Twenty four years ago, John Wesley Shipp played Barry Allen in CBS’ live action comic book hero adaptation, “The Flash.” Although Shipp’s run as The Flash was over after one season, he’ll be revisiting the franchise very soon.
TVLine is reporting that Shipp has signed on for The CW’s updated take on “The Flash;” which is spinning out of “Arrow.” Shipp’s role is being kept under wraps, but one of the rumored possibilities is that Shipp may portray Henry Allen, the father of Barry (Grant Gustin), who is currently in jail for murdering his wife Nora. Only Barry and his father’s friend, Detective West (Jesse L. Martin) believe in Henry’s innocence.
Shipp is said to be likely to recur on “The Flash” if it gets a series order. Although Shipp previously played the title character in “The Flash,” he is much better known as Mitch Leery, the father of Dawson Leery from “Dawson’s Creek.” Shipp has also had major roles in several soap operas, including “Guiding Light,” “As The World Turns” and “All My Children.” One of Shipp’s more recent TV appearances was on MTV’s “Teen Wolf.”
The rest of “The Flash” cast includes Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett; Danielle Panabaker, Tom Cavanagh and Carlos Valdes.
Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Geoff Johns wrote the pilot script for “The Flash,” with David Nutter slated to direct the first episode. If “The Flash” goes forward, it will likely debut in Fall 2014.
