I'm surprised someone hasn't posted about it yet, but apparently the Flash is being developed as a TV show for the CW, by the folks who've made Arrow.
I've got to say, I'm not a fan of this. I can't imagine DC having a Flash show and movie going at the same time, so the movie is probably dead in the water, which is a shame, plus, the CW? The Flash isn't Green Arrow; he's arguably DC's fourth most famous superhero, and a low-budget CW show is the best they're going to do. Blugh. :thumbdown:
Yeah, I feel more or less the same way. I don't need another watered down, hyper-edgy version of a character I like running around in a non-costume.
I'm pro this move. 9 times out of 10 I'd rather have a TV show than a movie, and Arrow was a great addition to my TV watching. If the creators can pull off something similar with the Flash the I'll be very happy.
The show will actually be a spin-off with Barry Allen appearing as a recurring character late in this season of Arrow.
I'm kinda of ok with this. Super speed is the only superhero effect that seems to work well on TV.
However, bringing super powers into Arrow would be a massive fail.
A flash show in and of itself would be great, but, as Starman said, it wouldn't fit in very well with Arrow. Maybe they'll surprise me, but I don't expect the Flash to be a very good fir for the darker, more realistic Arrow world.
Quote from: Starman on July 31, 2013, 04:44:01 AM
However, bringing super powers into Arrow would be a massive fail.
This. It would make as much sense as Nolan-verse Batman being in a movie with Snyder's Superman...
This could be great. The Flash is a way better hero than his costume, and super speed doesn't require a big budget.
That said, maybe the show just sucks and I'll be sad.
I need to start watching Arrow.
If they do cheesy trick camera super speed, sure, it won't take much in the way of SFX.
If they really dig into the Flash's bag of super speed tricks, though, the SFX and camera work are going to get expensive. Running up walls and across water, human tornado, phasing through solids, and plenty more.
To make it believable, they are going to have to have acceleration and deceleration effects as well as "freezing" objects in slow motion around him. On a TV budget, that means reusing footage wherever possible. Don't be surprised to see him racing down the same streets episode after episode.
There's only one way to do Flash right, and that means getting real creative with super speed as well as a hero who uses his brains to solve the things that super speed alone can't fix. I hope they do it right.
I remember the old skool flash TV series was the...stuff! I saw the trailer at a comic-con in LA and I enjoyed the series when it finally aired. In fact I bought the boxed DVD set and I don't mind all the old effects.
Smallville did a great job of superspeed so I'm sure CW can pull off a new flash show effects wise. Like others I'm worried about the story.
Just like with Arrow, I'll give it a few episodes before I make up my mind. But realistically, CW doesn't have a strong track record for me. Their only other show that I got into was "Nikita", and that only lasted a season before I got bored with it.
The Flash Will Feature His Red Suit in New Series (http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/178533-the-flash-will-feature-his-red-suit-in-new-series)
QuoteThe pair revealed that in addition to appearing in the 8th and 9th episodes of "Arrow," episode 20 in the new season will function as a "backdoor pilot" for the series and will focus primarily on Barry Allen.
The biggest surprise with this announcement has been that "Arrow" appears to be straying from their "No super powers" model that they adhered to for the first season. Kreisberg added, "There will be extraordinary events in the world and the characters will react in the same way."
I'd take an awesome Flash TV show over a good movie, but the odds of this CW show being awesome are somewhere in the neighbourhood of me instead becoming the Flash, and them filming a reality show about my life in its place. So not impossible, but....
Urg, the whole 'superpowers don't fit our world' nonsense that Nolan had about his Batman and that CW has about their Arrow really rubs me the wrong way. When you've got someone defeating gun-wielding bad guys dressed as a bat or using a medieval weapon, you're already in comic book territory. Embrace it. That doesn't mean everyone needs to wear tights and fly around, but it does mean that you're not going to break your suspension of disbelief unless you're really bad at what you do...so, maybe it is legitimate after all.
Smallville went the no flying route..which became stupid after seeing that Clark could run faster than he might ever be able to fly. Anyway, I agree with BG. There is no reason that the Arrow world can't accept people with super powers. They've already gone into witchcraft and wizardry anyway aka their version of medicine man science.
I've never bought into the idea that the Nolan Batman films couldn't handle superpowers. It's all in how you write them into the story.
The danger with superpowers in a series like the Nolan Batman or Arrow is that it can break the tone and eat away at the logic of an unpowered hero fighting crime. But it's all in how you do it, and the Arrow creators have done pretty good so far so I'm looking forward to the addition of super powers. Done well you can add some exciting elements and challenges to the show.
Barry Allen could actually be a good fit for an Arrow like show. In the comics he's a CSI which will play perfectly into the gritty realistic type setting that Arrow has. And super speed is one super power they should be able to handle decently on a TV budget.
Personally, I'm just hoping to eventually see Black Canary, after all, what's Green Arrow without his better half? That dynamic was one of the things that made JLU so enjoyable for me.
Quote from: Cyber Burn on August 01, 2013, 03:52:48 AM
Personally, I'm just hoping to eventually see Black Canary, after all, what's Green Arrow without his better half? That dynamic was one of the things that made JLU so enjoyable for me.
I don't think you'll be waiting long...
They've already cast "Black Canary" for season 2 ... without getting into spoilers, the storyline behind it seems very convoluted. I wish the actress playing Black Canary had been cast as Laurel - she was great on Death Valley and is a real-life martial artist, whereas Katie Cassidy isn't even an actress IMO.
As mentioned, I don't really want to see The Flash use his superpowers in Arrow any more than I'd want to see, I dunno, Felix Faust turn up and start using magic. The creators of the show said from the very beginning that it was drawing on Mike Grell's run on "Green Arrow", which existed in its own continuity outside of the traditional DC superhero tableaux (sort of Vertigo / Marvel MAX).
If they did go the superpowers route, they may has well have Ollie in the feathered hat and goatee and smiling all the time. It would be a different show.
A show I'd actually watch, too...
Good heavens, couldn't they have found anyone skinnier? She's practically a cow! :rolleyes:
When I think of Black Canary, I don't really think of anorexic model types.
Quote from: BentonGrey on August 03, 2013, 04:38:30 AM
A show I'd actually watch, too...
Good heavens, couldn't they have found anyone skinnier? She's practically a cow! :rolleyes:
When I think of Black Canary, I don't really think of anorexic model types.
At the risk of showing my MSP side too...I agree. I was thinking there is no way she could be Black Canary :D
Truth be told... I'm ok with the powers route, so long as it is handled properly. It's one of the things I feel really limited the Nolan films (and why I was just as happy to see it end with Rises)... this notion of the world having to be so realistic that no super powers could ever exist in it. I can respect the creators for choosing to expand the universe they've created for the show, rather than stupidly limiting it just for the sake of a more "realistic" take on a guy running around wearing a green costume and shooting arrows while another arrow guy blows up half a city using bombs because some punk killed his wife.
If the series suddenly gets bad because they've added superpowers to a couple cameo heroes or villains, it'll be because the writers weren't able to handle their inclusion properly, not because superpowers=unrealistic. It's a superhero show for goodness sake.
Quote from: BentonGrey on August 03, 2013, 04:38:30 AM
A show I'd actually watch, too...
Good heavens, couldn't they have found anyone skinnier? She's practically a cow! :rolleyes:
When I think of Black Canary, I don't really think of anorexic model types.
come on BG i know you have some kind of kick that if its not classic comic then its automatically crap and you were being sarcastic with the whole cow comment but you're coming across as shallow and closed minded as the guys who insist all comic media needs to be dark and edgy and nolanisc
try actually watching her portrayal of dinah its pretty decent she has the characters core values and has been able to handle her self when it has shown the oppertunity in the story
as for her look come on seriously yeah she may not be the ultimate athlete but i would hardly say she's anorexic
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/8263/katiecassidy.jpg)
same actress taken before she even got the role, now tell she doesn't have the look of canary
look i was one of the ones ready to jump on arrow from a great height with both feet, its a decent show its well written has introduced the character very smartly and used them to a level to create a great deal of intrigue and mystery
just because its not all spandex and " by joe olly that was something wasnt it." doesnt mean it should be dismissed without a second thought.
edit: please note this was posted before i seen the casting of Caity Lotz as the new sister and rumored BC sorry but not buying it they have already shown Laural (dinah) as the entire backstory and a skilled fighter along with the show having a history of showing characters and then changing who's behind the mask eg dark archer and deathstroke so yeah, but my point still stands on the dismissers of the show
Anorexic may be an exaggeration, but only slightly. The fact is what we are used to as the "normal" size for tv is actually abnormally skinny, which is a problem really better discussed in detail elsewhere. The point is, this lady could not in any way be a serious athlete. Unfortuately, the real athletes were mocked last Olympics for being "too fat" when seen on TV (the "fat" as actually muscle, in case you are wondering) which just shows you how bad the problem is. The fact is, if you've watched TV or seen other media at all, you're perspective on this matter is badly skewed.
Umm... no. I'd buy that it's tv exaggerating how many women have abnormally skinny physiques, but TUE's right... this is a woman who IS trained in karate, and IS something of an athlete... a skinny, tv actress sized athlete, but an athlete nonetheless. I'd say you're both going the other way, judging this woman because she has a smaller physique.
I'm not saying that the objectification of women in tv regarding their size is fair, and I'm not saying that she isn't a bit skinnier than what Black Canary would be in real life. What I'm saying is, get off your soapbox and judge THIS WOMAN as a person and as an actress. Judge her by who she is and what she's done, rather than by the stupidity of hollywood.
Thank you Cat, I think you captured part of what I was getting at. Well said!
TUE, I'm not quite so closed minded as all of that. I don't mind adaptations that stay faithful to the soul of the characters, and I can enjoy shows and movies on their own merit. That isn't really why I don't enjoy Arrow. It's true that when I watch that show, and I have watched several episodes based on y'all's recommendations, I don't see any real trace of the character that I like. I certainly don't need spandex, and I don't need "by Jove Ollie, that was something," but I also don't much see the point in watching a show about a character that seems to have so little in common with its source material. Now, to be fair, it may have something to do with other versions of Green Arrow, but none that I've read and enjoyed. Nonetheless, that isn't why I stopped watching.
My biggest problem with the show isn't that disconnect between its execution and the source material, it's the CW flavor of the whole thing. I found myself watching it and increasingly asking, "really?" It's just all so intentionally "edgy" and "dark." It's trying so hard to be hip that it hurts. The acting is overwrought and painful, the story lines remind me of the worst elements of Young Justice, where it's all DRAMA and ANGST with nothing really fun in it. So, what kills me about it isn't that I don't recognize the main character, it's that I recognize ALL of the characters ALL of the time. They're all like everything else on TV, or so it seems to me.
It's in that context that I was making a joke about this actress playing Black Canary. She looks just like every other actress on the CW. She looks just like every other actress on TV, for that matter. I'm exaggerating, of course, but as Cat pointed out, not that much. This is a real problem, and our media is perpetuating it. Is this girl anorexic? Well, I don't know, and I don't mean to insult her as a person. Most women aren't healthy being stick-skinny. Maybe she's just naturally really thin. If so, well good for her, she'll go far in Hollywood.
'Mato, sorry, that doesn't really fly. I don't know this woman. I'm not familiar with her work as an actress. There isn't really any way for me to judge her on her own merits in terms of her craft, and it isn't my business to judge her as a person. I'm sure she's accomplished, but I'm not really talking about her. I'm talking about a frustrating trend, and I'm talking about a particular character. My point was that she looks like she'll fit right in on the CW, and that she looks too skinny for the character she's rumored to be playing. I'm not talking about her ABILITY to play the character, I'm talking just about whether or not she LOOKS the part.
And no, TUE, I've got to say that the image you posted doesn't really look very Black Canary-ish to me. Yeah, she's got leather on, but even my wife, without any context of our conversation, said "ohh, that's not Black Canary. She's too waif-like." When you're dealing with characters who are strongly defined by their appearance, then the aesthetic fit of the actors playing them is important.
First picture of The Flash!
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/28/the-cw-unveils-the-first-image-from-the-flash
Spoiler
Color me surprised. looks better then i thought it would, still need to see the entire thing. But it looks good so far.
The Flash looks pretty good. At least the head we saw. I have problem with powers in the Arrowverse. In fact, I think I would be pretty cool if at some point thebattles of Smallville and Metropolis made the news on the show.
I actually like Arrow. My biggest problem is how unneeded the trauma he gives his family often is. He's really a dirtbag to them.
They didn't need to do a costume but I like it. I'm always glad when they make the switch from spandex or cloth to a leather or kevlar look. I hope this show takes off in a big way.
Not that I want to bring it up again but Laurel absolutely has anorexia (now, not then) and I'm really worried about her, she has lost like 20 lbs since Arrow started and it doesn't look healthy :(
It looks pretty good, but it should be brighter.
Looks good so far. I hope this show is a good as Arrow.
I'd rather it was a bit better. ;) I do hope that they'll go a different direction and clean some of the WB off of it...which, I know is a lot to ask of a spin-off, but I really like the Flash.
Quote from: BWPS on February 28, 2014, 11:24:47 PM
They didn't need to do a costume but I like it. I'm always glad when they make the switch from spandex or cloth to a leather or kevlar look. I hope this show takes off in a big way.
Not that I want to bring it up again but Laurel absolutely has anorexia (now, not then) and I'm really worried about her, she has lost like 20 lbs since Arrow started and it doesn't look healthy :(
Makes me wonder if her weight loss is actually tied into the current substance abuse issues of the character, or if it's coincidental......or if it's the actress trying to compete with Felicity for becoming a fan favorite again.
She's really become somewhat of a background character, when even Sin is getting more screen time than her, you know something's have changed
I'm still trying to get used to Barry Allen's look, but high hopes all around.
Maybe because I was used to, you know, the comics, but I thought Barry'd have a stronger jawline, or what you call it. Arrow's Roy Harper has a tougher-looking jaw, and that little chinstrap thing on the new costume reminds me of that observation.
Still, he did a decent job on the show, and I'd like to see how they expand the Arrowverse!
I think I've said this before, but for me, Wally West is the Flash. Mind you, I have nothing against Barry, but growing up, Wally was the Flash.
Spoiler
That being said, after re-watching the episodes with Barry, I think that WB is maybe over-doing the clumsiness/tardiness of the character (For example, his first appearance, his train was late, but it was the second train, because he missed the first). But I would like to see how he portrays the Flash before jumping to opinions, after all, it's better to have all of the information before making my opinion.
The Mask looks alright, but I'd really like to see the rest of the costume before I make an actual opinion on it.
I'm glad to see John Wesley Shipp returning to the Flashverse, I think that's pretty cool for those of us who watched the original Flash series. As I stated elsewhere, I would love to see him portray Max Mercury, but I'm assuming he'll more than likely end up playing Jay Garrick.
As for the whole "Black Canary" debate, I wasn't going to join in, but I would have preferred that the character of Laurel end up as the Canary, but realistically, her presentation really doesn't live up to the part. She comes across as being weak, needy, whiney, and completely non-athletic. Now this is nothing against Katie Cassidy as a actress/person/individual, but she just doesn't come across as being physically/mentally strong enough to be the Canary. Now, I don't totally agree with how the Canary is being portrayed in the show, but I'd rather it be done this way than to see Cassidy in the role.
The rest of the costume (http://comicsalliance.com/the-flashs-tv-costume-looks-built-for-mobility/)
Costume looks pretty good to me. I hope the show lives up to it.
So cool, the dark red looks awesome, I want to wear one just like it. Jk I'm fat.
Need to see a better body shot but it's looking pretty good so far.
Quote from: Podmark on March 11, 2014, 10:49:36 PM
Need to see a better body shot but it's looking pretty good so far.
Agreed. The pic doesn't look bad, but I would like a full, standing pic. Maybe a side view as well.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BifM-UWCcAE5gxU.jpg:large)
Set video:
http://instagram.com/p/la_8TehEZu#
Urg, the full costume looks a good deal worse.
Yeah... :(
Quote from: BentonGrey on March 12, 2014, 02:38:36 AM
Urg, the full costume looks a good deal worse.
Yeah, liking the costume quite a bit less now, and he really doesn't fill it out well at all.
What's up with the chest emblem? Ain't it supposed to be a yellow bolt over a white circle?
Also, the costume reminds me of New 52 Johnny Quick, for some reason. Maybe it's the scales/netting thing.
Huh, don't know what to think of it. Hate the symbol. Have to admit its closer to the comics than I thought it would be.
It could work, but like I said, symbol I don't like and the belt looks weird. It's OK all in all.
The OG flash series costume was better. I don't know what to think of this one. Perhaps, it looks better when he's in motion.
It looks like the kind of looser costume they'd use for stunt and movement work.
Hmm...I don't know. I don't hate just yet, but it's kinda bland and tacky. Still need to see it under proper lighting and effects.