Adam Copeland Cast As Atom-Smasher In ‘The Flash’

[SPOILERS for The Flash season one ahead.]

The Flash‘s season one finale was a jaw-dropping spectacle that is going to have lasting effects on the series. The events in the finale set up the show to explore the multiverse, rapidly expanding The CW’s DC Universe by introducing and potentially investigating alternate dimensions.

Season one of The Flash was all about exploring the consequences of the particle accelerator explosion that granted Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) his super speed. While that overarching plotline is complete and the show will be building much of its second season cast from alternate dimensions, there are still some loose ends from the explosion that need to be tied up. Namely, the fate of Al Rothstein, who was seemingly killed in the accident.

Comicbook.com has announced that former WWE superstar Adam ‘Edge’ Copeland has been cast as Atom-Smasher for season two of The Flash. Atom-Smasher is the moniker adopted by Al Rothstein in the DC comics when he joins the Justice Society of America, an alternate version of the Justice League. However, The CW told Comicbook.com that Copeland wouldn’t be playing a hero in the Flash season two premiere. Here’s the description of the character on the show:

“One of the most powerful enemies we encounter this season, Atom-Smasher has come to Central City to kill The Flash. His incredible strength and ability to grow to enormous size makes him more than a match for Flash and the entire S.T.A.R. Labs team will have to come together  to find a way to defeat him.”

Atom-Smasher has the ability to control his molecular structure, allowing him to grow to heights of over sixty feet without a problem. His strength and density grow proportionately to his size, allowing him to possess strength that rivals Superman. In one of the more grotesque displays of super powers, his muscles rip and his bones actually break as he grows, reforming at the greater size.

Copeland had a long career as a professional wrestler, officially signing on with the WWE in 1997 and wrestling until 2011. He has moved forward with his acting career, landing a recurring role in Syfy’s Haven as Dwight Hendrickson. The actor’s impressive physicality and experience will benefit him in the upcoming role and allow him to portray an intimidating villain.

In the comics, Atom-Smasher is typically associated with heroes including the Justice Society of America and Infinity, Inc. Both teams of heroes were originally located on the parallel dimension of Earth-Two.The Flash season two will include the introduction of Jay Garrick, so there’s a good chance characters from Earth-Two will be playing a major role in the story.

Jay Garrick, after all, is a founding member of the Justice society, the team Atom-Smasher is most closely associated with. Atom-Smasher has had a few stories where he turns away from superheroism, but he ultimately ends up returning to the side of good each time. Though The CW is introducing him as a villain in the Flash season two premiere, there’s a chance we’ll see him fighting alongside our heroes before the season ends.

The Flash season two premieres on October 6th, 2015 on The CW.