SUPERHERO SYNDROME: THE FLASH

"My name is Wally West.  I'm the fastest man alive."
Let's face it, Marvel Comics have cornered the market on making great comic book movies, far surpassing main rival DC Comics.  However, DC Comics has never quit and continues upping the ante in an attempt to make it's way to the top.  

With the announcement of the Man of Steel sequel, Batman vs Superman, came the news that we would see some more superheroes to lead us into a future (but way too quick and forced) Justice League movie!  

The news of seeing the likes of Wonder Woman, Aquaman and the Flash (even though they may just be cameos), got my mind's gears moving and made me remember the numerous times the Flash has been on screen.  

 In 1979, DC Comics tried bringing a bunch of its heroes to life in the two hour variety show special: Legends of the Superheroes.  Donning the red jumpsuit was Rod Haase who made history by being the first to portray the Flash live!

While the show itself may have been very cheesy and did not make any significant impact, it did manage to bring Adam West's Batman back along with a slew of DC Comics heroes not seen onscreen before and (possibly) will never be able to see onscreen again.  It was, in fact, intended to be humorous.  Characters featured on the show consisted of: the Flash, Batman, the Riddler, Captain Marvel, Solomon Grundy, Green Lantern, Hawkman, the Huntress, the Atom, Black Canary and many more!

Eleven years after Legends of the Superheroes aired, television executives saw fit to bring the Crimson Comet back to the small screen with a short lived (but still memorable) television series starring John Wesley Shipp.  To this day, many acknowledge Shipp as the best incarnation of the Flash seen live.  

With the red jumpsuit now layered with pads to make the Flash look like a bodybuilder and decent special effects, this series not only showed what the Flash could do onscreen, but gave everyone a good look at what a cool superhero actually looks like!



Seven years after the Flash went off the air, CBS attempted to bring him and some buddies back with a Justice League of America show.  The show never took off after the pilot failed miserably.  Yes, when the Justice League movie happens, it will be the SECOND time bringing them too life!  

Kenny Johnston starred as the Scarlet Speedster in this pilot which looked more like it was made 20 years earlier rather than seven years after the show with John Wesley Shipp!

In, arguably, one of DC Comic's best television series based on Superman and some of his buddies, Smallville gave us a glimpse at what many of our beloved superheroes would have looked or been like in their teens; before they became actual heroes.  One such character was "Impulse", aka Bart Allen (played by Kyle Gallner) who was the Flash in his teen years in a group called "The Justice Society" along with Clark Kent and others.  

In yet another DC Comics television series, Arrow, the Flash was brought back to the screen in the form of Barry Allen (played by Grant Gustin of Glee).  While I, personally, do not watch Arrow, I have heard good things about it and good things about Gustin's portrayal of Allen.  Although he only portrays Barry Allen in Arrow, production is just about underway for his very own Arrow spin off set to air in 2016: The Flash!

Grant Gustin's first photo wearing the Flash suit!

Batman vs Superman looks to be DC's "do or die" attempt at catching up to Marvel in superhero littered mash up movies.  Knowing they do not have the time to make five or six individual movies to build up to the inevitable crossover epic "Justice League of America", the big wigs have decided to toss a bunch of super friends into the Man of Steel sequel and hope to muster up enough of a story to bring the JLA together for the next movie.  While we know Ben Affleck will be Batman (who DOESN'T know that by now?) and Gal Gadot will be Wonder Woman, there are still talks about who will portray the Crimson Comet.  

It's safe to assume that, unless by some extreme situation, whomever assumes the role of the Flash in Batman vs Superman will also portray him in the 2017 Justice League movie.  Some interesting names have been dropped to potentially fill out the red jumpsuit.....who do you think could keep up?

Bradley Cooper

From The A-Team to Limitless, Cooper has shown he can handle action.  He has also shown some acting range in other movies like Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.  He may be able to pull this off, but I also feel he needs to brush up on his acting a little more to be truly convincing.

Charlie Hunnam

Who can deny the toughness Hunnam could bring to the Flash's character?  I think he'd fit well as an action hero, as he did in Pacific Rim, but I haven't seen him show range past the 'tough guy' role.  After seeing him in Green Street Hooligans and Sons of Anarchy, I feel he'll need at least a small comedic edge to him as the Flash is usually as much for fun as he is business.

Chris Pine

The Star Trek hero is a great candidate.  He has everything it takes to bring out the best in the Scarlet Speedster.  While he'd certainly make a fine Flash, I feel as though he's very one dimensional in the way he plays the action hero.  His portrayal of Captain Kirk in Star Trek and the titular character of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit were both very similar in my eyes.  But then I see him in a movie like Unstoppable, and I believe he can pull off the acting side needed to round out the role of the Flash.

Ryan Gosling

Gosling could be the perfect fit as the Flash.  He's shown he could be a dark character in Drive as well as a comedic relief in Remember the Titans without being too cheesy.  He's got the look, the jawline and the physicality to play a believable Flash.  I'm rooting for Gossling!


Any thoughts on who may be a better fit?  Let me know!


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Jay