Warner Bros. already has a successful The Flash TV series, but they’re also going to be releasing a Flash movie that’s completely separate from The CW show. Ezra Miller is set to star as the Scarlet Speedster, and now THR is reporting that screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith (Dark Shadows) is going to make his feature directing debut on the blockbuster superhero film. Grahame-Smith also penned the novels Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
According to THR, The LEGO Movie writer-directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller did a treatment on the script, and were circling it as a directing vehicle, but decided to go with the Han Solo Star Wars spinoff instead. There are no details on what they had planned other than Lord’s comments from this past May where he said that the protagonist will likely be Barry Allen (as opposed to other Flashes like Wally West or Jay Garrick), and that it would be rooted in the DC Cinematic Universe, although it would also be a standalone story.
However, it’s now in Grahame-Smith’s hands since he’ll be writing the screenplay in addition to directing. It’s worth noting that although the character’s solo film is set to arrive on March 3, 2018, he’ll be appearing on the big screen twice before he gets to his standalone picture. He’ll first pop up in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which opens March 25, 2016, and then have a more prominent role in Justice League: Part One, which opens November 17, 2017.
If Warner Bros. brought Grahame-Smith solely to write The Flash, that would make sense. He’s an established screenwriter in Hollywood, he was one of the many people who took a pass at Fantastic Four, and most importantly, he’s writing LEGO Batman. The studio believes he knows his comic books, and so he’s probably the right guy for The Flash mythology.
However, entrusting him with directing duties is a major show of faith. His only other directing credit is two episodes of the show The Hard Times of RJ Berger with David Katzenberg. To go from that to a tentpole superhero flick is a major leap, and also a major show of faith from the studio.
It also makes The Flash standout from the rest of the DCCU movies by being the only one where the writer and director is the same person. Wonder Woman and Aquaman have both struggled with their screenplays even though they both have directors (Patty Jenkins and James Wan, respectively), and perhaps having the writer also be the director will circumvent that issue.
Grahame-Smith also has the unique issue that his movie also has a popular TV series of the same name featuring the same character, and while they might do different things, he has the opportunity to function as the bridge between the two since The Flash TV series is starting up with alternate realities this season. While I don’t think Grant Gustin will be speeding his way through The Flash movie, Grahame-Smith’s film could be the bridge between the two universes. If Marvel is planning to dip into their TV series, Warner Bros. shouldn’t leave money on the table.
So what are your thoughts on Grahame-Smith netting the gig? Is he experienced enough for the gig? What do you want to see in a Flash movie? Sound off in the comments section.
