Depending on how you look at it, the upcoming Arrow/Flash spinoff series for The CW just got a bit clearer, or even more mysterious. Set to debut in midseason 2016 - potentially when both of its siblings are on their Winter breaks - the ensemble cast has swelled by one, with Dominic Purcell set to reprise his 'Heat Wave' role as a series regular.
That's good news for fans of Prison Break who were pleased to see Purcell and co-star Wentworth Miller share the screen once again, but with two of The Flash's infamous Rogues now among the cast of the next DC Comics TV series, the direction of the show and its relationship to the existing universe is even harder to determine.
Word of Purcell's casting comes courtesy of Deadline, marking the unnamed spinoff as the first regular series roles for both Purcell and Wentworth since their FOX prison drama. Purcell will once again play the part of Mick Rory, a scarred pyromaniac who turns general arson and robbery into organized crime with the help of master thief Leonard Snart a.k.a. Captain Cold (Miller).
Both of the villains are set to return to The Flash in the coming weeks, meaning the first hints at what the producers have planned for their third DC series may be coming sooner rather than later.
Mick Rory and Leonard Snart will be joining Professor Martin Stein (Victor Garber), Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), and apparently even Sara Lance a.k.a. Canary (Caity Lotz) in the spinoff's cast. Fans of "The Flash" comics may see how a TV series based around the Rogues, or simply the villains of the DC TV shared universe could make sense (especially for a midseason run). But the presence of Stein, Palmer, Lance, and apparently three new heroes and a previously unused DC Comics villain implies something far different.
It's even more curious to see the efforts put into an impressive debut of Firestorm on The Flash, to be followed by word that only one half of the hero will be joining this spinoff. Based on the established fiction, Professor Martin Stein will only be used for his intellect, if Ronnie Raymond (Robbie Amell) isn't included.
The absence of Robbie Amell from these talks has been questioned by many, and executive producer Greg Berlanti explained to CBR that Amell's name was not in the discussion for a specific reason - but that he "can't say why." That isn't the kind of explanation or clarification that fans of the actor (or DC Comics superhero) would hope for, but given the rate at which details and insider information is being leaked, more concrete details shouldn't be too far behind.
What do you make of the cast assembled for the team-up? Do you hope to see more of The Flash and Arrow's supporting characters, or do you have concerns about the direction/angle of this spinoff?
The Flash airs Tuesdays @8pm on The CW.