Gunn recently took to Threads to share this image. It shows Superman sitting in a chair pulling on his classic red boots preparing to battle whatever is happening outside his window. Could this also be a tease for another villain (maybe Brainiac)? Only time will tell.

Check out the image below and let us know what you think.

 

Post by @jamesgunn

View on Threads

 

Superman stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Maria Gabriela de Faria as The Engineer, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Milly Alcock as Supergirl, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord, Terence Rosemore as Otis, Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent, and Neva Howell as Martha Kent.

Superman will hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

The post James Gunn Reveals First Look At David Corenswet As Superman appeared first on DC Comics News.

There’s been a lot said of superhero fatigue given the recent box office disappointment of Marvel and DC movies, so maybe they just wanted us to miss the caped crusader a little longer. Another factor could be it just wouldn’t have been ready in time. We can all safely say Matt Reeves knows what he is doing. Little is known about what the film will be about or who the villain is, so if Reeves needs more time I’d rather wait for him to fully realize his vision.

Another factor to consider is James Gunn’s DCU. It’s common knowledge the The Batman Pt II will not be part of James Gunn’s DCU which get’s its first movie, Superman, in 2025. It could be that Warner Bros didn’t want to muddy the waters.  Lucky for fans we won’t have to wait that long to return to Reeves’ Gotham. This fall will see the release of The Penguin TV series starring Colin Farrell.

Stay tuned to dccomicsnews for more updates!

The post The Batman Pt II Delayed Until 2026 appeared first on DC Comics News.

James Gunn took to Threads recently and shared that principle photography was starting on his Superman film, and even shared a first look at the Superman symbol that will be used. As you can see below, the new symbol takes inspiration from the classic story Kingdom Come, but instead of red and black, it’s red and yellow.

Gunn wrote, “Overjoyed to be announcing the start of principal photography on SUPERMAN today, February 29, which just so happens to be – coincidentally and unplanned – Superman’s birthday.”

 

Post by @jamesgunn

View on Threads

 

After that post, he also commented that while the original name of the film was Superman: Legacy, that has actually changed, and the film will now simply be titled SUPERMAN.

“When I finished the first draft of the script, I called the film ‘Superman: Legacy.’ By the time I locked the final draft, it was clear the title was SUPERMAN. Making our way to you July 2025.”

 

Post by @jamesgunn

View on Threads

 

This works out since the Richard Donner film from 1978 was actually titled Superman: The Movie, and it makes for a much cleaner beginning to this brand new universe at DC Studios.

Superman will star David Corenswet as the titular superhero, along with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord, Maria Gabriela de Faria as The Engineer, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, and Milly Alcock as Supergirl.

Superman is set to hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

The post SUPERMAN: LEGACY Gets Title Change, James Gunn Reveals First Look appeared first on DC Comics News.

Rumors have been floating around in recent weeks about possible choices for this role, and Alcock’s name has consistently been in the mix. It’s been reported that the final round of screen tests came down to her and Meg Donnelly, who actually voiced Supergirl in the recent DC animated movies Legion of Superheroes and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Part One. Many assumed this would give Donnelly an advantage in scoring this role.

Supergirl is set to make her debut in Superman: Legacy and then go on to star in her own solo film, Supergirl: World of Tomorrow, so we’ll definitely be seeing more of Alcock sooner rather than later.

Milly Alcock will be joining a wonderful cast for Superman: Legacy, including David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher, and María Gabriela de Faría as the Engineer.

No official synopsis has been released yet, and James Gunn has said that filming will begin next month, so stay tuned for more news!

Superman: Legacy will hit theaters on July 11, 2025.

The post Milly Alcock Cast As The DCU’s Supergirl appeared first on DC Comics News.

Check out all the details below!

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Announces

Blue Beetle

The DC Super Hero’s First Feature Film

Debuts For Premium Digital Ownership on September 26

 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD arrive on October 31

Burbank, CA, September 20, 2023 – Prepare for the action-packed, modern origin story that takes a fresh, fun look at the Super Hero genre in a can’t-miss spectacle of vibrant visuals, humor and heart when “Blue Beetle” arrives for purchase Digitally at home on September 26. The film is directed by Ángel Manuel Soto (“Charm City Kings”) with Xolo Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) starring in the DC Super Hero’s first-ever standalone feature film. The film will also be available to purchase on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on October 31.

• On September 26, “Blue Beetle” will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $24.99 and for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $19.99 SRP on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies, including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu, and more.
• On October 31, “Blue Beetle” will be available to own on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD. “Blue Beetle” will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

The “Blue Beetle” ensemble cast also includes Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”).

“Blue Beetle” is written Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on characters from DC. The film is produced by John Rickard and Zev Foreman and executive produced by Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant.

Synopsis:

Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero Blue Beetle.

DIGITAL, 4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS

“Blue Beetle” Premium Digital Ownership, 4K UHD and Blu-ray contain the following special features:

• “Generations: Blue Beetle” – 4-part documentary
  • Told in distinct chapters, explore the journeys of actors and filmmakers bringing “Blue Beetle” to the big screen for the first time ever. Audiences will be immersed in the POV of filmmakers who showcase their experiences on set and in their creative studios making the story of this DC character a reality.
• Nana Knows Best – featurette
  • Witness Nana’s transformation from an adorable ‘abuelita’ into a machine gun-wielding revolutionary, and stop in for a few of her most fun moments on set throughout production.
• Scarab Vision – 2-part featurette
  • Xolo Maridueña hosts this series of scene study walk throughs that showcases how the scarab works and the role it plays in some of Blue Beetle’s most epic moments.

Consumer Products

From toys and collectibles to apparel and home goods, WBDGCP’s “Blue Beetle” merchandise comes from premier licensees around the world and includes exclusives direct from Warner Bros. to fans through its DC Shop. Here are just some of the not-to miss “Blue Beetle” products for every member of la familia, designed exclusively for the official DC Shop: “Blue Beetle” Scarab Exclusive New Era Hat, “Blue Beetle” I Love Palmera City Exclusive T-shirt, “Blue Beetle” Big Belly Burger Logo Exclusive T-shirt and more!

BASICS

Premium Digital Ownership: September 26, 2023

4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 31, 2023

4K Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish

4K Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

BD Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish

BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

DVD Languages: Canadian French, English, Latin Spanish

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French

Running Time: 127 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references

DVD: DLBY/DGTL

Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD

PRODUCT                                                                                        ERP

4K UHD + Digital                                                                              $29.99

Blu-ray + Digital                                                                                 $24.99

DVD                                                                                                   $19.99

The Credits

About “Blue Beetle”

From Warner Bros. Pictures come the feature film “Blue Beetle,” marking the DC Super Hero’s first time on the big screen. The film, directed by Angel Manuel Soto, stars Xolo Maridueña in the title role as well as his alter ego, Jaime Reyes.

Starring alongside Maridueña (“Cobra Kai”) are Adriana Barraza (“Rambo: Last Blood,” “Thor”), Damían Alcázar (“Narcos,” “Narcos: Mexico”), Elpidia Carrillo (“Mayans M.C.,” the “Predator” films), Bruna Marquezine (“Maldivas,” “God Save the King”), Raoul Max Trujillo (the “Sicario” films, “Mayans M.C.”), with Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Monarch,” “Dead Man Walking”), and George Lopez (the “Rio and “Smurf” franchises). The film also stars Belissa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories,” “Hocus Pocus 2”) and Harvey Guillén (“What We Do in the Shadows”).

Soto (“Charm City Kings,” “The Farm”) directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer (“Miss Bala”), based on characters from DC. John Rickard and Zev Foreman are producing, with Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Garrett Grant serving as executive producers.

The director’s creative team behind the scenes includes director of photography Pawel Pogorzelski (“Midsommar,” “Hereditary”), production designer John Billington (“Bad Boys for Life”), editor Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “The Lost City”), Oscar-nominated costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (“Jojo Rabbit,” the “Thor” films), visual effects supervisor Kelvin McIlwain (“The Suicide Squad,” “Aquaman”) and composer Bobby Krlic (“Midsommar,” the “Snowpiercer” series).

A Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, a Safran Company Production, “Blue Beetle” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) distributes the award-winning movies, television, animation, and digital content produced by Warner Bros. Discovery to the homes and screens of millions through digital transactions on major streaming, video-on-demand cable, satellite, digital, and mobile channels, and through physical Blu-ray Disc and DVD retail sales. WBDHE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, one of the world’s largest distributors of entertainment programming.

About Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products (WBDGCP), part of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands and Experiences, extends the company’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBDGCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on award-winning toy, fashion, home décor and publishing programs inspired by the biggest franchises from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network, HGTV, Eurosport, Adult Swim, and more. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, and promotional partnerships, WBDGCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About DC

DC, part of Warner Bros. Discovery, creates iconic characters and enduring stories and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. DC’s creative work entertains audiences of every generation around the world with DC’s stories and characters integrated across Warner Bros. Discovery’s film, television, animation, consumer products, home entertainment, games, and themed experiences divisions, and on the DC Universe Infinite digital comic subscription service. Learn more at DC.com.

The post BLUE BEETLE Heads To Home Video This October appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Studio: Warner Brothers
Starring: Xolo Mariduena, Bruna Marquezine, George Lopez, Belissa Escobedo, Raoul Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, Damian Alcazar, Adriana Barraza, Elpidia Carillo
Director: Angel Manuel Soto

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

A mysterious scarab of alien origin bonds with new college graduate, Jaime Reyes giving him powers and abilities he has to learn to control.  With his family behind him, he learns about the Blue Beetle legacy and that of the scarab and the history of Kord industries and a sinister plot to take over the world.

Positives

Like so many things that are good, Blue Beetle is a lot of fun and has a lot of heart.  And, the heart leads to the fun.  That heart can be found in the cast as well as the story that relies on the idea family.  The movie gives us two families, the Reyes family and the Kord family, and they couldn’t be more different.  However, it’s the intersecting of these two families which brings about Jaime’s turn into the Blue Beetle.

The cast brings these families to life, and there isn’t really a weak performance in the lot.  Xolo Mariduena turns in a great job as the lead and it’s easy to imagine him in future appearances as Jaime Reyes.  He brings energy, believability and the right amount of self doubt.  The rest of the cast is equally good.  Mariduena has a real chemistry with Bruna Marquezine who plays Jenny Kord.  George Lopez’s Rudy is the humorous outlet, but he also has a genuine emotional connection with his nephew Jaime.  Susan Sarandon, while a well known experienced actress for nearly five decades fills the villain role of Victoria Kord effortlessly.  

While Jaime’s family rallies around him, Jenny’s aunt, Victoria has no redeeming qualities and is literally out to get Jenny, pushing her closer to the Reyes family.  This contrast is subtle, but a well executed use of the family theme.  The importance of the family shakes out differently than in most superhero fare, Jaime’s family knows his secret and it becomes essential to Jaime’s character.

Positives Cont’d

The presence of the Kord family in this movie is more than just an Easter Egg for comic book fans.  Ted Kord is the second person to use the Blue Beetle moniker in the comics, (although there are arguable two separate Dan Garrett characters, making Ted the third!) and his shadow looms large throughout Blue Beetle.  Victoria is Ted’s sister and Jenny is his daughter, and we learn that Ted is missing.  The filmmakers do a great job of incorporating the Blue Beetle legacy into the story and Jaime’s turn as the hero.  It would have been possible to make a Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle film and ignore the history of the character, but making it integral to the story goes a long way for comic fans.  The appearance and use of Ted’s Bug ship is absolutely fantastic, as well.  Well done!

I’ve never been one to get hung up on CGI to the point that it’s going to ruin a good story and character if not done well.  There isn’t a moment in this film that seemed the least bit wonky.  This summer’s The Flash (even if it was purposeful) had   lot more questionable CGI oddities.  Additionally, using a practical suit for Meriduena works really well.  He has a real presence in scenes that just feels better than a full CGI character.  He’s able to interact more believably with other characters especially in the action scenes. 

There are some real stakes in this film as Jaime’s family is imperiled and not all of them survive.  There is some nuance to Victoria Kord’s muscle, Carapax, and you won’t believe what Nana was doing in her teenage years!  Additionally, there is a throwback feel to some of the film that in-story seems to stem from Ted Kord’s turn as the Blue Beetle.  The music by Bobby Krlic gives a Stranger Things vibe and at the same time the script leans even harder into the family theme in the thrid act.  Jaime’s family (and Jenny)  exhibit the same kind of camaraderie and commitment to each other that we’ve come to expect from Will, Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Eleven.  

There is a great deal of world building in this film that is tied to Jaime’s family, their personal stories as well as Jenny Kord and her father’s heroic legacy.  La Palmera City feels unique, as well.  While Blue Beetle ostensibly takes place within the DC Universe, the film is far enough removed from what we already know about that world that it feels like its own place.  One of the reasons it works is that Blue Beetle is not an original DC character.  He has a long comic book tradition going back to the Golden Age with his debut in Mystery Men Comics #1, August 1939.  DC bought the character from Charlton Comics in the mid-1980’s.  It makes sense that he has his own world, and it’s not hard to imagine the other Charlton Action Heroes popping up along side Jaime- take that Watchmen!

Negatives

It would be easy to start rattling off inconsistencies with the comic book, and the most glaring is the absence of Jaime’s friends Paco and Brenda.   This may bother some fans, but the connection to the Blue Beetle legacy feels like a more important comic book aspect to get right.  Along the same lines, when Jaime is first introduced in the comics, he lives in El Paso, TX.  The movie gives us a fictional city, La Palmera City.  It’s first appearance in the comics is Blue Beetle: Graduation Day #2, and it seems to come from the movie.  DC has a long tradition of fictional cities, but La Palmera City, while supposedly in Texas feels like Miami, and seems to inform the feeling of Hispanic influence on the city.

I’ve spent time in both Miami and El Paso, and the feeling of the cultures is very different.  Jaime’s family is identified as Mexican and some of the slang used in the film is recognizable as such.  Yet, the city itself looks and feel like Miami which creates a bit of an inconsistency in the representation in the film.  You know it’s supposed to be Texas and a Mexican immigrant family, but it looks and feels more like Miami and Cuban culture.

Some will say there are derivative elements to Blue Beetle, but comics have been doing that for years.  The uniqueness in Jaime’s story comes from his heritage, family and the legacy of the Blue Beetle which he will hopefully get to investigate in another outing.  Furthermore, this film gets these familiar elements right and makes them fun and enjoyable.  The tease in the early credits scene is expected, but still exciting.

Verdict

Even if you feel like you’ve seen some of this before, Blue Beetle is a fun film that is done well.    Blue Beetle has something unique to offer in its use of the family theme which gives it a lot of heart.  It’s a significant step up from recent DC movies and genuinely comes across as the start of something new and exciting.  

The post Movie Review: Blue Beetle appeared first on DC Comics News.

The most notable of these castings has to be Guy Gardner, who will be played by longtime friend of Gunn, and pop culture icon, Nathan Fillion. This isn’t the first time Fillion has played a Green Lantern as he has voice Hal Jordan in numerous animated features.

Joining Fillion in the DCU’s take on the Man of Steel is Isabela Merced and Edi Gathegi as Hawkgirl and Mister Terrific, respectively. Merced is best known for her roles in Sicario: Day of the Soldado and as the titular character in the live-action Dora the Explorer movie, while Gathegi previously played Laurent in the Twilight films and Darwin in X-Men: First Class.

While not thought of as one of the most popular Green Lanterns, Guy Gardner definitely has a strong following, and can serve as a great way to introduce the Green Lantern Corps to a wider audience and bring it into a more favorable light, especially after the critically panned 2011 film starring Ryan Reynolds.

There is also a Green Lantern TV series slated for the DCU that will focus on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, so it’s likely that Fillion will reprise his role as Guy Gardner in that, with his role in Superman: Legacy possibly serving as a launching point for the series.

There have been many rumors of a possible film or series based on the superteam The Terrifics, and with the inclusion of that team’s leader, Mister Terrific, this may actually become a reality.

And Hawkgirl gained major popularity during the early 2000’s with the Justice League animated series, and bringing her into this universe may open several possible storyline doors going forward.

Gunn also recently revealed that David Corenswet would be taking on the role of Superman/Clark Kent, while Rachel Brosnahan would be Lois Lane, so the cast is really shaping up to be something special.

Superman: Legacy is scheduled for release on July 11, 2025.

Source: Vanity Fair

The post ‘Superman: Legacy’ Casts Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, & Mister Terrific appeared first on DC Comics News.

Check out the trailer below:

Xolo Maridueña takes on the role of Jaime Reyes, the Blue Beetle, and in this trailer we see his journey to becoming a superhero. After bonding with an ancient alien scarab, Jaime is transformed into the Blue Beetle. We get to see more of his amazing abilities than we did in the first trailer, and how his relationship with the Scarab will grow. Susan Sarandon  pops up again in this trailer as one of the film’s villain, Victoria Kord, who, in the comics, is the sister of the previous Blue Beetle, Ted Kord, as does Carapax the Indestructible Man, played by Raoul Trujillo, in a very comics accurate suit.

The movie will follow recent college grad Jaime Reyes as he returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero BLUE BEETLE.

The film stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle, with Susan Sarandon set to play the film’s main villain, Victoria Kord. Belissa Escobedo is set to play Jaime’s sister Milagro Reyes, while Brazilian star Bruna Marquezine has signed on to play Jaime’s love interest Penny. George Lopez will be playing Jaime’s uncle Rudy and Raoul Trujillo is set to play a secondary villain in Carapax the Indestructible Man. Harvey Guillén is also set to appear.

Angel Manuel Soto directs from a screenplay by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, based on characters from DC.

Blue Beetle is set to hit theaters on August 18, 2023.

The post New BLUE BEETLE Trailer Focuses On Powers, Villains, & Family appeared first on DC Comics News.

This scripted audio drama will star Max Greenfield (New Girl) as Barry Allen/The Flash, in a six-part podcast exclusively on Apple Podcasts.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment describes the podcast as a “companion piece” to the film currently in theaters, though it’s unclear if that means it’s in the same canon of the film or not.

The first two parts will be released on Monday, July 10th, with the remaining episodes dropping weekly on Mondays. The studio says the series will be exclusive to Apple Podcasts “for a limited time” before branching out to other podcast platforms.

Check out the trailer and the full synopsis below:

Barry Allen is at the height of his powers and fame, firmly ensconced as Central City’s favorite Super Hero – but when being The Flash forces him to let Iris down one time too many, she decides to call it quits. Undeterred, Barry figures he can use the Speed Force to go back in time and set things right. But something goes wrong, Barry tumbles into a new dimension, finding himself in a small bedroom with Captain Cold, his powers gone. Cold tells Barry that he’s an unwitting participant in a televised tournament, THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS, which pits humans, superheroes and rogues against one another in life-or-death games of chance. Survive the competition and Barry earns his freedom, recreate the conditions of his original transformation, and return to his own timeline. But to do so, he’ll have to rely solely on his wits. And if that wasn’t hard enough, he soon finds himself facing his toughest opponent yet: Iris West.

All six episodes will also be included with The Flash on Digital, 4K UHD, and Blu-ray whenever it’s released on physical home media.

The post The Flash Audio Drama Coming To Apple Podcasts appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Director: Andy Muschietti

Writers: Christina Hodson, Joby Harold

Starring: Ezra Miller, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, Sasha Calle, Gal Gadot, Michael Shannon, Jeremy Irons

Reviewed By: Derek McNeil

Summary

The Flash (2023): Barry Allen is struck by a bolt of lightning and thus, an extraordinary power is born inside him: The Speed Force. When he uses this power to run back in time and save his mother, he creates a world without heroes and General Zod has returned. To defeat him, his only hope rest in the hands of a retired Batman, another Barry and an imprisoned Kryptonian.

Positives

While this review is marked with a spoiler warning, I will try to avoid spoilers except where absolutely unavoidable. And where unavoidable, I will try to keep them as vague as possible. With an amazing movie like this, I don’t want to risk diminishing the experience in any way for viewers who haven’t already seen it.

I have to say right off the bat that I absolutely loved this movie. I am not sure how the mainstream audience will feel about this entry in the DCEU, but most fans should love it, presuming the don’t refuse to give it a chance due to the actor starring in the titular role.

Right off the start, this movie signals a departure from the DCEU into the James Gunn era of DC movies by debuting the new DC filming opening animation. I would hesitate to say it’s better or worse than the one used for the DCEU films, as I’m still not sure which I like better myself.

But it does serve as a delineation between the DCEU and the Gunn era movies. It does so much more clearly than the movies have so far, as we have so far gotten a soft reboot, with some movies strongly tied to the DCEU still coming out, including Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, and of course, The Flash).

The plotline borrows elements from the comic storyline Flashpoint, which launched led into DC’s New 52 hard reboot. This has led many to speculate that The Flash would do the same thing, with this version of the Flashpoint, leading to a reboot of the DCEU into Gunn’s era of DC movies.

Positives Cont.

However, there are only two notable changes to this version of the DCU once Barry fixes the mess he made. One is a deliberate change Barry made, which seems to have worked out well, even though he was courting disaster by attempting it (When will you ever learn about messing with time, Barry?).

The other is a last minute twist. If the DCEU were continuing, it would be a major change for future movies, but it’s likely just a passing joke that will not affect any of Gunn’s future DC projects. But other than these two changes, it still seems to be the same old DCEU.

Speaking of Flashpoint, I liked that they accurately recreated Thomas Wayne’s device for restoring Barry’s powers from the comics. References like that show that Muschietti is familiar with and pays respect to the original source material. Generally, ignoring or disrespecting the original comics is the quickest way to turn off the superhero fan-base. And I’m glad to see Muschietti avoiding this pitfall that so many superhero movies fall into.

Initially, in the Flashpoint comics storyline, it was implied that Barry’s messing with time was the cause of all the changes introduced in the New 52 era. But somehow Barry’s actions affected events that took place earlier in the timeline, which doesn’t match DC’s rules regarding the timeline. Eventually, it was revealed that these changes were due to Doctor Manhattan messing with time, but the original explanation didn’t seem to make any sense.

Positives Cont.

However, Batman gives an alternate explanation how Barry’s interference has caused changes up and down the timestream. Using uncooked spaghetti as a prop, he demonstrates that there are unchangeable points where timelines intersect. When you make changes in the past, you pivot the entire timeline on that fixed point, changing both the future and the past. I really appreciate that the movie took the time to address a potential plot hole that much of the audience might not even realized is a problem.

One of the best things about this movie is the wealth of guest appearances and cameos of various DC characters from various live action versions. Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot feature prominently in the movie’s opening. And of course, Michael Keaton also reprises his turn as Batman.

And I expect that there will be much talk about the Multiverse scene near the end of the movie. Using archival footage and computer trickery, we are shown various DC heroes from movies and TV shows. It comes as no surprise that Christopher Reeve and Adam West are acknowledged here. But there are some surprising appearances.

One particular hero me by complete surprise. It comes from a movie that was never made, but has become rather notorious among the fandom. Those who know the story will find this reference absolutely hilarious, but I imagine that the rest of the audience will be left scratching their heads in confusion.

I can hardly wait until I get the home video version of The Flash so that I can go through this scene frame by frame. I’m eager to see who else I might have missed.

Positives Cont.

I quite like how The Flash‘ depicts Barry’s superspeed . The effects team do a fantastic job of conveying the speeds that Barry is capable of moving at. Sometimes, the movie shows Barry moving in real time. For instance, we see the world zoom past as Barry runs from Central City to Gotham in seconds. And this gives the audience an inkling of what being the Flash feels like.

At other times, the world around The Flash slows to a crawl allowing Barry to plan his moves and execute them with precision, even though they happen too fast for anyone else to even see him. At one point, several babies and a dog fall from a collapsing hospital. We then witness Barry carefully maneuvering the babies, debris, and other objects into the exact positions they need to be in to allow Barry to save them all.

And as a bonus treat, the end credits roll over the same scene – except from the viewpoint of the dog.

There is quite a bit of humour in this movie, which serves to make watching Th Flash a fantastically fun experience. There are some smaller gags where Barry and Batman get tangled in Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth, leading to the involuntary revelation of some uncomfortable truths.

And pairing Barry with a younger version of himself is mostly comedy gold. Seeing some of his own bad habits from from the outside makes Barry realize how annoying he can be at times. But it also serves to show that Barry is maturing. Meeting a younger, brasher version of himself forces Barry to be the mature one for once.

Positives Cont.

But there is also a lot of pathos in The Flash‘s story too. The death of Barry’s mother and his father getting framed for her murder has been part of the Flash mythos for the past 14 years. They have been at the central of Barry’s story in both the comics and in the CW TV show. But The Flash movie has given us a fresh take on the story, while keeping the actual events substantially the same.

The younger version of Barry exists in a timeline where his mother is still alive. This gives Barry the dilemma of whether or not to tell his younger self about their mother’s death. It makes Barry resentful that his doppelganger got the happy life Barry should have had, but takes it for granted.

And the scene where Barry interacts directly with his mother for the final time is truly heart-rending.

I also found it interesting that Muschietti leaves the identity of Nora Allen’s killer unrevealed. I was waiting for that revelation, but the story goes out of its way to keep the killer a mystery. Muschietti has revealed the killer’s identity in an interview, but stated that Barry’s confrontation with his mother’s murderer would have to happen in a sequel.

This raises the possibility of a sequel. However, given the change of direction Gunn has planned for future DC movies and the controversy around Ezra Miller, if that sequel will ever happen. But at least it give a glimmer of hope that it might happen someday.

Negatives

The elephant in the room is Ezra Miller. His presence is one of the biggest issues with The Flash. While Miller portrays a very likable version of Barry Allen, the actor himself is just the opposite. DC ended up delaying the movie’s release in hopes that the controversy would die down, but the controversy remains. And the delay has given Muschietti plenty of time to deliver a polished final cut.

Some have called for recasting the movie with a new actor, but after seeing the film, I can see that doing so would require reshooting most of the movie. Also, regardless of how you feel about the actor, it’s hard to deny that he did a phenomenal job of portraying not only one, but two Barry Allens. Portraying a dual role for most of a movie’s length is a challenging feat, but he pulls it off admirably.

Negatives Cont.

Others have suggested the idea that people should pirate the movie instead of seeing it in the theatre. I find this to be a stupid reaction. Yes, it would Miller to a degree, but it would also be punishing the rest of the cast, crew, writers, the studio and its employees, and others.

And it’s somewhat hypocritical. If you go to the trouble of pirating it, that’s an admission that you believe it’s worth watching. And if it has value, then pirating is stealing. If you find you cannot support the movie, then just forgo watching it altogether.

While I admit some discomfort watching a movie starring Miller, I am the type of person who can separate my appreciation of art from my distaste for the artist. So, I can forgive Warner/DC from going ahead with The Flash despite the controversy. But it might be for the best if they find a new actor if a sequel ever materializes.

Verdict

I absolutely freakin’ love this movie! The only problem is the casting of Ezra Miller. But since he gave a superb performance and it was too late for WB/DC to recast without raising the cost and lowering the quality, I will give them a pass for this. I also adored every single guest appearance and cameo in the film. After this, I hope Andy Muschietti returns to direct other DC movies. Judging by The Flash, I think we can expect some great things from James Gunn’s era of DC movies.

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