The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that actor Robbie Amell has been cast as Ronnie Raymond, better known to DC Comics fans as one-half of the superhero Firestorm, in a recurring role for the CW series The Flash.
Ronnie Raymond will make his debut in the series' third episode, as Caitlin Snow's fiance, and accoring to the article, Ronnie will be a maintenance worker at S.T.A.R. Labs and "plays an integral part in the particle accelerator accident that transforms Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) into The Flash." In the comics, Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) eventually becomes the supervillain Killer Frost, who originally was one of Firestorm's arch-enemies.
Said Amell, "I'm so excited to join forces with Greg Berlanti and The CW again on The Flash. Being brought into the DC Universe is a dream, I can't wait to get started!""[Executive producers] Geoff Johns, Andrew Kreisberg and myself designed the pilot and series to include Ronnie (aka Firestorm)," added executive producer Greg Berlanti, "and to actually have someone with Robbie's talent playing the role is beyond exciting. We can't wait for viewers and fans of the character to check it out."
Amell is best known as Stephen Jameson on the CW's short-lived revival of The Tomorrow People that failed to be picked up for a second season. He's also appeared on several television shows, including Revenge, Alcatraz, Pretty Little Liars and the current Hawaii Five-O. In addition, Amell is also the cousin of Arrow star Stephen Amell, who appears in The Flash's pilot episode as The Arrow.
Created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom, Firestorm first appeared in 1978's Firestorm, the Nuclear Man (vol.1) #1. In his original incarnation, Firestorm was created during a nuclear accident that allowed high-school student Ronnie Raymond to fuse with physicist Martin Stein into a nuclear-powered superhero that soon became a member of the Justice League of America. The character went through a number of iterations over the years, including Russian nuclear technician Mikhail Arkadin and a teenager from Detroit named Jason Rusch. In the current New 52 continuity, Ronnie and Jason became Firestorm after Jason used one of Professor Stein's creations called "The God Particle" to transform them.
Although Firestorm has appeared in various animated series, including Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show and Batman: The Brave and the Bold, this will be the character's first depiction in live-action.
I think an episode featuring The Flash, The Arrow and Firestorm together is probably a must at some point, don't you?
The Flash premieres on The CW on October 7, 2014 at 8 p.m. EST.