The Flash


  • Debut: January 1940
  • Creators: Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert
  • Studio: Warner Bros
  • Franchise: DC
The Flash Movie Cast News

The Flash Movie Was A Box Office Disaster

The production cost for The Flash was a staggering $200 million, with an additional $65 million pumped into marketing. This would necessitate a break-even point of around $550 million in earnings.

Yet, it opened with a disappointing $55 million, a shadow of what blockbusters of its caliber often rake in. By its fifth weekend, this speedster was rapidly fading, headed towards being labeled one of the biggest flops in Warner Bros.’ century-long history.

Further cementing its disappointing run, the film experienced a sharp decline of over 70% in its second weekend. Comparatively, even past films with lackluster performances, like Batman v. Superman and Suicide Squad, managed to cover their production and marketing costs.

Ezra Miller Had Numerous Off-Screen Issues

Behind the film’s tumultuous journey is a series of unfortunate events and decisions. A significant shadow was cast over its release due to controversies surrounding the lead actor, Ezra Miller. Allegations of harassment, assault, and a widely circulated video of Miller appeared to impact the film’s reception, making it a topic of contention rather than anticipation.

Additionally, The Flash had been ensnared in what the industry terms “development hell” for many years. Initially conceptualized during the Zack Snyder era of the DCU in 2013, the film underwent several changes in hands, with multiple writers and directors contributing to its evolution.

This often viewed as a curse in Hollywood, did the movie no favors. The project’s continuity faced further disruption when Zack Snyder, originally at the helm of the DCU’s vision, departed from 2017’s Justice League due to personal reasons, leading to tonal inconsistencies and production challenges.

Adding to the complexity, The Flash ambitiously aimed to be both a solo showcase for Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen and a multiverse-spanning spectacle bringing in a roster of heroes from different eras. This in itself might have been a compelling narrative, had the DC Universe not been in a state of flux.

The Flash was not just a narrative of speed and time-bending scenarios; it also brought together a constellation of actors and actresses from various eras of the DC Universe, assembling alongside Ezra Miller.

Michael Keaton Returned As Batman

Michael Keaton returned to his iconic role as Batman, a nod to Tim Burton’s 1989 rendition of the Caped Crusader. Keaton’s involvement was seen as a potential draw for long-term fans of the franchise and a bridge across multiverse storylines.

Sasha Calle also made her debut as Supergirl, bringing a fresh face and energy to the ensemble and establishing her character for potential future outings in the DC Universe.

James Gunn, known for his work with Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, was ushered in as the new creative head of DC. Under his leadership, the direction for DC was to start afresh, implying that The Flash would be among the last remnants of the old DC Universe or “Snyderverse.”

However, every cloud has a silver lining. As The Flash found its way to the streaming platform Max, its narrative took a turn. Climbing its way to the top 10 and eventually securing the #1 spot, the film seemed to have found its audience in the digital realm. It’s uncertain whether this resurgence in popularity was due to genuine appreciation, curiosity, or a mix of both.

Further, in a bid to capitalize on the NFT trend, Warner Bros. Discovery announced The Flash as a “blockchain movie,” offering fans a new form of ownership and exclusive content. This move, however, has garnered mixed reactions, reflecting the volatile nature of the NFT market and its alignment with film distribution.

In the end, while The Flash might not have been the box office sensation Warner Bros. had hoped for, its story is a testament to the unpredictability of the film industry.

With change, controversy, and digital landscapes redefining the rules, The Flash might just be the precursor to a new era of cinematic experiences.

After years in development, going through multiple directors, stars, and scripts, The Flash finally made it to the big screen. Instead of a solo origin film, though, it was a time travel/multiverse outing that brought together DC heroes of the past (Michael Keaton’s Batman) and those who never were (Sasha Calle’s Supergirl).

Up until the day of release, the studio and fans thought that finally, DC would have another hit movie, but following the disappointing opening weekend, the entire discourse around the film changed.

With a historic second-week drop in ticket sales, all of a sudden, the odds of James Gunn going forward with The Flash 2 dropped to zero.

The Flash 2 Script That Will Never See the Light Of Day

In 2022, before Black Adam was released and before James Gunn became the new co-CEO of the DCU, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that a script for The Flash 2 was already done.

The script was written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, the screenwriter of Aquaman and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Reportedly, a sequel was a possibility based on the box-office success of The Flash, and after the film became one of the biggest bombs in history, any chance of The Flash 2 was removed from the multiverse along with the Flashpoint timeline.

If another Flash solo film ever materializes, it won’t star Ezra Miller and will have no connection to the Zack Snyder Justice League.

Ezra Miller And The Flash 2

ezra miller the flash ring

Before The Flash hit theaters, director Andy Muschietti insisted that Ezra Miller would reprise their role as Barry Allen for the sequel. Due to the controversy surrounding Miller, Warner Bros Discovery didn’t have the star out on the publicity tour, relying instead on Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, and Michael Sheen.

Despite everyone who worked with Ezra Miller praising their work ethic and professionalism on set, the reality is that the controversy, justifiable or not, had a part in the failure of the film.

How large will remain impossible to truly quantify, but it was a part, and with all of the other Justice League stars being replaced under James Gunn, it stands to reason that Miller will not be back.

Possible Plots For The Flash 2

Thanks to The CW’s The Flash running for so long, the general public is already aware of The Flash’s villains, from the Rogues to Zoom, but if The Flash 2 ever does happen, it should focus on Reverse Flash.

The arch-enemy to The Flash, Eobard Thawne is from the far future, and he’s either Barry Allen’s biggest fan or the source for everything wrong in the hero’s life, depends on who (and when) you ask.

There are plenty of Thawne stories to use for inspiration, but for a speedster villain less tied to time travel, Godspeed is the perfect villain. A former police officer who worked with Barry Allen, August Heart gets superpowers and immediately uses them to murder criminals.

Going with Godspeed as a villain would let The Flash 2 be more grounded, while focusing on what makes Barry a real hero.

What Went Wrong With The Flash?

When Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull included a scene involving using a refrigerator to survive an atomic bomb, the public ruthlessly mocked the film, and poor word of mouth started to cut off the film’s legs at the box office.

The same thing happened 15 years later, with The Flash and the infamous “baby in a microwave” scene. Within hours of the premiere, social media lit up with people mocking the sequence.

Poor VFX effects have dogged The Flash, especially a scene in which Barry runs through time, and it has been getting called out as having worse graphics than a PlayStation 2 game.

Looking beyond James Gunn rebooting the DCU and the controversy around Miller, it’s ultimately the quality of the special effects that appears to have doomed any prospects for The Flash 2.

When Will The Flash Appear In The DCU?

kid flash

Assuming that The Flash 2 will never happen, that doesn’t mean that Barry Allen will never be part of James Gunn’s DCU.

Whether he’s being played by Ezra Miller or someone else, the Scarlet Speedster doesn’t have a solo movie in the first phase of the DCU, referred to as “Gods and Monsters” by Gunn.

With the lack of a Justice League-style film in the lineup as presented by Gunn, it stands to reason that The Flash won’t be back until 2028, at the earliest.

Even then, there are multiple Flashes that could be used, and given how poorly the film went over, it might be time for Warner Bros Discovery to utilize Wally West as the main Flash.

Is Sasha Calle Done As Supergirl?

supergirl the flash

One of the best parts of The Flash was Sasha Calle’s debut as Supergirl, but because of the timeline shenanigans of the plot, she won’t be part of the DCU moving forward.

The actress has said that she wants to keep playing Supergirl, and there is a film in DCU’s first phase, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, based on the graphic novel of the same name.

Yet there’s been no official word if Calle will continue forward, other than she won’t be part of The Flash 2 if it does happen (beyond more damage to the timeline).

Is Michael Keaton Returning As Batman?

michael keaton batman

As with Sasha Calle, The Flash 2, if it were to happen, would do so without Michael Keaton as Batman. After 30 years, and four different Batman, the original big-screen Caped Crusader finally put on the spandex one last time.

He did such a great job, that The Flash was considered by some fans to be a Batman movie.

By all acounts, Keaton enjoyed his time back on screen as Batman, even asking for an on-set photo in the Batcave for his grandson. The canceled Batgirl film was also going to include Keaton, coming back as Bruce Wayne to mentor Barbara Gordon in a role similer to that from the animated Batman Beyond series.

But now that he was back on the big screen, and with a whole new generation of fans, there’s nothing left for Michael Keaton in the DCU.

Latest The Flash Stories


Ezra Miller The Flash

Get A Glimpse At The Flash’s Central City

The Flash director Andy Muschietti showed a glimpse of the movie’s Central City on social media.

1 year ago

The Flash Star Is Boycotting Straight Men Roles

Wentworth Miller, star of The Flash and Prison Break, came out as gay in 2013, and he has been sticking to a promise he made to himself to stop playing straight roles for his own mental health.

1 year ago

ezra miller the flash

See The First Look At Ezra Miller’s New Costume For The Flash

A leaked merchandise image gives us our first look at Ezra Miller’s new costume for The Flash.

1 year ago

Stephen Amell Green Arrow

First Look At Stephen Amell’s Green Arrow Return For The Flash

Stephen Amell posts a photo of himself with his old Arrowverse colleague Grant Gustin on Instagram.

1 year ago

john wesley shipp

Exclusive: John Wesley Shipp Returning For The Flash Final Season

John Wesley Shipp is returning to The Flash for the final season of the Arrowverse show.

1 year ago

ezra miller the flash dc

DC Keeping Ezra Miller On Board Despite Controversy?

With no issues since starting treatment this past Summer, Warner Bros. executives are open to keeping Ezra Miller on board as the DCU Flash.

1 year ago

ezra miller the flash dc

Ezra Miller Is Being Compared To Christian Bale

Ezra Miller’s The Flash is being compared to The Dark Knight.

1 year ago

stephen amell the flash

Stephen Amell Returning As Oliver Queen In The Flash, Our Scoop Confirmed

The CW confirms Stephen Amell is returning to the role of Oliver Queen in The Flash, a story which we scooped the day before.

1 year ago

dcu dead

The Flash Will Introduce A New Justice League

The Flash director Andrés Muschietti says the movie will introduce a completely new version of the Justice League.

1 year ago

stephen amell

Exclusive: Stephen Amell Appearing In The Flash Final Season

Stephen Amell is returning for the final season of The Flash.

1 year ago

terence stamp

Exclusive: Terence Stamp Returning As General Zod In The Flash

Terence Stamp will reprise the role of General Zod in The Flash via CGI.

1 year ago

the flash legends of tomorrow

The Flash Is Bringing Back The Best Character For Its Final Season

Season 9 of The Flash brings back John Diggle, Bloodwork, and best of all, the Kid Flash, Wallace West.

1 year ago

michael keaton batman

See Michael Keaton’s Batwing From The Flash Movie

An early toy reveal from The Flash shows Michael Keaton’s Batman is returning with a brand new Batwing.

1 year ago

the flash

The Flash Star Gets His Own Series

Jesse L. Martin, longtime Law & Order and The Flash star, will finally be leading his own series, The Irrational, at NBC starting next year.

1 year ago

the flash

The Flash Is Getting An Enormous First Look And Here’s When

For the first time in 17 years, Warner Bros. is airing a commercial during the Super Bowl, and it will be for its new movie, The Flash.

1 year ago

dwayne johnson black adam

Dwayne Johnson Refused Black Adam Return?

Dwayne Johnson allegedly refused to return as Black Adam for The Flash.

1 year ago

ezra miller the flash

The Flash Has Cut Another Huge DC Cameo

A Wonder Woman cameo has now been cut from The Flash.

1 year ago

the cw arrowverse the flash

Arrowverse Star Making Surprise Comeback In Last Season Of The Flash

It’s been a rough year for fans of the Arrowverse show, The Flash, with the series finally coming to an …

1 year ago

ezra miller the flash

Ezra Miller’s The Flash Is Being Called As Good As Spider-Man: No Way Home

The upcoming, frequently delayed Ezra Miller movie The Flash is at the same level of quality as the 2021 film …

1 year ago

ezra miller the flash

Ezra Miller’s The Flash Gets A Redesign

After the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, there have been a lot of changes to the DC Universe. The Batgirl movie was canceled for …

1 year ago

michael keaton batman

Michael Keaton’s Role In The Flash Gets Disappointing Update?

A new report claims Michael Keaton’s appearance in The Flash movie is being significantly reduced, and the actor himself may be walking away from the role of Batman.

1 year ago

michael keaton batman

Michael Keaton’s Batman Return Being Axed By Warner Bros. Discovery?

David Zaslav’s recent comments that there wouldn’t be “four Batmans” has some speculating Michael Keaton’s return to the role has been canceled.

1 year ago

batwoman

Batwoman Returning In The Flash For Final Season

Batwoman star Javicia Leslie will appear in the final season of the CW’s The Flash.

1 year ago

ezra miller flash

Ezra Miller’s Flash Replacement Chosen?

A new report claims Ezra Miller may be out as The Flash, replaced by 1917 star George McKay.

1 year ago

tom hanks flash 2

Exclusive: Tom Hanks In Talks For Flash 2 Villain

Tom Hanks is in negotiations to play the villain of The Flash 2, and we speculate as the Reverse Flash.

1 year ago

the flash 2

Ezra Miller’s The Flash 2 Already In The Works?

Ezra Miller may actually star in The Flash 2, which already has a completed screenplay.

1 year ago

ezra miller the flash

Ezra Miller Facing Up To 26 Years In Prison

Ezra Miller is facing a combined 26 years in prison from a felony burglary charge and a misdemeanor petit larceny charge.

1 year ago

ezra miller fantastic beasts

Spider-Verse Actress Slams Ezra Miller

Issa Rae slammed Ezra Miller and the movie industry for always protecting “repeat offenders.”

1 year ago

ezra miller the flash

Ezra Miller’s The Flash Is Finally Finished?

Ezra Miller and The Flash are moving forward, as the final cut of the movie has now been reached.

1 year ago

superman

Exclusive: Henry Cavill Shooting Superman Scenes For The Flash

Henry Cavill is back as Superman in The Flash, thanks to Dwayne Johnson talking to WB.

1 year ago