in the Arrowverse franchise. The Flash is currently in production on season 9, which will also be the last for the Grant Gustin-starring superhero series.
Throughout The Flash's nine-year run, many of the character's classic comics foes have been brought to life, including the Reverse-Flash, Captain Cold, and Gorilla Grodd. One of the most notable was Digger Harkness, aka Captain Boomerang, who was played by Spartacus star Nick E. Tarabay. Harkness was the primary villain in the first crossover episode between Arrow and The Flash. The character later reappeared in Arrow season 5, where he met his end. However, set photos for The Flash season 9 indicated Captain Boomerang might return somehow.
According to Deadline, The 100 star Richard Harmon has been cast as Captain Boomerang in a recurring role for season 9. Harmon will play the second incarnation of Captain Boomerang from the comics, Owen Mercer. The CW has confirmed that Owen is a post-"Crisis on Infinite Earths" version of Captain Boomerang. He'll first be introduced after he's been "released from Iron Heights with a chip on his shoulder and whose twinkle in his eye disguises a dangerous and violent threat to Central City."
The reveal that this version of Captain Boomerang exists following the events of "Crisis on Infinite Earths" follows a pattern utilized by the Arrowverse to use the event to revisit previous characters with a new spin. The most notable example on The Flash is Mirror Master, who was originally introduced in season 3 played by Grey Damon. Damon played the first comic book Mirror Master, Sam Scudder, as a villain of the week. Following "Crisis on Infinite Earths," the series introduced a gender-bent version of the Evan McCulloch character named Eva McCulloch, played by Efrat Dior, who was the primary villain in the second half of The Flash season 6 and the first few episodes of season 7.
Owen Mercer finally being introduced in The Flash season 9 also may hint at where the story is building. Owen Mercer's incarnation of Captain Boomerang was first introduced into DC Comics in 2004, created by Brad Meltzer and Rags Morales. In the comics, the character is the son of the original Captain Boomerang and Meloni Thawne, a descendant of Eobard Thawne, aka The Reverse-Flash. The Flash has featured The Reverse-Flash as Barry Allen's greatest enemy and explored his family tree with Eddie Thawne in season 1. With this connection to two Flash villains, the final season might be dealing with the concept of legacy and the impact Barry Allen and The Flash will leave behind, both in of the Arrowverse but also the impact the series has had on television.
Source: Deadline
