The next CW Arrowverse Crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths is shaping up to be the most ambitious one yet. News from San Diego Comic Con and the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour generated a lot of excitement already. With so much news and so many shows involved in the five part event, we need to take a moment and look at what we know so far about the crossover.
The shows involved in this year’s crossover are Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and Batwoman. The five part crossover is split into two halves. Batwoman, The Flash, and Supergirl’s Crisis will air in December 2019. The Crisis will conclude on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Arrow in January 2020.
Arrowverse Timeline
The Crisis actually began during the last crossover, Elseworlds. The Monitor Mar Novu (LaMonica Garrett) came to Earth-1 to test the heroes’ abilities to handle the upcoming Crisis. The superhero “audition” almost killed Barry Allen/The Flash (Grant Gustin) and Kara Danvers/Supergirl (Melissa Benoist). Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) made a deal the Novu to save their lives.
We also met Kate Kane/Batwoman (Ruby Rose) during Elseworlds. She has already established a great working relationship with Supergirl and Arrow. We’ll find out more about Batwoman and her team in the premiere season this fall.
Novu appeared on the season finales of Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow, mostly as an observer. His most significant appearance was on the Arrow season six finale. Oliver left with the Monitor to prepare for the crisis and does not expect to return to his wife and child. The team up between the Monitor and Green Arrow will be the major focal point of the final season.
The Flash has been teasing this Crisis since season one with a newspaper headline written by Iris West-Allen (Candice Patton). “Flash Missing – Vanishes in Crisis” That headline is from the future, printed in 2024. At the end of season five, the timeline changed and so did the date on the headline. It now reads 2019.
Comic Book Come To Life
The Crisis on Infinite Earths is based on the 1985-86 comic book written by Marv Wolfman. Here is the synopsis from DC Comics:
This is the story that changed the DC Universe forever. A mysterious being known as the Anti-Monitor has begun a crusade across time to bring about the end of all existence. As alternate earths are systematically destroyed, the Monitor quickly assembles a team of super-heroes from across time and space to battle his counterpart and stop the destruction. DC’s greatest heroes including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Aquaman, assemble to stop the menace, but as they watch both the Flash and Supergirl die in battle, they begin to wonder if even all of the heroes in the world can stop this destructive force.
Seeing has how part of the plan is to bring together heroes across time and space, fans should expect some big surprises.
New and Familiar Faces
The list of confirmed characters includes the primary casts from aforementioned shows. Small details about additional cast has been slowly announced and some of the regulars are playing multiple parts.
This will be the first appearance of Black Lightning in the Arrowverse. Cress Williams, who plays Jefferson Pierce/Black Lightning, made the announcement last week. We don’t know which characters will actually be seen in the crossover other than Black Lightning. It’s possible we will see Anissa Pierce/Thunder (Nafessa Williams), Jennifer Pierce/Lightning (China Anne McClain), and Peter Gambi (James Remar) since they are the heroes in training and the techie that makes their suits.
Double Duty
Brandon Routh is returning as Ray Palmer/The Atom from Team Legends but will also reprise a role from his film career. He will play an alternate universe version of Superman to be introduced in the Arrow episode. Routh portrayed the Man of Steel in 2006’s Superman Returns. So he’s very familiar with the part.
Garrett will also be pulling double duty as The Monitor and his doppelganger, The Anti-Monitor. The Anti-Monitor is the opposite of The Monitor. The Monitor is positive and protects the multiverse, while the Anti-Monitor seeks to destroy it. The Anti-Monitor absorbs the energy from the universe, making him more powerful than his rival. It will take a lot of super power to defeat him.
We all know Tom Cavanagh is an acting genius. Not only will Cavanagh bring a new Wells to life this season on The Flash, he will also bring to life the character of Pariah. In the comics, Pariah is a scientist who accidentally released the Monitor and the Anti-Monitor. There is also a possibility that Cavanagh will reprise the role of Reverse Flash. Reverse Flash’s final words to the Flash were, “see in the next crisis.”
Guests Stars
Don’t be surprised if you see former allies and villains appear in the crossover. We know that Tyler Hoechlin will return as Earth-38’s version of Clark Kent/Superman, Elizabeth Tulloch will return as Lois Lane and they are bringing their child with them. Lex Luthor, played by Jon Cryer, died in the Supergirl season finale, but the Monitor took his body. He is definitely returning in the Crisis.
The biggest news is the addition of Batman and Robin into the mix. Burt Ward is set to appear in the crossover, but his character has not been revealed. So we don’t know if he’s playing an older version of Robin or not. Kevin Conroy, who voices Batman in many animated shows, will play a future version of Bruce Wayne. I kind of have to wonder if these two will appear together.
There are a few rumors flying around about possible guests stars from the Smallville cast and other big names, but nothing is confirmed at this time. Believe me, we will be keeping an eye on future casting for the crossover.
Five Parts/Two Halves
This is huge! The season premieres for the Arrowverse shows is just a couple of months away. I can only assume that there’s an even bigger news in store for us. Stick with Geek Girl Authority for the latest news about the Arrowverse shows and Crossover event.
Here is the schedule for the CW crossover event, Crisis on Infinite Earths:
Supergirl – Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019
Batwoman – Monday, Dec. 9, 2019
The Flash – Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019
Arrow – Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020
RELATED: ARROWVERSE Update and Photos Released Ahead of SDCC
RELATED: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS Cast Bruce Wayne; Adds Black Lightning
News Editor, Senior Contributor, and Press Editor. Coordinate breaking news, trailers and press releases. I also contribute reviews, recaps and interviews. Creator of the Indigenerd Wire, a column dedicated to the Indigenous creatives in pop culture.
GGA's resident Indigenerd, a little bit rez, a little bit classy...with a love for all things Star Wars, zombies, science fiction, and Indigenous. My ultimate goal is to start my own podcast.
- INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Recap: (S02E07) I Could Not Prevent It - June 24, 2024
- INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Recap: (S02E06) Like the Light by Which God Made the World Before He Made Light - June 17, 2024
- INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE Recap: (S02E05) Don’t Be Afraid, Just Start The Tape - June 10, 2024
