Bettina Strauss/The CW
'The Flash' writers Aaron and Todd Helbing also revealed that one of the season's big bads would be Doctor Alchemy, voiced by 'Saw' alum Tobin Bell.
The Flash came to Comic-Con prepared.
During The CW show's panel on Saturday, writers Aaron and Todd Helbing premiered the first official trailer for the season three premiere, "Flashpoint," and the audience in Ballroom 20 collectively lost their minds. In the jam-packed promo, Barry (Grant Gustin) finds himself in an altered timeline thanks to his choice to go back in time and save his mother.
In the new timeline (which begins after a three month time jump), he lives with both of his parents, Joe (Jesse L. Martin) and Iris (Candice Patton) hardly know him, Cisco (Carlos Valdes) is the richest man in Central City and has no interest in getting to know Barry, and Reverse-Flash/Eobard Thawne (Matt Letscher) is being kept in a cage. Plus, fans were given a first look at Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale) in action as Kid Flash for the first time. The cheers from the audience were deafening.
But The Flash's version of the popular DC Comics storyline Flashpoint is going to last longer than just the season three premiere.
"This is something that is going to ripple throughout the whole season," Todd said. "Obviously Barry grew up with a different family. His parents were still alive, Cisco has gone on to make some money. One of the [ripple] effects is [Arrow's] Diggle [David Ramsey] himself. You'll have to tune in to see exactly how."
As for Cisco's new lifestyle, Valdes loved what the writers allowed him to do with the new role.
"Cisco is this ostentatious billionaire. Yeah, he flossy," Valdes said, as the room erupted in laughter. "Legitimately, that's all his arc, flexing his money and how rich he is. That's pretty much his best qualities as a person."
Although the altered timeline presented another obstacle for the relationship between Iris and Barry, Todd told WestAllen fans that they shouldn't give up hope.
"In any timeline, Barry and Iris ultimately find each other," he said, and the audience cheered. He then added that, out of all the other Berlanti-verse shows, the timeline changes on The Flash will affect Arrow, "so you'll see it on that side mostly."
But the trailer wasn't the only thing that the Helbing brothers brought to Comic-Con. They also came ready with announcements about the season three villain.
"We're doing a really cool thing this year. We're doing two big bads," Todd said. "One is a speedster that we'll reveal later and the other, the one in the creepy mask, is Doctor Alchemy."
While the actual identity of Doctor Alchemy is being cast at a later date, as of right now he is being voiced by Tobin Bell, the man behind Saw villain Jigsaw.
"He certainly doesn't like the Flash," Aaron said. "He's a bad dude and he's going to be a formidable adversary to everyone on the team throughout the season."
As for new series regular Tom Felton, he couldn't help but laugh at the similarities between The Flash and Harry Potter.
"Last time I was here I was representing a franchise symbolized by a lightning bolt," Felton said with a laugh. "I think any character I play you should see as a threat. But I honestly don't know. I tried to get both of these writers tipsy last night to prise some info out of them, but it didn't work. There's definitely some friction between Barry and Julian. There's some feathers ruffled pretty early on, so I'm intrigued to see where this goes. Anything's possible. I could be a woman by episode 6."
Along with Arrow's Stephen Amell appearing in the Legends of Tomorrow season two premiere, another crossover fans can look forward to on The Flash is Felicity (Emily Bett Rickards) showing up in episode 2. "She's giving Barry advice," Gustin revealed.
Then the already-successful panel ended on a high note, with Gustin and Martin having a "tap-off" onstage, showcasing their tap dancing abilities. Gustin crowned Martin the winner, and they chest bumped before returning to their seats.
Check out the trailer for Flashpoint below:
The Flash returns for season three on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. on The CW.
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