At long last, “The Flash” hits theaters this summer, and DCU fans will likely get a sneak peek at the film with a trailer during Super Bowl LVI this weekend. And it’s still a surprise to some that Warner Bros. Discovery moves forward with the movie after all of the controversy last year surrounding star Ezra Miller. But new DC Studios co-head James Gunn aimed to silence critics with a bold declaration at Monday’s DC presentation. “I will say here that “Flash” is probably one of the greatest superhero movies ever made,” claimed Gunn. That’s a bold strategy, Mr. Gunn; let’s see how it plays out for you.
But The Hollywood Reporter notes that Kiersey Clemons, another “The Flash” star, echoed Gunn’s sentiments at the premiere of “Somebody I Used To Know” earlier this week. When asked if she heard Gunn’s comment on the upcoming film, Clemons said “I did, and he said very nice things.” “The Flash” sees Miller’s Barry Allen use his powers to travel back in time to prevent his mother’s murder, leading to unintended consequences in his timeline. Clemons plays Iris West, Barry Allen’s friend and love interest in the upcoming movie. “IT” director Andy Muschietti directs “The Flash,” which, after several release days, hits theaters on June 16.
Clemons continued to have a high praise for “The Flash” and her co-star Miller. “I had a great time,” the actress said about making the film. “I’ve known Ezra for years, and I loved working with Andy. Despite everything, we had a really great time filming and we did make a really great movie. I hope that despite [all the headlines], people really enjoy the movie because what James said is true. I believe what he said and I think it’s absolutely correct.”
Yeah, about those headlines. For the last calendar year, Miller has been a node of controversy for various incidents, allegations, and criminal investigations. Last month, they pleaded guilty to trespassing in a neighbor’s New Hampshire home this past August. Shortly after the incident, Miller, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, said in a press statement that they’re currently seeking treatment for “complex mental health issues.” “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior,” Miller said in their statement. “I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe, and productive stage in my life.”
Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav has remained silent on Miller’s future with the studio, and Monday’s DC presentation didn’t illuminate the actor’s status any further. “Ezra is completely committed to their recovery,” DC Studios co-head Peter Safran said on Monday. “We are fully supportive of that journey right now.” Safran also said that the troubled star could return as The Flash in future DC content, but that remains inconclusive.
Clemons said reading headlines about Miller is “absolutely” tough, but still supports her co-star and friend. “What people forget is that a lot of people go through that, but they don’t do it with the whole world watching,” she continued. “Although it comes with the territory, it’s really unfair and has been hard watching that.” As for whether she’s watched “The Flash” in its entirety, Clemons admitted she’s only seen “a little bit” of it, but agrees with Gunn’s championing from Monday’s conference: “it looks great.” Along with “Somebody I Used To Know,” directed by David Franco, and “The Flash,” Clemons also has “The Young Wife” coming up, set to premiere at SXSW in March.
So is “The Flash” an all-time great superhero flick, so good that Hollywood may forgive Ezra Miller? That …remains to be seen. Gunn announced a lot of big plans for DC’s future on Monday. And while much of that overrides the canon of upcoming DC films like “The Flash,” “Shazam! Fury Of The Gods,” and “Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom,” much still hinges on those films’ commercial success. Gunn and Safran want to get their new vision of the DCU off on the right foot, so of course, they want people excited about “The Flash,” even with Miller’s controversies still hanging in the air. But with any luck, a trailer for the film drops this Sunday during the Super Bowl, and DC fans can form their own conclusions.
