The Flash TV Series Casts a "West"

Newsarama reported the following:

A detective with a heck of a last name for DC Comics fans has been cast for The CW's upcoming Flash pilot.

Jesse L. Martin of Law and Orderfame has been cast in the series pilot as "Detective West," a cop who acts as a "surrogate father to Barry Allen," according to Deadline. The series is spinning off from Arrow, but has an original pilot instead of the once-planned backdoor pilot with the series. The familiar team of Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Johns, and David Nutter are also teamed on this new series.

While there's not necessarily a detective named West in the Flash comics, the surname is very familiar to fans. Wally West was Barry's sidekick as Kid Flash, and eventually took over for the scarlet speedster. Iris West, Wally's aunt, was Barry's chief romantic interest, and even married him in the pre-New 52 universe. Nothing in the initial casting announcement indicates any direct connection to those Wests, but people like Berlanti and Johns wouldn't name him that by accident.

Here's a photo of the man:

John Wesley Shipp as Wally West. Who's with me?

@battle_forum_junkie said:

I'm not. Too old.

So... I'm of two minds about this. On the one hand, "WEST! YAY!" On the other, "But Wally's a redhead..."

Sure. Why not?

It's doesn't say it's Wally, just a man with the sur name 'West' who mentors Barry as a father figure. Quite the opposite of Wally if you ask me...

It was a joke. I was poking fun at the fact he played Berry Allen in the old Flash series.

Oh, I'm not saying the dude in question is Wally, I'm just saying being a member of the West family, and a male member at that, it raises the possibility of them trying to change Wally's race just enough to make me antsy.

Ah, okay. I'm guessing that he's going to be Iris's father.

Badabump.

Random fact that guy also does broadway so was Grant Gustin. Hellow musical Flash episode with Neil Patrick Harris as the Music Meister!

I'm okay with this

whatever.

Next fall season with Arrow, Flash AND Comics all on one day is gonna be nerd overlord

I'd love to see him do something. Maybe Barry's eccentric uncle, who happens to also be a scientist, and have a dog. Also, please bring back the lovely Amanda Pays :)