After years of stalled development, The Flash film is finally in production in England, and set photos are falling through the cracks. The film and its character’s involvement has been the subject of debate among fans, with some believing that he should have stayed out of the DCEU and remained only on television.
The last time fans got to see this version of the Scarlet Speedster in action was in Zack Snyder's Justice League, but he will now be the latest DC hero to star in his own film within the DCEU. With a set release in late 2022, there’s still a lot of time for more information to come out and for opinions to change. Here’s what we know so far about The Speedster’s first solo entry into the DCEU.
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One of the main reasons The Flash has been in development for almost a decade is its inability to find a lasting or suitable director. Scheduling conflicts took the title away from Hollywood legend Robert Zemeckis and Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn. Writing partners John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were set to direct but left to tackle the new Dungeons & Dragons film.
November 2019 brought in the film’s current (and hopefully final) director — Andy Muschietti, known for It and It Chapter Two. While Muschietti’s background is primarily in horror, it could be interesting to see where he lands on the tone of the film. A Flash film with thriller elements could be a refreshing twist. Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson will be penning the script. As a writer who has already spent time in the DCEU, Hodson seems like a perfect fit.
Ezra Miller will don the tight red suit once again and take on the role of Barry Allen. Miller has been playing The Speedster since the beginning of the DCEU, with their cameo in Batman V. Superman and their bigger role in Justice League. The Flash will also mark the first appearance of the DCEU’s Supergirl, played by Sasha Calle. Kiersey Clemons will be reprising her role as Iris West, Barry’s love interest.
The most interesting casting choice is the inclusion of not one, but two separate Batmans. Ben Affleck is set to return as Bruce Wayne, who will have a deep bond with Barry, according to Muschietti. Former Batman Michael Keaton will be in the role of an older Bruce Wayne from an alternate timeline. Keaton last played Batman in 1992’s Batman Returns. An alternate Batman means that manipulating time is guaranteed in The Flash film, giving fans a better idea of what kind of adventure Barry Allen could be going on.
Only a few details have been released about The Flash’s plot. The film will tell its own version of the intriguing “Flashpoint” event from the original DC comics and animated adaptations. “Flashpoint” occurs when Barry Allen decides to travel back in time to save his mother’s life. Allen’s mother’s death was blamed on his father, Henry West, and majorly affected his upbringing.
As it seems with all time travel, the decision comes with consequences of epic proportions, throwing the timeline and its characters into chaos. This chaos is the perfect opening for Keaton’s Bruce Wayne to appear, with hopefully even more characters along for the ride that will be revealed later.
There’s still quite a bit unknown about The Flash film. One of the biggest pieces missing is the absolute silence on the identity of the film’s villain. If DC wants to expand and connect its extended universe and its Arrowverse on the CW, it could be possible that the villain is one of the many introduced through The Flash television show. Working in the “Flashpoint” storyline brings a lot of options to the table as well, with variations of The Flash able to come and wreak havoc against Barry Allen.
An obvious choice lies in the villain being Eobard Thawne, otherwise known as the Reverse Flash. Reverse Flash is the main antagonist in the original Flashpoint comics and while almost expected, The Flash team could deliver his appearance in an exciting way, similar to the delivery The Flash’s writers gave on the CW series.
Delivery could also extend to the film’s tone. While most of the DCEU has been focused on darker, gritty moments for our favorite heroes, The Flash’s characterization hasn’t always been consistent. This new film has the potential to take the character and DC in a new direction, so a lot is riding on its portrayal of Barry Allen. For years, The Flash seemed to be nothing more than pieces floating around fans, but now, the pieces are finally coming together.
The Flash is set to premiere in theaters on November 4, 2022
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