Billy Crudup Cast as Barry Allen’s Dad in The Flash Movie

Billy Crudup has been cast as Henry Allen, father of Barry Allen (played by Ezra Miller) in The Flash movie, Variety reports. The actor has a history with Warner Bros, Zack Snyder, and DC Comics, of course, as the blue-skinned and pantsless Doctor Manhattan in Watchmen. In that movie, he was the one doing the flashing.

Warner Bros. frequently dips into their own past for new films; once they’ve worked with – and like – and actor, they tend to show their loyalty, so Crudup getting another shot in a superhero world isn’t too surprising. The casting for The Flash should be speeding up right about now, as the film is expected to go into active production directly after Justice League, also starring Miller as The Flash, finishes principal photography.

Rick Famuyiwa is directing the film, with Kiersey Clemons also signed to star as Iris West in the film. Seth Grahame-Smith wrote the script off a Chris Miller and Phil Lord treatment.

Crudup has spent plenty of time in the genre world, including a role in 2017’s Alien: Covenant.

The Flash is set for a March 16, 2018 release, the first solo film after Justice League unites the heroes of the DC universe. Aquaman will follow, with Shazam also jumping in before the second Justice League chapter.

In the CW version of The Flash, Henry Allen has been either a recurring or ongoing guest character, falsely accused of killing his wife; it’s a major plot point that has led into season three of the show.

In the pages of DC Comics, interestingly enough, Dr. Manhattan was recently revealed as a major background villain, pulling the strings of the DC Universe. One of his biggest coups? Removing one of The Flashes from the timeline entirely, a plot that is currently playing out (originated at the hands of DC Films co-head Geoff Johns, no less).