Well, we’ve been reporting for months now that Grant Gustin will debut in just two weeks on ‘Arrow’ as Barry Allen, the forensics scientist who will eventually become the super speed hero The Flash.  The character was set to appear in episodes 8 and 9 of the current second season, with episode 20 set to serve as his transformation into his super hero alter ego.  Well… that’s changed.

While episodes 8 and 9 have already been filmed and will air accordingly, it’s been determined that The Flash will actually receive a traditional pilot, not a “back door” pilot as was planned.  It seems like the two episodes Gustin appeared in were well received by the network so rather than setting him up in episode 20 of ‘Arrow’ they are giving the character a stand-alone pilot.  So the break-down of episode 20 of ‘Arrow’ is now in the air.  The producers and the executives of The CW will discuss the matter in the coming week.

Should ‘The Flash’ be picked up, it is expected to be a mid-season replacement.  Geoff Johns is still attached to write the script (along with show creators Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg), but it’s unclear how it will be tweaked now that it is a stand-alone pilot and not a regular episode of ‘Arrow’.  Apparently, pilots get a much higher budget than episodic shows, so the special effects should at least be impressive.

Berlanti, Kreisberg and David Nutter are executive producing, along with Melissa Kellner Berman who is co-exective producing.

On ‘Arrow’, Barry Allen (Gustin) is a Central City assistant police forensics investigator who arrives in Starling to look into a series of unexplained robberies that may have a connection to a tragedy in his past. A comic book fanboy, Barry is obsessed with the Arrow unaware that working with Oliver and Felicity to solve the crime has brought him right into the dangerous world of the vigilante.

I would say things are looking pretty positive for Grant Gustin with The Flash zooming into his own show.  and possibly even into the movies, as Warner Brothers has expressed interest there as well.  What do you think?

Sources ComingSoon and Deadline