If you’ve been paying attention to all the online chatter around Warner Bros.’ “The Flash,” you know there have been a lot of changes to the film, and it’s been an evolving movie as the DCEU has tried to evolve and figure itself out in the last two years. Because as you know, “The Flash” started production when the DCEU was in full swing—replete with cameos like Henry Cavill’s Superman—but the film is now under the aegis of James Gunn’s DC Studios, and it’s been reported that Cavill’s cameo was nixed and some of the other connective tissue to the past has been purportedly scrapped. Additionally, “The Flash” was once set up to re-introduce Michael Keaton as the new Batman of the DC Universe—the actor reprising his role from Tim Burton’s version of the character from the late ‘80s—but it now seems he’s just going to be appearing as a one-off in this movie.
Regardless! Now we have many of our answers as “The Flash” premiered at CinemaCon in Las Vegas this evening. While we and all journalists are barred from writing full reviews, social reactions to the film are evidently AOK.
To that end, reactions from the DC superhero film seem largely positive, if not ecstatic, from certain audiences. Most seem to agree it’s a big crowd-pleaser at the very least, and its bevy of supporting characters means it’s a movie that’s more than just the controversial Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash. Most critics and fans seem to agree that Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” is DC’s best film so far— I certainly think that—and the general sentiment is that this ‘Flash’ film is either just as good or the best one since.
Directed by Andy Muschietti, “The Flash” features, besides Miller and Keaton, Sasha Calle as Supergirl, Michael Shannon, reprising his role as Zod from “Man of Steel,” Ron Livingston as Barry Allen’s father, Maribel Verdú as Allen’s mother, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Ben Affleck as Batman (apparently only a five-minute part) and Antje Traue as Zod’s Phantom Zone partner also from “Man Of Steel.”
Here’s the official synopsis:
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?
“The Flash” opens in theaters June 16, 2023. Read all the reactions below, starting with the comments and thoughts from Playlist Editor-at-Large Gregory Ellwood.