The CW's The Flash may be running off the small-screen sooner rather than later.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The CW has been talking about ending The Flash with an abbreviated final season. The Flash, which is the longest-running program in The CW's current line-up of Arrowverse shows, was renewed for a ninth season in March alongside such other titles as Superman & Lois and Riverdale. While that outlet didn't name its source, information from such publications as The Hollywood Reporter is generally considered highly-reliable. This report also comes amid news Jesse L. Martin, who plays Joe West on The Flash, will depart in Season 9.
Based on the DC Comics character of the same name, The Flash was developed by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Geoff Johns. The series stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash, a crime scene investigator who gains superhuman powers after a particle accelerator explodes. With help from Team Flash, Allen stops criminals in Central City and has, over the years, faced such villains as Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash, Clifford DeVoe/The Thinker and Hunter Zolomon/Zoom. The Flash has also crossed over with the various other Arrowverse series and fought alongside such heroes as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow and Kara Danvers/Supergirl against major threats to the Earth.
The Arrowverse began with Arrow in 2012. That show, which starred Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, was created by Berlanti, Kreisberg and Guggenheim. Arrow eventually came to an end in 2020, with an abbreviated Season 8. A spinoff show focusing on Mia Smoak, Queen's daughter, was not picked up by The CW.
The Flash was the second show in the Arrowverse and the longest-running still on the air. Supergirl, which premiered in 2015, ended with Season 6 in 2021. Other current shows include DC's Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman. However, The CW has not yet renewed those shows as of the time of this article's writing. The creative teams for both shows have been campaigning for the renewal of their shows.
Created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert, the original Flash, Jay Garrick, first appeared in 1940's Flash Comics #1. Allen, who was created by Robert Kanigher and Carmine Infantino, later took up the mantle, having first appeared in 1956's Showcase #4. The character is one of DC's most popular heroes, and The Flash movie starring Ezra Miller is set to release on June 23, 2023.
The Flash airs Wednesdays on The CW. The Flash Season 8's finale is scheduled for June 29 at 8PM.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter