In July 2013, it was announced that Kreisberg, fellow "Arrow" co-creator Berlanti and DC Comics CCO Geoff Johns would be introducing Barry Allen during the show's second season, with the twentieth episode serving as a backdoor pilot. Actor Grant Gustin was cast and first appeared in the eighth episode of the second season, "The Scientist". The CW producers were pleased with the handling of the character, and greenlit a pilot episode, foregoing the backdoor version. In May 2014, "The Flash" was officially ordered to series. It premiered October 7, 2014.