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“The Flash” Movie Will Feature the Return of Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton
There has been a lot of uncertainty regarding “The Flash.” The upcoming film, which centers around a forensic scientist named Barry Allen who gains superspeed powers, will star Ezra Miller. Over the past few months, the actor has been arrested multiple times in Hawaii for disorderly conduct and harassment. Due to their behavior, people have questioned whether Miller should still be portraying the scarlet speedster on the big screen or whether they would be replaced with another actor like Grant Gustin or Dylan O’Brien. After drawing concern from the public, Miller issued a statement revealing they had begun mental health treatment in order “to get back to a healthy, safe, and productive stage in my life.”
As of now, Miller is still attached to the film, which is expected to premiere in the summer of 2023. While the official trailer hasn’t been released yet, there are a few details about “The Flash” we know so far, including its plot, cast, and release date. Check them out here.
"The Flash" Movie Plot
In “The Flash,” Barry will use his speedster powers to travel back in time to try to prevent his mother’s murder. The plot will be based on the popular 2011 comic-book storyline “Flashpoint,” which was also brought to life on the “Flash” TV series starring Gustin. In the comics, Barry successfully saves his mother, but he soon realizes that his actions come with unintended consequences. What will those be? Well, in the comics, Barry wakes up in a new timeline where the Flash, the Justice League, and Superman don’t exist. If the film takes a similar approach, it could change the DC Extended Universe forever.
"The Flash" Movie Villain
The official villain of “The Flash” has yet to be confirmed, but there’s a theory it could be the Reverse-Flash. In the comics, the Reverse-Flash, aka Eobard Thawne, is a speedster just like Barry, except he uses his powers for evil. The Reverse-Flash is responsible for killing Nora Allen in the “Flash” TV series and frames her husband, Henry Allen, for her murder. Since the “Flash” movie will also follow the events of “Flashpoint” just like the series, it’s possible Eobard could be the film’s main villain.
Some fans also think Black Flash could be the villain instead. He is the personification of Death and essentially takes speedsters back to the Speed Force (which is where their powers come from) when their time is up. The reason fans think either the Reverse-Flash or Black Flash could appear in the film is due to a crew member’s social media post. The crew member posted a now-deleted photo of a T-shirt they got on set while filming “The Flash,” and fans were convinced it featured a logo of an iconic Flash villain.
"The Flash" Movie Cast
Besides Miller, another confirmed cast member of “The Flash” is Ben Affleck, who will reprise his role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in the DCEU films like “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) and “Justice League” (2017). Michael Keaton will also star in the film. He’ll also return as his version of the Dark Knight from the beloved films “Batman” (1989) and “Batman Returns” (1992).
“The Conjuring” actor Ron Livingston will play Barry’s father, Henry Allen, while “Snow White” star Maribel Verdu will portray Barry’s mother, Nora Allen. “The Book of Boba Fett”‘s Temuera Morrison will also reprise his role as Aquaman’s father and lighthouse keeper Tom Curry from the 2018 “Aquaman” film. Kiersey Clemons, who previously appeared in Zack Snyder’s “Justice League,” will star as journalist Iris West. Finally, “The Young and the Restless” star Sasha Calle is set to make her debut as Supergirl in the film.
Ezra Miller's Controversies
Miller has been wrapped up in a number of controversies since signing on to “The Flash” franchise. For example, in April 2020, a video surfaced online of the actor reportedly choking a woman in Iceland. More recently, on March 28, Miller was arrested for disorderly conduct and harassment in Hawaii following an incident at a karaoke bar. The star reportedly “became agitated” when people started singing and even grabbed a microphone from a woman and “lunged” at a man playing darts. Days later, a couple reportedly filed a temporary restraining order in Hawaii against Miller for “bursting into their bedroom and threatening them.”
On April 20, Miller was in the news again. This time, they were arrested on suspicion of assault for reportedly throwing a chair and hitting a woman in the head. Months later, on June 8, Miller was accused of grooming a minor from the age of 12 and giving them alcohol and drugs while underage. In a separate incident on June 16, a mother and her 12-year-old child were granted a temporary harassment prevention order against Miller due to the actor reportedly threatening their family and acting inappropriately toward the minor.
Miller released a statement about their recent behavior on Aug. 15. “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,” Miller wrote in the statement. “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.” According to a Variety report, Warner Bros. studio reportedly supports Miller’s decision to seek professional help.
"The Flash" Movie Release Date
“The Flash” has been delayed multiple times. Following the character’s appearance in the 2017 “Justice League” film, fans were supposed to see the scarlet speedster return in his solo film in March 2018. However, due to a lengthy search for a director and issues caused by the pandemic, “The Flash” was delayed until July 2022 and then again to November 2022. As of now, the film is expected to hit theaters on June 23, 2023.