News
1990s Barry Allen John Wesley Shipp Talks About Grant Gustin & The Flash
John Wesley Shipp reflects on playing the Flash and looks forward to Grant Gustin’s take on the role.
Twenty-three years ago, CBS premiered a high-budget series based on The Flash that they had so much confidence in, they put it on Thursday nights opposite some of the toughest competition on television. At the time, it was one of the most expensive TV series ever.
Playing Barry Allen in that series was John Wesley Shipp, who many may remember from his many other roles which have included soaps, Dawson’s Creek, and even a short recent run on MTV’s Teen Wolf.
Shipp recently did a guest spot on the “Out Loud and Live!” podcast with J.C. Alvarez, where he looked back on his Flash experience but also looked to the future, as Grant Gustin who, after 22 years of no Flash on TV, finally takes up the red suit.
“The first thing I thought when I saw Grant, I thought he’s aerodynamic,” Shipp said about his reaction to the casting of TV’s new Barry Allen. “That’s the modern sensibility. Back in the 90’s, everything had to be big muscle, but let’s face it: We had to cut down the suit. If you’ll watch, we pared it down as it went on, because it just didn’t make sense. But I thought he’s very aerodynamic, the way he’s built. It’s a good look.”
The former Flash is also aware of the many connections he and Grant Gustin have. “There are striking similarities between Grant and I. People were complaining. ‘Why is this guy playing a superhero? He just got through playing a villain!’ Well, both my Emmys were as a psychotic would-be rapist and a woman abuser. We were both born in Norfolk, Virginia. How’s that for a coincidence?” Mr. Shipp enthused.
Shipp has encouraged his fans to watch the Barry Allen Arrow episodes if they want to see more of the character and an actual spin-off show. “I wish him all the best. In fact, I’ve said ‘come on. How long have we waited? You want a Flash series? You better get into Arrow and support Grant, because they can say they’re gonna spin off, but you need to give him and them support so the series actually materializes,” he said.
If a Flash series does go, would Mr. Shipp be willing to return to Central City sometime, in a different role?
“If it was the right fit. You know what? I’m not holding my breath. In fact, I so wanted my audience not to go in critically judging Grant so that I put a series of things saying that. ‘Let’s get behind him, let’s support him,’ and I stopped, because people began to say ‘well, you need to be on that show, and if you’re not on that show…’ and I said ‘Okay. Now it’s looking like I’m campaigning to be on that show, which I’m not’,” he said. “If that happens and it works, that’s great. And if it doesn’t, that’s great and I wish them well.”
You can listen to the entire [very fascinating] podcast appearance of John Wesley Shipp on “Out Loud and Live!” here.
News
Virtue: The CW Developing Cecile-Focused Flash Spinoff [APRIL FOOL 2024]
The CW is plotting a spinoff for a major character from The Flash.
DISCLAIMER: This was the FlashTVNews April Fool’s post of 2024. The “news” in this article is not true or factual.
The seal has been broken and Earth-Prime may not be dead after all.
Late tonight, Deadline Weekly revealed that Warner Bros. Television and writers associated with The Flash have landed a deal for Virtue, a series focused on the Cecile character from The Flash as played by Danielle Nicolet. Nicolet is expected to reprise her role in the series, which will take place several years after the events of the Flash finale.
Jesse L. Martin is not expected to be a part of the series as he has prior commitments to The Irrational on NBC. Intel from the studio reveals that some characters fans have been itching to see again — such as Chester, Allegra, Khione, Chillblaine, and Arrow’s Raisa the Maid — might show up in some capacity. In keeping with the current CW lineup, the new show will pair Cecile Horton with a cop to solve crimes — but, of course, that cop will sadly not be Joe.
The official logline for Virtue suggests that Cecile will be a single mother who balances her superpowers and law background with solving crimes and being a mom. She will also reconnect with her daughter Joanie from whom she has been estranged for several years, and it’s expected that the Joanie character may be recast. Many thought The CW was out of the superhero business, but the producers’ pitch showed that her mental-based powers could make the show easier and more affordable to produce on a TV budget. It is expected that some of Cecile’s “level up” powers from Season 9 of The Flash will be toned down, and it is said that another reason Virtue has an advantage is that it doesn’t conflict with James Gunn’s ideas for the upcoming DC Studios movie universe.
No specific writers have been named for Virtue so far, aside from the notion that they worked on The Flash. Additionally, the Deadline Weekly article confirms that neither Grant Gustin nor Candice Patton are expected to show up on the series.
We will keep people updated on Virtue here at FlashTVNews under a special “Virtue TV News” icon; though if you’d like to visit our dedicated Twitter feed for the project, you can find it here.
News
Flash References In New Grant Gustin Commercial
The Flash actor Grant Gustin has appeared in a new commercial for MNTN with former Green Lantern Ryan Reynolds.
Movies
No, That Was Not Teddy Sears In The Flash Movie
Flash TV series actor Teddy Sears confirms that was not him playing Jay Garrick in The Flash movie.
Virtue: The CW Developing Cecile-Focused Flash Spinoff [APRIL FOOL 2024]
Flash References In New Grant Gustin Commercial
No, That Was Not Teddy Sears In The Flash Movie
The Flash Season 9 & Complete Series Blu-rays Announced
Who Are Those New Characters At The End Of The Flash Finale?
Flash References In New Grant Gustin Commercial
Flash #9.9 Description & Trailer: “It’s My Party And I’ll Die If I Want To”
Flash Season 9 Extended Trailer Released
Flash Final Season Trailer: Let’s Do This One Last Time
Austin
December 28, 2013 at 6:17 pm
He has to play Jay Garrick. They need to do an adaptation of “Flash of Two Worlds,” and Shipp has to play Jay Garrick. It would make sense, especially since the writers have already established that the new TV Barry is something of a superhero fanboy, just like the earliest Barry Allen Flash comics. It would be perfect.
Miguel
December 30, 2013 at 12:38 pm
Completely agree! He would kill in the role of Jay Garrick. Or, at least, they should consider him to be Barry’s dad, Henry Allen, who’ll probably be behind bars.
MikellerAllen
January 1, 2014 at 9:04 am
I totally agree with you Miguel…Shipp can fit perfectly as Barry’s Dad (A recurring role) where by he’ll be seen in afew episodes (Maybe 5) heard if CW green-lit the series for a 2014/2015 schedule it’ll end up having 13 episodes unless they later change it.
Arby
December 31, 2013 at 5:11 am
Well, I remember the original Flash series. I just loved it. And, as with other shows we grew up with and then revisited (which I did when I downloaded and re-watched a number of eps), it was like, “O my goodness that’s cheesy!” But I loved the show and that’s what it’s all about. You work with what you have. Maybe what we got then was the best they could do.
What you have that makes it work, mainly, is your imagination. It was just so cool. But it is funny watching the old Flash zip around in a blur, when he’s sometimes not going much faster than you can if you can sprint, lol.
As for the new Flash, We’ll see.
Freefinger
December 31, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Let’s not push the envelope.. The guy says he doesn’t NEED to be on the show. He says he’ll consider it if they ask, and at some point I think they will as they did with the Smallville series where many ex-Superman people were brought in at some point.
I don’t see him as a regular, maybe a guest appearance would be the choice for him.
Will
January 3, 2014 at 5:58 pm
I also agree with Miguel.
He would make a great Henry Allen!
Nivek
January 22, 2014 at 12:07 am
I would prefer to see him play Jay, it would be awesome seeing the 90’s Flash mentor the new guy.