Editorial: The Flash - Why It Should Be Warner Bros.' Next Big Franchise

Editorial: The Flash - Why It Should Be Warner Bros.' Next Big Franchise

I give my thoughts on a Flash movie including marketing, actor, director, etc. I also give my ideas for other DC franchises, the Justice League and why it's important to remind people comic-book movies can still be out of this world...

Editorial Opinion
By ClarkKent89 - Nov 17, 2013 07:11 AM EST
Filed Under: The Flash

These are my ideas for what I'd want from a Flash movie and why the Flash could be Warner Bros.' and DC's next big hit. (Note: the character I'm looking at is the Barry Allen universe so any faults or references to anything else is because either I'm unfamiliar with the source material or I made it up for my own purposes)


The idea of the Flash revolves around a special effect(s) that's existed almost forever.. Slow motion. The Flash is obviously a fast guy who can make tornadoes by sprinting around a lot and can even manipulate time which brings up the other effect, time freeze. There are so many adverts these days that have the camera go around a house where (for example) a party's going on, and the camera shifts from coca-cola being chucked around, to people jumping, to a dog in a balloon all in one shot, or at least it's made to look that way. If day-time adverts are achieving this, then Warner Bros. and DC barely have to reach their hand in their wallet where this effect could be perfected in just the story-boarding. So many first time projects (John Carter, Green Lantern, Spider-Man [2012], Man Of Steel) are getting ridiculous budgets for a film that could fall flat on its face, and many argue that the general audience wouldn't take to the Flash as it's a new property and it'd flop so why bother spending the hundreds of millions when District 9 was made for $30 million and thanks to it's brilliant marketing reached almost $211 million.


The entire idea is a fun and childish concept that would give a marvellous balance between moody characters and films in this DC universe. A guy always being called slow, lazy, undependable gets hit by a bolt of lightening into some chemicals during a late shift and can run faster than the speed of sound, light and all the fast things in the world (or other worlds). Apart from some great (and inexpensive) visuals that could be delivered, the camera angle and shot opportunities are unparalleled with the right directer behind them. Many remember the scene in The Incredibles where Dash (obviously a spin on you-know-who) was running on the sea because he wasn't running away from his depressing parents telling him that the world will experiment on him if he reveals himself, they remember because he was running away from floating bad-guys and most of all, he was laughing and SET FREE. The audience doesn't want a quick montage of him learning his powers slapped in 3D, they (or at least I)want to run earth shatteringly quick and be released with the gift of spilling milk and catching it.


If you ask people why is Spider-Man so successful? Most will gradually say because "he's relate-able" and that's an item discovered here with Barry Allen. We've all had a point of envy in our lives, whether it's seeing someone get all their homeworks done perfect and on time, multitasking, or just handling problems, we want to do better like there's always something more to do in our day-to-day routine. The fact is that when we do a test and we get an A, we look forward to the next test and even next A, but sometimes we want the next test and next A because we want to do good, we want to achieve and that desire is found in Barry Allen which immediately allows us to fit in his shoes. Bradley Cooper's a good actor and in Limitless, he played a guy who was struggling to finish his book, and struggling with life in general and then he's given a drug that allows him to unlock his full potential.. Sound familiar?


I've sorely missed funny quips in posters for superheroes, and if a Flash movie is going to happen, it needs funny taglines; I mean think of the possibilities, "Catch Him June 28th (If You Can)", "Lightening Never Strikes Twice, But It Strikes Fast", "Lightening Never Strikes Slow". Sure they're cheesy but treat the images seriously and the taglines like a comedy because a date with a lightening bolt going through it just wouldn't be satisfying enough and no 3D unless you've got something James Cameron would be jealous of. A teaser to Kanye West - Power, theatrical trailer like the one for "The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty" and you've got golden along with good reviews.


If Batman & Superman does well critically and commercially in 2015, then anything with DC's name above the door will strike interest like after the first two Iron Man films or even the first Iron Man. So it wouldn't be a stretch for Flash to be the Thor (2011) of DC. Even though the God of Thunder's first picture cost $150 million and stayed at $449 million, you have to take into account that the budget went towards other worlds, Frost Giants, explosions, costumes, etc. Now one of the characters intruduced in Thor has been in three films of the MCU, has won over millions of fans worldwide and is claimed to be one of (if not the main) reason Thor: the Dark World is a success as well as the entire MCU!


If you can buy a police officer getting hit by lightening and becoming Sonic the Hedgehog on steroids, then you can buy a female Amazonian supergirl, you can buy a green alien superhero (or two depending on how you view Green Lantern), so The Flash could open the door for many other DC franchises, heroes and eventually a Justice league movie, I can't stress how much they need to hold back on a Green Lantern film but a different article for a different day.

So there are my thoughts on why Flash should by DC's next big hit, list your thoughts down below, would love to hear (read) your comments...
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NBAfanaddict
NBAfanaddict - 11/17/2013, 8:13 AM
I will now refer to the Flash as "Sonic the Hedgehog on steroids". So great!

Nice editorial! I agree that people would like Flash because of his reliability. He's got a Spider-Man like quality about him.
EdgyOutsider
EdgyOutsider - 11/17/2013, 9:05 AM
I've always preferred relatable characters over characters that have symbolism. Which is why I've always been more invested in Marvel characters and why I am more invested in The Flash than any DC character. That being said, hell no to Bradley Cooper as The Flash. 1) Too old and 2) It's typecasting more less because he's the "funny guy". Sure, he's definitely got some dramatic chops but people go to him because he's got a great sense of humor on screen. I would want someone a bit younger and is lesser known. I would definitely stick to Barry Allen. I like the idea of Neil Burger directing it with films like The Illusionist and Limitless under his belt. Just for the love of god, NO DAVID GOYER! Get someone with talent to write the movie. I don't mind giving Charlie Hunnam a chance at the role, not saying he'd be good in it but, I think he would be an interesting pick and could do the character justice. He's got potential.
Archangel82
Archangel82 - 11/17/2013, 9:41 AM
Nice article. Ive always liked characters who are relatable aswell. I too have gravitated towards marvel characters because of their human flaws and characteristics. That doesnt mean I dont like DC Comics. Out of all of their roster of heroes the Flash happens to be one of my favorite DC characters. Im really digging he CWs Arrow.hopely the CW does the Flash justice. The one thing that I dont understand is why some people out there wouldnt want DCs televison properties to be included in the same universe as the DC films. Out of all the DC characters the Flash deserves another shot at tv and diffinately a big screen outing. Im hoping the CW does something really cool with the Flash.


Moohika
Moohika - 11/17/2013, 10:20 AM
I would love to see Flash finally get his own movie, but the shitty thing is that Quicksilver will hit the big screen first...twice, and even if Flash were to get a movie say 2016 the GA would have seen similar powers in DOFP and AoU so it wouldn't be as special or cool as it should have been. I think that's why WB/DC are trying to introduce him through TV on Arrow so they can strike first.
ClarkKent89
ClarkKent89 - 11/17/2013, 10:37 AM
@Moohika that's smart thinking, but I really believe the director would have to pull something magical out of the bag to give it it's own identity
Lhornbk
Lhornbk - 11/17/2013, 5:33 PM
No, Flash does NOT "deserve" a movie. A TV show is good enough. A solo movie would probably bomb. His powers are stupid. He might be relatable, but without superpowers that general audiences want to see, a movie would not do well. And your ideas for cheesy posters with cheesy quotes would not work. They would end up being ridiculed, and general audiences would see him as a joke.

Just let the TV show introduce the character, and see if a Justice League movie makes him popular. Then maybe try a solo movie. And there is nothing wrong with moving the TV actor to the movies. A lot of big name movie actors are doing TV now, so TV is no longer considered as inferior. Plus, it would probably be better to have someone relatively unknown playing him anyway.
ClarkKent89
ClarkKent89 - 11/17/2013, 11:40 PM
@Lhornbk "A solo movie would probably bomb", Didn't you read the part apart budgets and a good marketing team?
Super12
Super12 - 11/18/2013, 9:19 PM
I like your point about him being relatable. There is no one really on the JLA that can be related to except Flash (and maybe GL), because they're normal people who were suddenly gifted with this power. That's why he's such an important character is cause he's the comic relief and the pair of eyes through which the audience sees this crazy world with monsters and gods. I sincerely hope they casted the Flash right with this Grant guy, cause if it works that will be awesome to see on the big screen. Flash NEEDS to be a priority!
MightyZeus
MightyZeus - 11/18/2013, 9:21 PM
I do agree that The Flash deserves his own film. I've actually been waiting for an announcement that The Flash will have his own film ever since Man of Steel was released.

However, we do have an upcoming tv show based on The Flash even though it sounds good i have to say that it's a bad attempt to introduce the character to an audience.

Hopefully Arrow and The Flash tv series will be kept separate from Man of Steel's DC's cinematic universe. My personal opinion get a movie actor to play the Flash like Bradley Cooper.


bythepowercosmic
bythepowercosmic - 11/19/2013, 9:32 AM
Haha, why is everyone on Bradley Cooper's dick I when it comes to Flash?

But I do think Flash deserves his in movie, which makes the decision to create a TV show based on the character kind of dumb. Because I can say with almost 100% certainty that there's no way they're trusting a 23-year-old TV actor with barely any credit to his name with the character on the big screen. It'll probably be a big name actor like Cooper.

Which means Arrow and Flash won't be connected to the movies, as it should be.
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