BREAKING MOVIE/TV NEWS

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Warners Runs With "The Flash"

Warner Bros continues to develop a big screen adaptation of DC Comics' "The Flash", from a script by Greg Berlanti, Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim ("Green Lantern"), for Berlanti to direct as a 2013 release.

Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original 'Flash' debuted in "Flash Comics" #1 (January 1940). In the origin story, 'Jay Garrick' accidentally inhaled hard water vapors that gave him super-speed, using heightened reflexes that seemed to violate all known laws of physics. He wore a winged metal helmet inspired by the Greek god Hermes (Mercury) .

'Barry Allen', the second 'Flash', was a police scientist, who gained his super-speed after being accidentally splashed by chemicals following a lightning strike.

Allen adopted "The Flash' name after reading a comic book featuring the adventures of Jay Garrick.

The third Flash, 'Wally West', formerly 'Kid Flash', gained his super-powers through an accident identical to Allen's.

Following the death of Barry Allen, West adopts the Flash identity and landed his own DC Comics series, with the opening catchphrase: "My name is Wally West. I'm the fastest man alive..."

"The Flash" was also a 1990 TV series starring John Wesley Shipp as DC Comics 'Scarlet Speedster', co-starring Amanda Pays ("Max Headroom"). The show was developed by executive producers Danny Bilson and Paul De Meo for Pet Fly Productions.

Composer Danny Elfman wrote the title theme and Stan Winston Studios created the Flash costume, designed by Robert Short, based on the 'Barry Allen'-look.

Pilot episode began with 'Central City Police' forensic scientist 'Barry Allen' (Shipp) having his crime lab struck by lightning, with Allen's now electrified body flung into a cabinet of chemicals.

With the help of 'S.T.A.R. Labs' scientist 'Tina McGee' (Pays), Allen harnesses peculiar changes in his body's metabolism, giving him the ability to move at superhuman speed.

To avenge the murder of his brother, a motorcycle police officer, Allen demands Tina modify a red 'S.T.A.R. Labs' prototype deep sea diving suit for a vigilante, superhero costume, designed to withstand tremendous pressures.

Throughout the 22-episode series, 'The Flash' encountered several DC Comics' super-villains including 'Captain Cold' and 'The Trickster'.

A 76-page comic book tie-in based on the TV series was also published by DC in 1991 titled "The Flash TV Special" , featuring a sneak peek behind-the-scenes.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Flash"...