The Flash: TV to film a slow journey
NO JUSTICE Leaguer has it as rough when it comes to solo movies as The Flash. Batman? Sure, he’s had some controversy. Batman himself, Ben Affleck, didn’t want to direct The Batman, but it’s found a new director in Matt Reeves. At the end of the day, it’s Batman. As long as Joel Schumacher isn’t consulted, the Dark Knight should be fine the next time he hits the screen solo.
Wonder Woman’s Patty Jenkinsdirected solo film this June could be the type of epic, not-directed-by-Zack Snyder masterpiece of a cinematic journey many fans felt DC Comics characters were always capable of producing.
Aquaman is now permanently a badass thanks to Jason Momoa. Warner Bros released a clip of Momoa leaping off the Batmobile to take on flying Parademons in the Justice League trailer and, just like that, Aquaman (December 21, 2018) became one of DC’s most anticipated future movies. Cyborg? Who knows if there is a solo movie in the near future for him, but all those kids who made the Teen Titans Go! cartoon so popular should be hyped to see him in Justice League.
Superman? Superman is dead and his movie future looks brighter than The Flash’s.
No one has hit more speed bumps on the way to movie production than DC’s Scarlett Speedster, who will be portrayed by actor Ezra Miller.
Not one, but two directors (Seth Grahame-Smith and Rick Famuyiwa) have given up on the chance to make a live-action Flash movie after initially signing on with Warner Bros and DC Entertainment.
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 Network. 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 debuts, that The Flash still doesn’t have a director. No director by this time means the film won’t meet its March 16, 2018 release date. 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 boltfuelled super-speed, zooming around on-screen in ways that the television Flash just can’t. That’s the difference a Hollywood blockbuster special effects budget can bring.
WB/DC is looking to make Justice League less dark than Man of Steel and Batman v Superman, 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 bigbudget super-speed, The Flash could finally run towards the finish line WB/ DC always intended for the character: a multi-movie hit franchise.