In comics canon, Wally is the nephew of Iris West (played in The CW series by Candice Patton) — the love interest and eventual wife of Barry Allen (Grant Gustin). While Wally initially served as his uncle’s sidekick and a founding member of the Teen Titans, he later inherited Barry’s mantle as The Flash.
Since Iris doesn’t seem to have any siblings on the show (that we know of), it’s possible that Wally’s origin story will be tweaked for his live-action “Flash” debut. His connection to the West family has yet to be confirmed.
Executive producer Andrew Kreisberg said of Lonsdale’s casting, “Just like when we met Grant for the first time, we instantly knew Keiynan embodied all the heart and courage of a hero. We are so excited to be bringing this much-beloved character onto the show.”
Wally’s involvement in season two of the superhero series was announced at Comic-Con, along with the casting of two more DC Comics characters: another iteration of The Flash, Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears), and Patty Spivot (Shantel VanSanten), who will partner with Det. Joe West (Jesse L. Martin) when the show returns this fall. “The Flash’s” Comic-Con panel also revealed that season two’s major antagonist would be Zoom.
Lonsdale’s role follows two recent additions to cast of “The Flash” and “Arrow” spinoff series “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.” Casper Crump has been confirmed as immortal villain Vandal Savage, while Falk Hentschel will play Carter Hall/Hawkman. Both actors will make their debut in crossover episodes of “The Flash” and “Arrow” to serve as a set-up for the spinoff before “Legends” debuts at midseason.
Lonsdale is represented by Silver Lining Entertainment, ICM, Schreck Rose Dapello & Adams, and Persona PR.
