Fans of DC Comics superheroes have been anticipating The Flash movie for quite some time, and despite the film being surrounded by controversy, the latest trailer has given them a sneak peek at what's in store.
The upcoming film stars Ezra Miller as the titular hero, and the latest footage which dropped during this weekend’s coveted Super Bowl has revealed some exciting new developments.
The trailer shows Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) traveling through the multiverse in an attempt to save his mother, much like Geoff Johns’ popular Flashpoint comic. However, as we've come to learn from the recent slew of multiverse movies (see: Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Dr Strange: The Multiverse of Madness, and Everything Everywhere All At Once) his actions have dire consequences.
Fans of Flashpoint will know that Batman plays a significant role and it seems The Flash is no exception. In fact, it ups the ante with not one, but two Caped Crusaders. Ben Affleck will reprise his version of The World's Greatest Detective and for the first time since 1992, Michael Keaton returns.
In addition to the Batmen, the trailer also offers a glimpse of Michael Shannon's return as General Zod from the Man of Steel and Sasha Calle also makes her debut as Supergirl.
Despite excitement from many fans, the controversy surrounding the film’s star is hard to ignore. Miller has faced several legal issues over the past few years starting in 2020 when they were accused of choking a fan in a bar in Iceland, with footage of the incident being shared across social media. Additionally, Miller has faced accusations of inappropriate behavior and the grooming of a young girl, as well as charges of disorderly conduct, burglary, and second-degree assault. Miller claims to have sought treatment for their mental health issues and released a statement apologizing for their past actions.
To say it’s been a turbulent time for DC Studios and its parent company Warner Bros. is an understatement. Last year, in the wake of the Discovery merger, it was announced that the Batgirl film would be permanently ‘shelved’ despite filming being wrapped and post-production well underway. The Guardian reported that it is “among the most expensive canceled cinematic projects ever” after Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav claimed the film “simply did not work”.
Since then, James Gunn and Peter Safran were made co-heads of DC Studios and Gunn released a video outlining their 8-10 year plan for the DC Franchise, including movies, TV shows, and video games, all with a connected storyline. The Flash is set to wipe the slate clean for the upcoming first chapter of their shared universe titled ‘Gods and Monsters’, which will include films such as Superman: Legacy, The Authority, The Brave and the Bold, Swamp Thing, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, as well as HBO Max shows Creature Commandos, Waller, Lanterns, Paradise Lost, and Booster Gold.
Here are just a few of our plans. Up, up, and away! #DCStudios #DCU @DCComics pic.twitter.com/8XNDNLUEPq
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) January 31, 2023
The Flash is directed by Andy Muschietti and written by Christina Hodson, and is set to release on June 16, 2023.
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