You know that upcoming Episode 20 of this season's Arrow featuring The Flash many of us we're looking forward to watching? Looks like there's been a slight change of plans...possibly for the better.
Deadline announced today that the CW has decided to decided to do a proper standalone pilot for The Flash instead of using Episode 20 as a backdoor pilot for the proposed spinoff series. According to the article, the CW suits made the call after seeing Episodes 8 and 9, titled "The Scientist" and "Three Ghosts" and were written by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. Here's the official synopsis for "The Scientist":
BARRY ALLEN COMES TO STARLING CITY — A seemingly impossible robbery at Queen Consolidated’s Applied Sciences Division brings Central City police scientist Barry Allen (guest star Grant Gustin) to town. Citing a similar case back home, Barry offers to help Oliver (Stephen Amell) and team with the investigation. Oliver senses there is more to Barry than meets the eye, but he’s distracted by the similarities between this current case and something that happened on the island. Meanwhile, Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) takes a liking to Barry, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Oliver. Sin (guest star Bex Taylor-Klaus) asks Roy (Colton Haynes) for help when a friend of hers goes missing. Roy is surprised when Thea (Willa Holland) not only encourages him to help, but joins the search. Unfortunately, Sin’s friend is connected to Brother Blood (guest star Kevin Alejandro), and their search ultimately gets one of them seriously injured. Michael Schultz directed the episode with story by Greg Berlanti & Andrew Kresiberg and teleplay by Andrew Kreisberg & Geoff Johns (#208).
The two episodes, which introduce Grant Gustin as Barry Allen and serve as an origin story, were apparently "very well-received." Episode 20 was going to have Barry debut as The Flash, in a red costume, but he will now debut in the Flash pilot. The planned creative team will remain the same -- Berlanti, Kreisberg and Johns writing the pilot with Arrow pilot director David Nutter directing. Berlanti, Kreisberg and Nutter will executive produce the pilot, with Melissa Kellner Berman co-executive producing. And while not a full spinoff from Arrow, The Flash will remain in a shared TV DC Universe, meaning potential crossover episodes.
As for what's going to feature in the replacement Episode 20, that hasn't been decided yet but the show's producers are expected to discuss ideas with the CW this week.
"The Scientist" and "Three Ghosts" are currently scheduled to air on The CW on Wednesday, December 4th and 11th, respectively, at 8 p.m. EST.
** UPDATED **
It looks like TVLine has pictures of the first look at Grant Gustin as Barry Allen from "The Scientist," which you can view HERE. Let the "Kid Flash" jokes commence...