By Kofi Outlaw

The fastest man alive made good strides this past week, as the film version of DC comic’s THE FLASH once again changed creative hands, this time landing in the lap of director David Dobkin, the man behind such fun fanfare as WEDDING CRASHERS and the upcoming FRED CLAUS.

However, unlike the other heroes to make the jump to the big screen, THE FLASH film will not be a stand-alone project with its own unique universe like that of Batman or Superman. In an interview with MTV news Dobkin revealed that THE FLASH would serve as a spin-off of the upcoming JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA movie, which has had the Internet all abuzz with plot and casting rumors.

“It’s designed to work as a spin-off from [‘JLA’], so we’re honoring the story and we’re working in tandem with the storytelling,” [Dobkin] said. “I think we’ll just have to see how the movie does and how it works off it, but it certainly would be a movie that comes after ‘Justice League.’”

For those wondering which alter ego will don the Flash’s trademark crimson speed-suit (the comic book has chronicled the adventures of several men in the Flash costume over the years) Dobkin was unhesitant in his assertion that it would be the modern Flash, Wally West, who would take up the mantle. That revelation only fuels the rumor mill that the JLA movie will begin with the heroes gathering to mourn the previous Flash, Barry Allen (who was also the focus of that abysmal 90’s TV series.)

Seems as though the JLA film is causing mass ripples across Hollywood, spawning spin-offs before it even has a cast, a script or any of the other basic ingredients of a movie. While JLA promises to be a hit, this approach of counting un-hatched chickens leaves significant room for the kind of disaster that sees movies stall. Hopefully THE FLASH will stay far enough ahead of the game to make it to the big screen.