The CW has confirmed (via Deadline) that The Flash's upcoming ninth season will be its last. Speculation that the next batch of episodes would see Grant Gustin bid farewell to the Scarlet Speedster began earlier this year when he signed a one-year deal that capped his season 9 involvement at no more than 15 episodes.
Now, we know he'll be back for a total of 13 in a truncated final season that will also star Candice Patton and Danielle Panabaker. Jesse L. Martin, meanwhile, will return for 5 (if NBC decides against moving forward with The Irrational he'll likely return for more).
Season 9 of The Flash begins shooting next month for a midseason debut in 2023. That means the finale is going to air just weeks before The Flash movie arrives in theaters next June. However, the trade notes that "The series' ending is expected to wrap its own storyline and not set up the movie in any way."
Showrunner Eric Wallace said in a statement today, "Nine seasons! Nine years of saving Central City while taking audiences on an emotional journey full of heart, humor, and spectacle. And now Barry Allen has reached the starting gate for his last race. So many amazing people have given their talents, time, and love to bring this wonderful show to life each week."
"So, as we get ready to honor the show's incredible legacy with our exciting final chapter," he continues, "I want to say thank you to our phenomenal cast, writers, producers, and crew over the years who helped make The Flash such an unforgettable experience for audiences around the world."
We don't know what to expect from this final season of The Flash, but something tells us The CW will likely go all out and give the Fastest Man Alive the send-off he deserves.
With the end of this show, the Arrowverse as we knew it is pretty much dead. Arrow wrapped up a couple of years ago, and the cancellation of Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow has left The Flash as the last series standing. Superman & Lois is set in its own continuity, and it appears the plan is to now move forward with more standalone DC TV shows on The CW and HBO Max.
Many fans would like to see Gustin replace Ezra Miller as the big screen Flash, but we're not banking on it. Funnily enough, that movie was originally announced a week after The Flash TV show premiered, showing just how long the blockbuster has taken to reach the big screen.