Saturday Star

The Flash’s rough ride to go solo

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Then there’s the weird problem no other DC Comics live-action movie property has to deal with: There’s a hit The Flash television show on The CW. For a lot of fans, Grant Gustin is the Flash. Many fans hoped Gustin would be the speedster in the Justice League movie, but WB/DC has made it clear their television and movie DC Comics properties exist in separate universes. So even though Gustin is into his third season of speedily saving the day on The Flash, he won’t be the one making jokes with Batman on the big screen.

Let’s assume the worst-case scenario that come November, when Justice League débuts, that The Flash still doesn’t have a director. No director by about September means the film won’t meet its March 16 release date next year. But it won’t necessaril­y mean The Flash will be in a crisis of infinite production delays.

Justice League could serve as a test of sorts to see what works well with The Flash cinematica­lly. Of course this is a Flash that has been moulded for the screen by director Snyder, who as godfather of DC Comics on film has been somewhat of a polarising figure. But if there’s one thing Snyder does exceptiona­lly well, it is the visual component of bringing comic book superheroe­s that can do extraordin­ary things to life.

Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice weren’t universall­y praised, but Snyder knows how to make heroes look cool. Part of that cool look is the Flash’s new suit, different from the comic books and CW television show, but channellin­g the Flash from the very popular Injustice video game series. That should get the kiddies revved up.

In the Justice League trailer, the Flash looks spectacula­r with his blue, lightning-bolt-fueled superspeed, zooming around on screen in ways that the television Flash just can’t compare. WB/DC is looking to make Justice League less dark than Man of Steel and B v S, and the Flash is expected to provide much of the comic relief. How well those jokes land when thrown at the always serious mugs of Batman, Aquaman and Wonder Woman will go a long way in determinin­g how excited fans will be for a Flash film.

If Justice League performs well and Miller can provide the fun and laughs along with the big-budget super-speed, The Flash could finally run towards the finish line WB/DC always intended for the character: a multi-movie hit franchise. – The wWashingto­n Post

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