John Wesley Shipp, television’s first Flash, previews his role in the upcoming Flash series, starring Grant Gustin.
“I’m very cognizant of the rare position that I’m in,” Shipp says. “Very few people get to revisit a character they created 23 years later and be integrated into the story, the way that I have been, with so much respect and affection. The showrunners were fans of the 1990 version. It’s been a love fest. I just can’t say enough good about it.”
He adds that because the showrunners were fans of his Flash, watching the 1990 series will “pay off” for anyone watching the 2014 series. “There are lots of sort of homage and throwbacks. It will be good.”
Shipp is also very complimentary of his on-screen son, calling Gustin “invested” and “sincere.” He adds, “After having worked with him in the pilot, I know just how good of an actor he really is. How much depth there is. It’s a pilot that has a lot of depth. It has a lot of flash and dazzle, but then there’s emotional depth.”
As for Shipp’s role as Henry Allen, Shipp says the showrunners reached out to him. “When I heard about it, people were saying, ‘Jay Garrick! Jay Garrick! Jay Garrick!’ I thought, ‘Yeah, I guess a mentor figure.’ I thought that was pretty limited,” Shipp explains.
(In the comics, Jay Garrick was the original Flash who inspired Barry Allen to take up the mantle.)
“Then I heard about Geoff Johns reboot where he reimagined the Allen family and the fact that the father is imprisoned, convicted wrongfully, for killing his wife. I thought, ‘Wait a minute! That’s the character!’”
As for what fans can expect, Shipp teases, “All I can say, if people were disappointed that I’m not playing Jay Garrick because they wanted to see the baton passed, they’re going to get that. It’s going to be in the context of father/son so that it will appeal to a wider audience.” However, comic book fans “will know when it happens. It’s awfully effective.”
Read the full interview at Comic Book Therapy.
The Flash will air Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET on The CW this fall.