DC just announced The Flash movie officially began shooting today. Director Andy Muschietti gave fans their first look at the film’s logo on his Instagram.
The Flash film continues the story of Ezra Miller’s version of Barry Allen. It also features many characters we have already met in the DCEU films and the Snyderverse. Kiersey Clemons returns to play Iris West after briefly appearing in the 4-hour long Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max. Also joining the Scarlet Speedster will be not one, but at least two different versions of Batman. Ben Affleck and reportedly Michael Keaton will both be playing Batman. Supergirl will make her DCEU feature film debut, played by Sasha Calle. Maribel Verdú and Ron Livingston join the cast, as Nora and Henry Allen, Barry’s parents. Billy Crudup appeared in both versions of the Justice League as Henry, but will not be returning for The Flash.
View this post on Instagram
The Flash film gives Warner Brothers a chance to hit the reset button on their DC film franchise. The story looks like it will draw inspiration from the 2011 Flashpoint story in the comics. There Barry goes back in time and saves his mother from being murdered. (A crime that sends his father to jail.) The resulting change in the timeline causes major changes to the world. Amazons and Atlantis are fighting a war, which has destroyed a significate portion of Europe in a flood. An older, deadlier Batman dishes out hard justice on the streets of Gotham and there is no Superman.
When first announced, way back when, Ray Fisher was expected to appear as Cyborg in the movie. He plays a pivotal role in the original comic. Since then, however, Fisher has vocally decried his treatment during the filming of Justice League in 2016. In particular, he called out replacement director Joss Whedon and studio president Walter Hamada. As a result, it appears that Cyborg has been written out of the story. (Perhaps to be replaced by Maid of Might, Supergirl?)
The original comic arc ended in a new DC timeline. It created the New 52 Universe which rebooted and streamlined the entire DCU. For five years DC’s main line of comics reflected these changes with various levels of success. But in 2016, change came again with the Rebirth event. The new DCU took elements from the New 52 and other previous versions of DC characters and soft-booting the comics’ continuity. In doing so, they brought back things and characters fans wanted. DC Films can use the new Flash movie the same way, allowing them to expand the DCEU but change things that perhaps didn’t quite work.
