Thread by @EW

#TheFlash returns for season 8, and we sat down with showrunner Eric Wallace (@ewrote) to discuss how the first #Arrowverse crossover inspired season 8's 'Armageddon' event. bit.ly/3oxcd0n

Words by @chancelloragard.

📸: DC Fandome

While the five-part event features heroes from other shows, Wallace wants you to know that this isn’t your typical crossover: "You may not ever in this whole [story] see a scene with all the heroes at once all together as the Justice League.” bit.ly/3oxcd0n

📸: The CW

Picking up six months after the conclusion of season 7, 'Armageddon' follows Barry (Grant Gustin), Iris (Candice Patton), and the rest of Team Flash as they face off against the powerful alien Despero (Tony Curran).

📸: Bettina Strauss/The CW

Wallace conceived the 'Armageddon' storyline four years ago:

"It was originally going to be with a very different villain. It wasn't Despero, but I won't tell you who it is because I'm trying to bring that villain onto the show." bit.ly/3oxcd0n

📸: Colin Bentley

Dusting off that years-old idea was the easy part. From there, the writers had to figure out how to tell a large-scale story while also adhering to COVID-19 protocols:

"The camera is focused on Barry, or Barry and Iris, or the Flash plus 'insert guest star here.'"

📸: Diya Pera

With that taken into account, Wallace began deciding who to insert:

"It became obvious that Mia Queen had to be in the ending chapters of this. She has to be in this story because of what is being told. It's all intertwined." bit.ly/3oxcd0n

📸: Colin Bentley

For Wallace, it was important that these guest appearances weren't just cameos:

"Every single guest star has their emotional journey that they go on. There might be one exception, but it's a pretty darn funny storyline. There's some real humor there."

bit.ly/3kC3p8b

'Armageddon' forced Wallace to slightly alter the multi-season plan he's had since he took over as showrunner in 2019:

"We're going to get to the same place at the end of season 8 that was part of the original three-year plan. More here: bit.ly/3oxcd0n

📸: Katie Yu