Work on The Flash is underway, and while the impressive supporting cast includes the likes of Michael Keaton (Batman), Sasha Calle (Supergirl), and Ben Affleck (Batman), we've been kept in the dark when it comes to the movie's villain. However, that changed last night when news broke about the movie's possible big bad, and the response to that rumour has not been overly positive.
Apparently, Ezra Miller will be pulling double duty as both the DCEU's Barry Allen and a "Dark Flash" from another reality. Clearly, he's meant to act as a substitute for Reverse-Flash, and based on what we've seen in various leaked material for The Flash, it seems he'll pose as an ally to the Scarlet Speedster before revealing his true nature (it's possible he's a villain on his world).
It could work in the context of the movie, and we simply don't know enough to write this "bad guy" off completely. However, what we can be sure of is that there had to be better options for The Flash. We know it's not easy when the TV show has covered so much ground, but this feels like another Savitar!
By clicking the "Next" button below, you'll find 5 alternative villains for this movie who would a) have been awesome to see on the big screen, and b) could be a much better fit for this Multiverse story.
5. Black Flash
Black Flash is basically an unstoppable being from the Speed Force who fulfils the role of Death for those who possess super-speed, returning them to the source of their powers when they die.
With Barry Allen seemingly getting ready to tear through the Multiverse in an effort to change his past and save his mother, this monstrous Flash could have zoomed into action in a bid to stop Barry from breaking the rules of the Speed Force he first tapped into in Zack Snyder's Justice League.
Seeing the hero contend with the new world he's created and a power that's started turning against him due to his actions would be a lot of fun, especially as there should be consequences to the rookie hero rewriting history and undoing someone's death. By the time all is said and done, the DCEU's history could be rewritten, but only after Barry has had to outrun this powerful force.
Of course, he wouldn't be able to do so until coming to terms with the fact he has to let his mom go, an emotional moment that could have brought an end to an epic battle with Black Flash.
4. Batman Who Laughs
We know there would be a lot of fans frustrated with the prospect of Batman taking centre stage in The Flash's movie, but you have to admit seeing Batman Who Laughs in live-action would be epic.
With Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton's versions set to appear, it arguably makes sense to use this big bad, especially when his comic book counterpart has attempted to conquer the Multiverse. "Flashpoint" could still be adapted, but what Barry Allen wouldn't realise is that he's created a world with a twisted Dark Knight who killed The Joker and has his own plans for the Scarlet Speedster.
Initially, this Batman would act and look like Affleck's version, only for his true nature to then be revealed. With that, Barry would have to race through the Multiverse to find a new Batman to help him defeat this foe: Keaton's! Batman Who Laughs, meanwhile, would be tapping into the hero's abilities to travel from world to world and wipe out every version of Bruce Wayne.
Face it, a villainous Batman is a much cooler idea than a villainous Barry Allen doppelganger!
3. Mirror Master
The Flash's rogues gallery is something of a mixed bag, but with this movie, Warner Bros. has the opportunity to reinvent one of the Fastest Man Alive's weirder, lesser-known foes.
In the comic books, Sam Scudder ended up getting involved in crime at a young age. Incarcerated, he became obsessed with learning about and travelling into mirrors. Eventually succeeding, he used his mirror technology to create a new criminal persona, the Mirror Master, but despite teaming with the Rogues, he was very much a C-Lister and not much of a threat to Barry.
This version, however, could be given the ability to travel between worlds with his mirrors and it would have been one heck of a twist for the Scarlet Speedster to face just another meta nobody, only to learn he's dealing with so much more. It could even be that The Flash grants Sam his enhanced powers when he travels through time, making sure his decision comes back to bite him.
Using a baddie like Mirror Master to jump from world to world also has some fun storytelling potential.
2. Aquaman And Wonder Woman
In the "Flashpoint" comics, the world Barry Allen creates when he travels back in time is being torn apart by a war between Atlantis and Themyscira. Aquaman and Wonder Woman have no real regard for human lives as they battle for dominance, and this conflict factors heavily into the hero's decision to make things right (resulting in the creation of "The New 52" Universe).
In a movie, we'd have liked to see The Flash take on both of his allies from the DCEU, with much of the movie revolving around him having to save his new world from their battle to the death.
With Batman and Supergirl by his side, perhaps they'd have ultimately been joined by these versions of Arthur Curry and Diana Prince to tackle an even greater Multiversal threat. That could be someone like the Anti-Monitor or even one of the other villains we've listed in this feature.
Seeing alternate versions of these two Justice League members would have really driven home the impact of Barry's actions and given Jason Momoa and Gal Gadot great material to work with.
1. Reverse-Flash
Sometimes, the most obvious suggestion is the best one, and that's the case with Reverse-Flash.
We appreciate that it wouldn't have been easy to introduce this villain from the future as the person who travelled back in time to murder Barry Allen's mother, but cut a few cameos, and it could be done. There are also ways for The Flash to avoid retreading ground from the TV show; for example, what if the Fastest Man Alive created the Reverse-Flash when he travelled back in time?
By doing so, and creating a new timeline, Barry might have made a reality where Eobard Thawne follows in his footsteps, gets rejected by his idol, and then kills Barry's mother...which creates the DCEU timeline the Scarlet Speedster hails from. This time loop would lock these two in what we'd learn is an endless cycle and one this film would finally end before it even begins.
What would be different this time? Well, even the smallest of moments send a ripple through time, and we'd have loved to see it tie into his interactions with Ben Affleck Batman as it's his final appearance.