Grant Gustin would put the Flash suit back on for James Gunn — Gunn's answer: 'It happened on TV for 9 seasons'
Gustin says he would come back as Barry Allen if James Gunn asked, after Gunn commented on the CW series.
Here we go again with Grant Gustin and the The Flash merry-go-round — at this point it’s practically a subgenre of DC speculation. The former Arrowverse speedster has chimed in on whether he’d consider donning the red suit again, this time under James Gunn’s watch over at the much-hyped DC Universe reboot.
Grant Gustin Speaks (Finally)
Gustin was on the Awkward Puppets Show (or The Diego Show, if you’re trying to be proper) when he got grilled — yet again — about a return as Barry Allen. Clearly, the question won’t die, and Gustin seems reasonably gracious about it. If you’re holding out for confirmation, don’t get too excited — but he at least left the door ajar. Here’s what he said on the subject:
It feels like a lot of people do [want that too]
Context: that’s Gustin responding to the ongoing chorus of fans asking him to run it back as The Flash, specifically under Gunn’s new DCU. He was diplomatic; basically, if James Gunn gave him a ring, he’d be up for it, but there’s nothing secret bubbling away behind the scenes. For reference, Gustin’s run as the Arrowverse Barry Allen spanned nine seasons on The CW, finishing up in 2023.
The James Gunn Angle
So what’s Gunn said about all this? Bits and bobs, really — usually in reply to enthusiastic (and occasionally desperate) DC fans. Back in March 2024, a punter pleaded for Gustin’s return, and Gunn gave the kind of answer that tries (and fails) to kill a rumour dead:
Grant is an incredibly talented guy, performing now on Broadway, I believe, and is absolutely not going to waste just because he’s not currently in a DC project. But of course I’d love to work with him at some point.
Polite, but hardly a pledge. Fast forward to January 2026, and Gunn responded to a fan post demanding ‘this gotta happen’ (with Gustin in Flash mode). Gunn shot it down — ‘It happened on TV for 9 seasons.’ After yet another rumour recently, Gunn dismissed talk of Gustin doing a comic book variant of The Flash by asking for a definition of 'decent rumour'. If you’re reading between the lines, there's no deal hiding in the shadows.
No official word from DC Studios on Gustin’s comeback for the films or the new canon. For now, it’s all fan wishful thinking — not least because the show’s main run was already one of DC TV’s longer stints.
The CW’s The Flash wrapped in 2023 after nine seasons with Grant Gustin as its lead.