Showrunner Eric Wallace discusses the show’s uncertain future and previews the “emotional disasters” hurtling toward Barry.
mini arc), which showrunner Eric Wallace promises will be “emotionally intense.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Happy New Year to you, too.
Grant Gustin in ‘The Flash’.Bettina Strauss/The CW
That feels appropriate given the midseason premiere’s New Year’s Eve setting.
Let’s stick with it, regardless of when it airs."
I think it works since it’s stillThe Flash’s first episode of the year.
Candice Patton as Iris West-Allen on ‘The Flash’.Bettina Strauss/The CW
What does it mean?
Do we have to explore a little bit of that this season and how do they eventually get there?
Do they get there?
Is something standing in the way of them getting there?
So it does get very emotionally intense, especially in the middle of season 8, very much so.
Do you think the intensity level is comparable to a previous season’s?
I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that the villain is not a speedster.
So that, I think, is a pretty apt comparison.
How quickly can we expect to get answers about that?
It’ll take center stage by the middle of season 8.
I have to do both.
I’ve known what the ending was for a few years now.
I know what I’m hoping for.
But then I also have to film a tag or a teaser that potentially sets up another year.
So it’s a challenge, but it’s one that we love doing as writers.
Barry Allen is supposedly the fastest he’s ever been.
What can we expect from the big bad in season 8’s next Graphic Novel?
That’s a theme that plays out through the remainder of the season.
And if you love, you have a vulnerability and that’s the people you care for.
And obviously that’s going to tie back into Iris’s time sickness.
What is going on?
Why is this happening?
And more importantly, why is it happening right now?
You said “villains.”
Does that means we’re dealing with multiple big bads?
No, it means we’re doing something different this year.
Instead of just two Graphic Novels, we’re having three.
So “Armageddon” was the first.
Then we have a few interlude episodes, right?
Then eventually we’ll go into our second Graphic Novel that has its own big bad.
Then we’ll have, again, a couple of interlude episodes and then we’ll do something new.
So you get more villains this season.
More, more, more than ever.
As you mentioned, Caitlin starts dating again this season.
Is it fair to assumeRobbie Amell’s returnties into that?
I mean, part of that’s actually very funny.
It’s very comedic.
Oh, she’s a doctor.
Well, does that really define her?
Okay, she’s a member of Team Flash, but does that really define her?
Who is she really?
That’s what we’ll get to know in the middle of season 8.
It’s just phenomenal to see her work because she’s playing two characters.
Legendsof TomorrowstarCaity Lotzjust announced she’s directing an episode.
What can we expect from her episode?
You’ve directed in the past, but how did your directorial debut onThe Flashgo?
It just brought us all closer together and, quite frankly, it was an enormous amount of fun.
And I said to him, “You know I’m going to do this again, right?”
He was like, “Of course, yes, bring it on.”
Because we were just having such a great time.
I think I gave myself what I would call quote unquote, “the weird episode.”
And it’s really funny because I wasn’t supposed to direct this weird one.
Let’s embrace that."
I wanted to double-check that for once I was not directing an episode I had written.
I wanted to have the same experience that a guest director would have coming to the show.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
The Flashairs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
