The CW has signed up Jesse L. Martin to play Detective West in the Arrow spin-off, The Flash. Grant Gustin is on board to star as The Flash/forensics investigator Barry Allen in the new series based on the DC Comics series. David Nutter is on board to direct The Flash pilot.
The Hollywood Reporter describes Martin’s character as “an honest, blue-collar cop who is a surrogate father to Barry. A soulful, funny and caring father to Iris — Barry’s potential love interest — West came up through the foster care system and took Barry in after his mother’s slaying and father’s imprisonment. He believes in Barry and supports his efforts to prove his father’s innocence.”
Martin’s credits include 198 episodes of Law & Order and nine episodes of Smash, as well as the feature films Rent, Puncture, and Joyful Noise.
