One of the characters I didn’t really care for in the early seasons of Smallville was Whitney, played by Eric Johnson. I was kinda glad that he left the show. Granted I was against the idea of Whitney because I was stuck on the idea that Lana and Clark were meant to be together. As soon as the character was introduced, he was just “in the way”. But as Flash Gordon! Well I think the idea is great.
Former “Smallville†star Eric Johnson (Whitney) has snagged the much-coveted role in the Sci-Fi Channel™s new series Flash Gordonâ€.
The network has been trying to decide whether to cast a young twenty-something actor in the role or go older “ they’ve opted to go younger. Thirty-something actor Chris Showerman (George of the Jungle 2) was also in the mix.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 22-hour series, a contemporary take on the popular comic strip franchise, is slated for an August premiere. It will feature Johnson as space traveler Flash Gordon embarking on all-new adventures.
I do like the idea of SciFi getting there hands on THIS remake.
The original Flash Gordon was rather hokey, but with the success of Battlestar Galactica to their credit, can this go wrong?
And really, just LOOK at Johnson. He looks like Flash Gordon. Granted, Flash was a brawny beefcake of a 70s sex symbol so I would expect this treatment to be less corny, and darker. Johnson, when on Smallville was the star quarterback, so I doubt it will be a stretch.
I also liked the 80’s version of Flash. I wonder if they’ll pay homage to the 80’s version of flash?
Wasn’t Stephen Sommers, who subjected us to the “Mummy” films and “Van Helsing,” once attached to a ‘Flash Gordon’ movie?
I’d sure as hell rather see this series than whatever soulless CGI crap-fest Sommers would’ve given us.
I also hope we get a bit of a darker, more serious take on the character and his universe – though not as dark and serious as ‘Battlestar Galactica.’ Flash Gordon should be fun, too.
And I’m with Darren: I’d love to see a Buck Rogers redux.
And make John Rhys-Davies Zarkov. It wouldn’t be a stretch after Sliders.
Give Brian Blessed a cameo.
ANYTHING ! ! !
Sam Jones rules the cheese universe!!!
Based on the comic strip, which is from the late 1930’s. The 80’s Flash Gordon movie was a blast, but come on people, can we get some geeks on this site that know some geek history?
Call it hokey all you want but Flash Gordon is still one of the best movies ever.
I question whether or not Whitney from Smallville is the right choice but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Whether he’s 28 or not, Sam Jones looked like a man and Eric Johnson looks like a boy, and that is my biggest concern. Flash is a man’s man, not someone who looks like a college sophomore.
All concerns aside, I’m still really looking forward to this.
I think the Sci-Fi channel is the perfect place for it and I really hope it’s good.
I dont mind being wrong about Eric as Flash.
Hell, I hope I’m wrong, because I’m ready for Flash Gordon to make a comeback.
Eric ruled in Smallville. It was sad to see him go from the show, but now it’s good to see him landing the Flash Gordon role.
Alfie, you do realize that Eric is 28 years old right?
Hardly a boy. Sam Jones played Flash in 1980 at age 26.
And I was hoping for a more dark and real gritty look at Flash Gordon, much like the less fluffy version of BSG that we were treated to.
I don’t insist that “dark is better” but dark is the opposite of the parts of Flash Gordon that I disliked. When it got TOO campy, it wasn’t good at all.
Dark will require no camp.
not everything needs to be dark!!!
dark does not automatically mean something is good or better……
i drives me crazy everytime something is announced and allyou hear is “i hope its dark”…”they better make it dark”…”what they should do is make it dark”
just make it good……..flash gordon doesn’t have to be dark to be good……
UUGGHHHH…never liked the 80’s Flash…cheeezzzy effects and cornball acting…never saw it in the movies just on tape…maybe it needed a big theater…but I did love the serials…they were cheezy but fun…this new series sounds awesome though…Whitney is a good choice…he should look older since it’s been three or more years since he’s been on Smallville so I think he should fit the character…hopefully this version will be darker!
Yeah, Flash Gordon (1980) had some high camp in it, some of it funny, some of it way too much. Sam Jones was so-so, but there wre also throwbacks to the serials, which helped the film. What REALLY made that film? Not that horrid Queen soundtrack, but rather, Timothy Dalton as Baron (and his poisonous woodcrab) and all the villians, specifically Max Von Sydow as Ming. Excellent Ming!!
But, hey, it’s been 27 years. Time to revisit Flash Gordon. I hope they don’t stick him with the “Flash Gordon, Quarterback, New York Jets” gag like the film did (although I’d be giddy if a radio announcer says “this morning’s sudden sonar eclipse is no cause for alarm” and a little robot that vaporizes people, guns, and repeats your smallest whispers like ‘This Ming Is A Psycho!”)
This will probably be alright. But who plays Ming?
And is Buck Rogers far behind in the next Sci-Fi channel reincarnate?
Flash Gordon (1980)is one of the finest films ever made.There is no way this will be a patch on it…
but I am glad to see it being revitalised…I wish they had chosen someone a little older.
Flash is a man. Not a boy.
But I can’t wait…Love the entire flash Gordon universe…they should cast ming carefully…..