Life truly has its ups and downs; the DCEU has definitively fall victim to this fate numerous times, but new infromation about Zack Snyder's cancelled Justice League sequel, along with the original future of the DCEU as a whole is even more saddening.
While Snyder's vision was originally for the Justice League film to be split into two-parts, with Superman victimized by the anti-life equation, and the apocalyptic demise of earth, the domino's didn't entirely fall orchestrally as he had hoped.
DC storyboard artist Jay Oliva, who had spoke out recently on his time working on the now cancelled Ben Affleck Batman-solo film, has now spoke out revealing an alternate planned Flashpoint film, which would have served as a secondary Justice League sequel, along with revaling the true big bad of the DCEU all along.
"Rick’s movie was laying the groundwork for Zoom as the big baddy of the DC Universe.” - Jay Oliva, Inverse
According to Oliva, The Flash films would have been integral in the progressive storytelling of the DCEU, where the Reverse Flash would have "come from the future to basically f*ck with Barry [Allen]," along with the discovery that he was the one "pulling the strings," toying with the Justice League the entire time.
“It was Professor Zoom pulling the strings because he had come from the future to basically f*ck with Barry. In the Flash movies, Zoom would be the villain in the background. But also in the ancillary other films, you would see some of the influences of Zoom on the rest of the Justice League.” - Jay Oliva, Inverse
In the end, when all hope in the DCEU seems so lost and dearth, that is exactly when you pull the lever, and reboot the DC universe; the actors have done their job, and it is time to put their character's to rest.
“At the ending of Zack’s Darkseid quadrilogy, or whatever, we would end up with a 'Justice League Unlimited' version of the Snyder-Verse. And then you flip it. You do 'Flashpoint Paradox.' Everybody who’s friends are now enemies, and it’s a world that you don’t want to live in. You can reboot the universe and introduce a new cast that way. Because after 10 years, the actors need to go onto something else.” - Jay Oliva, Inverse
Due to the unfortunate circumstances of the theatrical cut of Justice League, Snyder's leaving from Warner Bros., and James Gunn's reboot of the shared universe, it is truly sad for fans to never see a consistent DC universe thrive, and conclude on their terms.
“All of the missed opportunities. Being a part of it was so exciting, and then having to shift gears and pivot. It’s kind of sad. I would’ve loved to have seen it get to this point.” - Jay Oliva, Inverse
Would you have liked to see this alternate plan for the DCEU?
The DC Extended Universe is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and television series produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics.