Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)

"Crisis on Infinite Earths"
Arrowverse crossover event
The Monitor looming over various Arrowverse characters. White Canary, Black Lightning, Batwoman, Flash, Green Arrow, and Supergirl are prominently featured in the foreground.
Promotional poster for the first three episodes
Part 1: Supergirl
Episode title"Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One"
Episode no.Season 5
Episode 9
Directed byJesse Warn
Story by
Teleplay by
Production codeT13.21809
Original air dateDecember 8, 2019 (2019-12-08)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Wrath of Rama Khan"
Next →
"The Bottle Episode"
Supergirl season 5
List of Supergirl episodes
Part 2: Batwoman
Episode title"Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two"
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 9
Directed byLaura Belsey
Written by
  • Don Whitehead
  • Holly Henderson
Production codeT13.21958
Original air dateDecember 9, 2019 (2019-12-09)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"A Mad Tea-Party"
Next →
"How Queer Everything Is Today!"
Batwoman season 1
List of Batwoman episodes
Part 3: The Flash
Episode title"Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three"
Episode no.Season 6
Episode 9
Directed byDavid McWhirter
Story byEric Wallace
Teleplay by
Production codeT27.14009
Original air dateDecember 10, 2019 (2019-12-10)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The Last Temptation of Barry Allen, Pt. 2"
Next →
"Marathon"
The Flash season 6
List of The Flash episodes
Part 4: Arrow
Episode title"Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Four"
Episode no.Season 8
Episode 8
Directed byGlen Winter
Written by
Production codeT27.13958
Original air dateJanuary 14, 2020 (2020-01-14)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Purgatory"
Next →
"Green Arrow & The Canaries"
Arrow season 8
List of Arrow episodes
Part 5: Legends of Tomorrow
Episode title"Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Five"
Episode no.Season 5
Special episode
Directed byGregory Smith
Written by
Production codeT13.21908
Original air dateJanuary 14, 2020 (2020-01-14)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Hey, World!"
Next →
"Meet the Legends"
Legends of Tomorrow season 5
List of Legends of Tomorrow episodes
Crossover chronology
Preceded by"Elseworlds"
Followed by"Armageddon"

"Crisis on Infinite Earths" is the sixth Arrowverse crossover event, featuring episodes of the television series Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow on The CW. The Supergirl, Batwoman, and The Flash episodes aired in December 2019 while the Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow episodes aired in January 2020. The events of the Black Lightning episode "The Book of Resistance: Chapter Four: Earth Crisis" (which aired between Batwoman and The Flash) and a two-issue comic book with characters and concepts unused in the live-action episodes also tied into the event.

"Crisis on Infinite Earths", inspired by the comic of the same name, continues plotlines established in the previous crossover, "Elseworlds". The preceding episodes of Arrow season eight and much of The Flash season six serve as a prelude to the crossover. In "Crisis", the Monitor gathers Green Arrow, the Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman, Sara Lance, Ray Palmer, and several others from throughout the multiverse to stop the Anti-Monitor from destroying reality. The crossover's events result in some aspects of the Arrowverse being rebooted, affecting all of the series.

Initial references to the crossover began in 2014 with The Flash's pilot episode. The adaptation began in earnest during the development of "Elseworlds", and the crossover's title was revealed at the end of "Elseworlds" in December 2018. Casting was announced in mid-2019 and included actors who previously portrayed DC characters in other media, such as Burt Ward and Kevin Conroy. Cress Williams from The CW series Black Lightning crossed over with the Arrowverse for the first time, and other actors reprised their roles from various DC film and television series. The event was filmed from the end of September to the beginning of November 2019.

"Crisis on Infinite Earths" was critically praised for its scope, ambition, and the many cameos, though the fate of Oliver Queen had a mixed reception. The crossover proved popular, as each episode gave season-high ratings to its corresponding series. A two-episode aftershow, Crisis Aftermath hosted by Kevin Smith, aired after parts one and three to explore the crossover's events. "Crisis on Infinite Earths" was intended to be followed by a crossover between Batwoman and Superman & Lois in 2021,[1] but this did not occur because of the COVID-19 pandemic,[2] being replaced informally by David Ramsey appearing as John Diggle on multiple Arrowverse series.[3] The next crossover, "Armageddon", occurs over the first five episodes of the eighth season of The Flash in November and December 2021.[4]

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  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference RamseyCrossover was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Armageddon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).