The Flash Would Remain on Arrow If His Series Doesn't Go Forward

Grant Gustin will remain part of The CW Network's DC television universe, one way or another. In a new interview at Digital Spy, Arrow executive producer Greg Berlanti answered one of the handful of questions that have been surrounding the fall's planned pilot for The Flash: What if, like a handful of recent comic book adaptations that went to pilot, it doesn't get picked up to series? Locke & Key, Wonder Woman and The Sixth Gun have all had pilots made in the last few years, after all, and not a one of them ever made it to your TV. "Fingers crossed we don't screw it up and he gets his own show!" Berlanti joked with the interviewer, adding, "If he didn't, I don't think we would ever want to let Grant go. He's too valuable. That would be our hope, I think - no matter what, to keep Barry part of the universe." Gustin's iteration of Barry Allen has already appeared in two episodes of Arrow and been referenced in another, with Felicity Smoak seemingly abandoning (at least for now) her crush on Oliver Queen to make time with the soon-to-be speedster, and then visiting him in the hospital after the lightning strike that has left the character comatose. His introduction on Arrow was a curious situation, though, in that it was made clear before he ever showed up that the intent was to get The Flash his own series out of it. The first plan was for the twentieth episode of Arrow's second season to be a backdoor pilot for The Flash, but when Gustin's guest spots did some of the best ratings of the year for Arrow, The CW decided to go ahead and just greenlight a stand-alone pilot for the character. Principal photography is expected to begin in March in Vancouver, and Gustin will star alongside Jesse L. Martin, Candice Patton, Rick Gosnett and Danielle Panabaker.