorm Matrix. Still, the way it was phrased (which is admittedly TV Guide's and not directly quoted, at least as far as can be told from this excerpt) certainly seems to suggest that it will be Firestorm Classic (Raymond and Stein) who form the basis for the new character.

It's tempting to wonder whether the comics might be changed to accommodate such a development on the TV show, possibly giving Rusch his own character. In The New 52: Futures End, the "five years later" future in which most of the series takes place sees Rusch and Raymond at odds, Firestorm having been semi-retired for some time as a result of Raymond's sloth and ultimately being partially responsible for the death of Green Arrow (that's some serious family drama for Robbie and Stephen Amell!).