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Hello BC readers, it’s been a while. I’ve been off working on comics (The Freeze Vol 1 trade from Image Comics/Top Cow is in stores now…) but after
Posted in: DC Universe, TV | Tagged: cw, flash, glee, grant gustin, HRL, Max Adler, television
Flash Season 4: Series Adds Glee Alum Max Adler as a Rocking Arsonist
The Flash adds another Glee alum to the Arrowverse as Max Adler is cast as a heavy metal-loving arsonist in an upcoming episode.
Article Summary
- Max Adler, Glee star, cast in The Flash as a metalhead arsonist.
- Max Adler joins the Arrowverse, reuniting with other Glee alumni.
- Jaco Birch, Adler's character, could be a nod to jazz legend Jaco Pastorius.
- Adler acclaimed for emotive portrayal as Karofsky in Glee's LGBTQ+ storyline.
The Arrowverse is filled with former cast members from Glee, including Grant Gustin, Melissa Benoist, Blake Jenner, Peter Facinelli, Charlotte Ross, Nolan Funk, Gregg Henry, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Victor Garber, and Darren Criss. You can now add one more name to that list, as Max Adler, who played David Karofsky, has signed on for an upcoming episode of The Flash.
According to FlashTVNews, Adler will play Jaco Birch, an obsessive music fan who loves classic heavy metal. He's a roadie for some of the newer, contemporary metal bands — and he likes to set things on fire. The name doesn't directly tie to any existing DC character I can find, but that doesn't mean he's not one. The name Jaco might be an homage to the late jazz bass legend Jaco Pastorius, who died at the way-too-young age of 35.
Besides his time on Glee, Adler's credits include Switched at Birth, Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Bones, Blue Bloods, and Criminal Minds. He also appeared in the 2016 film Sully. Ryan Murphy was notably impressed by his performance and decided to expand his role on Glee. In the episode titled "Never Been Kissed," which aired in November 2010 and addressed the theme of bullying among LGBT youth, the character Karofsky is revealed as a closeted gay teenager. Adler's portrayal in the episode "On My Way," the 14th episode of the third season, received acclaim for his emotive depiction of a character struggling with the aftermath of being outed, culminating in a suicide attempt.
The most recognizable fire-related Flash villain is, of course, Heat Wave / Mick Rory, who is currently a part of DC's Legends of Tomorrow and played by Dominic Purcell. There are also similar villains in Firefly, currently in use on Gotham (portrayed by Michelle Veintimilla) and Firebug who has had three different versions over the years.
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.
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