PaleyFest 2015: "There's a Fairly Big ‘Flash’ Storyline from the Comics That Were Going to Tackle in the Future," Producer Teases, Hinting Possible Time-Travel Storyline
At Saturday's PaleyFest 2015 panel discussion, held 5:10 pm in Los Angeles, with Aisha Tyler hosting and moderating, fans got to see and meet in person the entire cast of The Flash: Grant Gustin (Barry Allen/The Flash), Jesse L. Martin (Det. Joe West), Tom Cavanagh (Dr. Harrison Wells/Reverse Flash), Candice Patton (Iris West), Rick Cosnett (Det. Eddie Thawne), Danielle Panabaker (Dr. Caitlin Snow), and Carlos Valdes (Cisco Ramon), along with executive producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg.
While the cast members were accommodating and friendly enough with the fans, it was up to Kriesberg to answer questions that might result in possible spoilers for the show's upcoming episodes. He teased that "there's a fairly big Flash storyline from the comics that were going to tackle in the future," acknowledging that as seen in episode 9, the Reverse Flash seemingly fought himself as Dr. Wells. He said that while "a bunch of things that do seem impossible," viewers will "very soon" learn "how you were able to see what you saw."
Interestingly, the extended mid-season teaser trailer promises that the show's upcoming 17th episode's [titled "Trickster"] "last five minutes will change the course of history." And given the 15th episode's title "Out of Time," it may be that it will here that Barry will finally be able to tap his power to travel through time. In the DC Comic mythology, the Flash can not only travel through space at the speed of light, he can also move back and forth through time.
Kriesberg also revealed that an "amazing" upcoming scene between Joe and Dr. Wells will touch on the mystery of Iris' mother, a topic that will be "deal with more directly in subsequent seasons."
The CW's The Flash season 1's 15th episode is airing March 17 at its regular 8:00-9:00 pm Tuesday time slot. Directed by Thor Freudenthal from a script written by Todd and Aaron Helbing, the next installment in the TV adaptation of the DC Comics series will have the Scarlet Speedster going against a meta-human who can control the weather, Cisco-codenamed Weather Wizard. According to the studio's press release, Mark Mardon aka The Weather Wizard (guest star Liam McIntyre, best known for his starring role in the Spartacus series on Starz TV) appears in Central City intent on avenging his brother Clyde's (Chad Rook) death, and sets his sights on Det. West, who shot Clyde, as seen in The Flash's maiden episode. When Mardon attacks Joe and Barry Allen, Barry acting as the Flash is able to super-speed them to safety, but Mardon gets away. Barry warns Joe not to go after a meta-human alone but Joe doesn't listen and ends up in grave danger. Mark, like the late Clyde, has the power to manipulate the weather.
Meanwhile, Cisco Ramon looks into the night the team captured the Reverse Flash and realizes something doesn't add up and begins to wonder whether Joe was right about Dr. Wells. On a lighter note, the episode will also have Barry and Linda (guest star Malese Jow) ending up on an awkward double date with Eddie and Iris.