CW superhero series “The Flash” is adding two more DC Comics characters to its heroic roster.
The executive producers announced at Comic-Con on Saturday that the characters of Jay Garrick and Patty Spivot will appear on the series in season two, which will also feature Zoom as the big bad for the year — allowing the show to bring in characters from DC Comics’ Earth-2. Wally West will also make his debut at some point in season two, with an actor yet to be cast.
Comic-book aficionados know Jay as the first character to hold the mantle of The Flash, making his debut in the 1940s. Teddy Sears (“Masters of Sex”) will play the early speedster on the CW series. Eagle-eyed “Flash” fans may have spotted Jay’s iconic winged helmet in the season one finale. In the show, Jay is a mysterious figure who arrives in Central City to warn Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and his team at S.T.A.R. Labs of an impending danger that he alone cannot hope to stop.
“Having Jay Garrick come onto the show was one of our earliest ideas,” executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said in a statement. “It is so exciting, as we rush into season two, that we finally get to bring the Crimson Comet to life. We couldn’t imagine anyone more suited to play the original Flash than Teddy.”
Patty will be played by Shantel VanSanten. A more recent comics addition than Jay, Patty is a police officer and science enthusiast who catches the eye of Barry Allen. Patty is obsessed with metahumans and partners with Det. Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) this season but has no idea that her new crush is The Flash.
“We were huge fans of ‘The Messengers’ and are excited to have Shantel join us to help complicate Barry Allen’s love life in season two,” Kreisberg said.
“The Flash” panel at San Diego Comic-Con revealed further tidbits about the upcoming season, which will pick up “a few months” after the events of the season one finale. Gustin admitted that Barry will struggle with his role as a hero after the events of last season. “We find Barry dealing with some extra tension. He knows that Eddie [Rick Cosnett] was ultimately the hero that stopped Wells in the finale and saved everybody… He’s a lone wolf.”
The new season will also see Iris coming into her legacy as an ace reporter, Candice Patton revealed — she has a “new sense of agency” and is now firmly part of Team Flash. Meanwhile, Cisco (Carlos Valdes) will be struggling with the implications of learning that he is also a meta-human in the season one finale.
“The Flash” hails from Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television. Season two bows Oct. 6 on The CW.
