A Live Action History of the Flash
The Scarlet Speedster Runs Out of Comic Books & Onto Television
Dec 15, 2008
Originally created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert in 1940, the Flash has been part of the DC Comics universe right up to the present day. Four main versions of the character have existed at one time or another. Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West and Bart Allen have all borne the mantle of the Flash. Ironically, the original incarnation of Jay Garrick is the only one that has not made it to television in any form.
Legends of the Super Heroes
The first live action appearance of the Flash came on 1979's Legends of the Super Heroes. The two episode campy special included the Scarlet Speedster along with many of his Justice League comrades. Rod Haase donned the trademark red unitard for both episodes.
The Live Action Series
John Wesley Shipp played Barry Allen in a single season of The Flash. The series combined traits of both Barry Allen and Wally West in the main character. The live action Flash was slower than his comic book counterpart, much as Wally West was in the comics at the time, had West's ravenous appetite after expending energy at super speed, but Barry Allen was still a police scientist and early on he lost his love, Iris.
The Flash wore the iconic red unitard, although this version had the suit offer the Speedster protection from the friction created by his speed, which was how the sculpted musculature of the suit was explained.
Justice League Aborted
In 1997, a pilot for a Justice League live action series was filmed. The sculpted muscle suit look reappeared, this time on actor Kenny Johnston. Johnston portrayed Wally West's irresponsibility and ravenous appetite, but the character still retained the Barry Allen name. It was clear that this version of the character would never become a police scientist.
Smallville
Bart Allen, nephew of Barry, is the Flash who shows up during season four of WB's Smallville. As a nod to the comics, the young man carries multiple identifications in the names of Jay Garrick, Barry Allen and Wally West. In the sixth season episode, Justice, Bart Allen returns. Due to legal entanglements, Bart goes by the handle "Impulse" rather than the Flash, but the character is essentially the same as he was in the season four appearance.
Flashing onto the Big Screen
The Flash was slated to appear in the recently shelved Justice League film. Now that Warner Brothers has officially announce that they will pursue four films with individual DC Comics heroes before revisiting the Justice League project, rumours have resurfaced that the Flash might once again be in the running.
Nothing firm has been announced, but Ryan Reynolds has made it clear that he would be happy to play the character if the Wally West version is the one to be filmed. David Goyer, Shawn Levy and David Dobkin have all been attached to direct the project at one time or another, but currently there is no official word on a release date, script writer, cast or director.
Next: Animated Appearances
 |
