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The Flash is one of DC’s most popular characters, and this film will mark the very first time The Scarlet Speedster leads his own movie. Barry Allen has been running on our television screens for nearly a decade, and as Grant Gustin steps away from the role, Ezra Miller will continue the legacy of the fastest man alive.When it comes to The Flash, there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the project. The film has gone through four sets of directors, saw multiple script rewrites, and the star has faced legal trouble over the past year. There are a lot of questions surrounding The Flash, and we’re answering every single of them. Here is everything you need to know about The Flash.Editor's Note: This piece was updated on June 4, 2023.
What Is The Flash About?
The Flash travels through time to prevent the murder of his mother but unwittingly causes changes that result in the creation of a multiverse. The film is based on the iconic Flashpoint event from DC Comics, where Flash meets new versions of Batman and Superman as he strives to prevent the multiverse from collapsing.
The official synopsis for The Flash via Warner Bros reads:
Warner Bros. Pictures presents “The Flash,” directed by Andy Muschietti (the “IT” films, “Mama”). Ezra Miller reprises their role as Barry Allen in the DC Super Hero’s first-ever standalone feature film. Worlds collide in “The Flash” when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?
Is There a Trailer for The Flash?
We got a first look at the film during DC Fandome in October 2021, which can be watched below:
After months of uncertainty, anticipation, and speculation, the first official trailer for The Flash premiered on February 12th, 2023, during Super Bowl LVII. This marked the first time since 2006 (Super Bowl XL) that Warner Bros. had paid for a TV spot during the big game. It can be watched below:
The trailer not only includes our best look yet at Michael Keaton's highly anticipated return as Batman, but it also confirms the return of Michael Shannon's General Zod, Ben Affleck's Batman, and the cinematic debut of Sasha Calle's Supergirl. The nearly 3-minute long trailer also teases some of the film's big action sequences but also the parallels to Flashpoint.
Trailer number two for The Flash debuted during CinemaCon 2023. In this trailer, we see more of Barry Allen as he realizes the world he has created. Michael Keaton delivers an iconic one-liner, and Supergirl's fury rages on. It truly is madness in this multiversal adventure.
The final trailer for The Flash dives a little deeper into the film's story as Barry tries to help the new universe he finds himself in. The alternate reality version of Barry Allen is shocked by the events, but with the help of Supergirl and Batman, they'll save both timelines.
When Is The Flash Coming Out?
The Flash will speed into theaters on June 16th, 2023. The film will be the second DC film of the year, following Shazam: Fury of the Gods. It will be proceeded by Blue Beetle and Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. While we don’t know where the DC Universe will go after 2023, we know that writer David Leslie Johnson McGoldrick (Aquaman) has already written a Flash sequel.
Following in the footsteps of recent films like Top Gun: Maverick and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, The Flash premiered at CinemaCon to much praise. Collider's Editor-in-Chief, Steven Weintraub, gave his initial reaction.
Two months before its worldwide release, Premiering the film means Warner Bros is extremely confident in the superhero blockbuster.
Who Are the Cast of The Flash?
Ezra Miller stars as Barry Allen/The Flash in the film. The actor will be reprising their role for a third time in the DC Universe (fourth if we’re counting both cuts of Justice League) as the character gets his first solo outing on the big screen. Miller recently pleaded guilty to trespassing charges in 2022 and avoids three months of jail time.
The actor addressed their behavior in August 2022, saying:
“Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment. I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe, and productive stage in my life.”
Andy Muschietti gave an update at CinemaCon regarding the troubled star. Simply saying:
They’re taking the steps to recovery. Ezra is dealing with mental health issues, but they’re well. We talked to them not too long ago, and they’re very committed to getting better.
Starring alongside Miller will be Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Sasha Calle as Supergirl, Temuera Morrison as Tom Curry, Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen (taking over from Billy Crudup), Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, Michael Shannon as General Zod, and Antje Traue as Faora-Ul. Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Rudy Mancuso, and Luke Brandon Field will also star in the film in undisclosed roles.
Calle shared her excitement about bringing Kara Zor-El to life:
“I remember graduating college, and I did a vision board, and Gal Gadot is on there as Wonder Woman. And now I feel really blessed that I am playing Supergirl. I wish I would have had a hero like the Supergirl we’ve created when I was little. She is a badass."
Who Are the Creatives Behind The Flash?
Director Andy Muschietti (IT) is leading the charge. He is the fourth director attached to the project. Phil Lord and Chris Miller (The Lego Movie), Seth Grahame-Smith (writer for The LEGO Batman Movie), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), and the duo of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Game Night) were all set to direct between 2014-2019 before Muschietti taking over. The Flash is written by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey) and Joby Harold (Army of the Dead).
Is The Flash Connected to the Other DC Films?
The Flash film takes place within the DC Extended Universe. It shares continuity with Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam, Birds of Prey, Black Adam, and The Suicide Squad films. It has no connection to The Batman or Joker, as those exist in their own respective universes.
That being said, the DC Universe is entering a new era under James Gunn and Peter Safran with many of the iconic characters like Superman and Batman being recast with new actors filling the roles, while that may sound like a cause for concern, Gunn revealed how the new film will fit into his DCU.
“So, how can we take these things together and make them make sense and have them unified and have it one real universe?...I think that we've gotten lucky with the next four movies, frankly, because we have Shazam, which leads into Flash, which resets everything which then goes into Blue Beetle, which is totally disconnected…But the one thing that we can promise is that everything from…our first project forward, will be canon, and will be connected. We're using some actors from the past, we're not using other actors from the past. But everything from that moment forward will be connected and consistent.”
Gunn also had high praises to say about the film:
“Can I say one more thing? The Flash is fucking amazing. Like it's one of the best superhero movies I've ever seen. [Director] Andy Muschietti did an amazing job.”
Ben Affleck co-starred in Justice League alongside The Flash star, Ezra Miller. Affleck confirms the major DCEU connections by detailing a scene that he shot with another DC hero.
"I don’t wanna give a spoiler, but it was a scene where I get caught, I get saved by Wonder Woman during a conflagration with some bad guys. And she saves me by– I mean, I’m sure the spoiler, DC assassins are gonna get me, but […] she saves me with the Lasso of Truth. And so what happens is that Batman divulges some of his real feelings about his life and his work... I was like, 'Wait a minute, I got it!'"
At CinemaCon, Andy Muschietti talked about the future of the franchise, saying:
"We can’t predict the future, everything that we hear is gonna happen is very exciting. We don't know much more than you do, honestly. But again, this is a movie about beginnings and not endings, and we certainly hope so."
Comic Book History and Inspiration
The Flash is a film based on a comic book character of the same name. Barry Allen is a forensic scientist who gains superpowers after getting struck by a lightning bolt and falling a shelf of chemicals. Allen is the second of many characters to take on the mantle of The Flash, the first being Jay Garrick (member of the Justice Society of America), and the third being Wally West (founding member of the Teen Titans and core part of the Justice League).
After gaining super speed, Barry Allen decides that he can use his powers for good and protects Central City from his vast rogue gallery. The Scarlet Speedster goes on to be a founding member of the Justice League, best friends with Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), and a key player in almost every major event in DC Comics.
One of Barry’s biggest stories in Flashpoint, a series written by Geoff Johns, has Barry go back in time to save his mother from being murdered. This leads to a ripple in time and causes the end of the world. Now, Barry has to make things right and find a way to reset the timeline before it’s too late.
The Flash film is inspired by Flashpoint and will be pulling different elements from that story. The first is a new person playing Batman, which is why Michael Keaton is here instead of Ben Affleck. Also, Sasha Calle will likely replace Superman’s role in the story.
Will The Flash Get a Sequel?
While DC Studios has mapped out its future plans, we'll have to wait and see where The Flash fits in. Andy Muschietti gave us a small update on if The Flash will get a sequel, saying:
"We didn't talk about it. I think that we're all waiting to see how this movie does. Of course, there's excitement about continuing the story, especially if this movie is successful. Of course, there's an architecture in DC that is brewing, and it's being created. And the question is, will this new architecture absorb this story? The good thing about the multiverse is that it is possible. The multiverse allows all of these different worlds to coexist and interact, and so, hopefully, yes, I mean, we don't know yet. That's the truth."
Will The Flash Movie Tie Into the TV Series?
The Flash television series is about to start its ninth and final season on The CW. Ezra Miller’s Flash did meet Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen during the crossover event, "Crisis on Infinite Earths," in 2020. While The Flash movie will see different versions of Batman and even multiple versions of Barry himself, it seems unlikely that the two will cross paths again. Gustin finally addressed the question, saying:
No. There’s been a lot of rumors out there for a long time, and no one's come out directly and asked me, ever, on the record. You know, people ask me on the street all the time and, yeah, I’m not keeping some big elaborate secret.
Will The Flash Be Available on Streaming?
In 2020, Warner Bros. made their entire film slate available in theaters and on HBO Max on the same day. Later in 2021, the studio shifted to a 45-day release window, where the films were theater exclusive for a month and a half. As of 2022, the company has slowly returned to the usual status quo. Most movies take at least three months before it lands on HBO Max. It’s safe to assume that if The Flash is a success, the film won’t hit streaming until October at the earliest.