The fifth season of the American television series The Flash, based on the DC Comics character Barry Allen / Flash, premiered on the CW on October 9, 2018 and concluded on May 14, 2019 with a total of 22 episodes. The season follows Barry, a crime scene investigator with superhuman speed who fights criminals, including others who have also acquired superhuman abilities, as he deals with the aftermath of his future daughter's time travel. It is set in the Arrowverse, sharing continuity with other TV series in the universe, and is a spin-off of Arrow. The season was produced by Berlanti Productions, Warner Brothers Television, and DC Entertainment with Todd Helbing as showrunner.
The season was ordered in April 2018, and production began in July. Grant Gustin plays the role of Barry, and main cast members Candice Patton, Daniel Panabaker, Carlos Valdez, Tom Kavanagh, and Jesse L. Martin also return from previous seasons, while Hartley Sawyer, Daniel Nicolet, and Jessica Parker Kennedy were promoted to series regulars due to their recurring status in season four. They are joined by new cast member Chris Klein, and former series regular Keynan Lonsdale makes a guest appearance. The series was renewed for a sixth season on January 31, 2019.
