In a new behind-the-scenes look at The Flash, director Andy Muschietti and producer Barbara Muschietti explain why Michael Keaton's Batman is retired.
"I always said, something should have happened to Bruce Wayne to want to stop being Batman. And my idea was that he did something that goes against his code. He killed a criminal in front of his child- unknowingly, but he still did it."
"Which is an exact, mirroring situation of him, when his parents were killed in front of him, in front of the Monarch Theater. And that created the monster that Batman is. So, he just couldn't cope with it."
It's a shame this backstory wasn't left in the film, as it would have contrasted nicely with Ben Affleck's Dark Knight.
Where one Batman just fell deeper into the darkness (prior to Batman vs Superman), another chose to retire and hang up his cowl.
The Flash is the biggest box office flop for Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has grossed only $267.6 million worldwide against a production budget of $200-220 million.
The film was reviewed poorly by critics, who criticized its convoluted plot, its lack of focus, and its poor CGI. This made it difficult for the film to attract audiences as it would face steep competition in the weeks following its release.
It is estimated that the film will lose Warner Bros. around $200 million.
It will be up to Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to send Zack Snyder's DCEU out with a bang as the final installment in the much-maligned cinematic universe.
James Gunn has previously stated that the new DC Studios film canon starts with Superman: Legacy.
OFFICAL SYNOPSIS: Worlds collide in “The Flash” when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?
“The Flash” ensemble also includes rising star Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon (“Bullet Train,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”), Ron Livingston (“Loudermilk,” “The Conjuring”), Maribel Verdú (“Elite,” “Y tu mamá también”), Kiersey Clemons (“Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” “Sweetheart”), Antje Traue (“King of Ravens,” “Man of Steel”) and Michael Keaton (“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Batman”).
“The Flash” is produced by Barbara Muschietti (the “IT” films, “Mama”) and Michael Disco (“Rampage,” “San Andreas”). The screenplay is by Christina Hodson (“Birds of Prey,” “Bumblebee”), with a screen story by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming”) and Joby Harold (“Transformers:Rise of the Beasts,” “Army of the Dead”), based on characters from DC. The executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Marianne Jenkins.
Joining director Muschietti behind the camera are director of photography Henry Braham (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “The Suicide Squad”), production designer Paul Denham Austerberry (“IT Chapter Two,” “The Shape of Water”), editors Jason Ballantine (the “IT” films, “The Great Gatsby”) and Paul Machliss (“The Gentlemen,” “Baby Driver”), and costume designer Alexandra Byrne (“Doctor Strange,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”); the score is by Benjamin Wallfisch (“The Invisible Man,” the “IT” films).