Production on The Flash continues, and over the past few days, we've been treated to the first batch of set photos from the DC Comics adaptation. To call them electrifying would be an understatement!
Barry Allen, Iris West, Bruce Wayne, Supergirl, and Wonder Woman (sort of) have all been spotted, and it's clear that whatever reality this adventure takes place in is going to be quite a bit different to the DC Extended Universe we've grown used to since Man of Steel was released in 2013.
Now, we're taking a closer look at all these photos to bring you a guide to everything they reveal about Andy Muschietti's plans for The Flash. From big changes to the Scarlet Speedster to an unexpected development with the Dark Knight, a handful of images have revealed a bunch of new details!
To take a look through this feature, all you guys need to is click on the "Next" button down below!
7. The DCEU's New Bruce Wayne
A piece of concept art shared during last year's DC FanDome showed the Scarlet Speedster suited up alongside Michael Keaton's Batman. However, as the Dark Knight was wearing the same costume he donned in Tim Burton's original movies, many fans speculated that Barry Allen might travel back in time as he races through the Multiverse for a team-up in the late 80s/early 90s.
There were reports at the time that Keaton's Bruce Wayne would replace Ben Affleck's, becoming a mentor to the DCEU's heroes. Well, that may have been confirmed by the shot above.
As you can see, Keaton's Bruce has aged naturally since the events of Batman and Batman Returns, so when he does suit up (and we'll get to that), he'll be doing so as an older vigilante. That's an interesting prospect and one that's bound to change how he approaches crime-fighting in Gotham City.
6. A Familiar Ring
Eagle-eyed fans have noticed that Barry Allen is wearing a ring in the set photos that surfaced over the weekend, and for fans of the comic books, that can surely mean only one thing.
In the source material, the Fastest Man Alive uses this ring to compress and conceal his costume while operating in his civilian identity. By thumbing a small stud on the side, the ring opens and releases the costume, allowing Barry the ability to change into it at super-speed. Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne reportedly creates this new suit for the hero, so perhaps he came up with the ring too?
Time will tell on that front, but this would make for one heck of a visual on screen. The shot above pretty much confirms this is that ring, but if the sequence really is from the end of The Flash (which is the prevailing theory), then we'd be willing to bet something big happens that leads to its debut.
5. Wayne Manor
Earlier this year, The Flash arrived at Burghley House in Petersborough, England, the same location that was used for Wayne Manor in Batman and Batman Returns. If Bruce's appearance is any indication, then decades have indeed passed since the events of Batman Returns; despite that, the Caped Crusader's home clearly hasn't fallen into a state of disrepair.
That's quite a difference to what happened to the DCEU's other Bruce Wayne, and we can't help but wonder whether this version got his happy ending with Catwoman and didn't head down the same dark path as the one from Barry's world.
Either way, the world the Scarlet Speedster creates (assuming we are getting something along the lines of Flashpoint) is clearly vastly different to the one we're used to, and could even be an amalgamation of many different realities. What makes us say that? A certain Girl of Steel, for starters...
4. An Injustice-Inspired Supergirl
It's awesome to see Warner Bros. doing something new with Supergirl that doesn't necessarily involve a blonde-haired, blue-eyed actress. However, as great as it should be to see Sasha Calle bring some diversity to the role, we can't help but wonder whether there's a story-based reason as well.
Lara Lane-Kent (who wears an almost identical costume to the one we see above) is the daughter of Superman and Lois Lane in a version of the Injustice timeline where The Joker didn't murder The Daily Planet reporter. Fans really fell in love with the character - even though she only made a handful of appearances - so is it possible that this Supergirl is the Man of Steel's daughter?
It's become clear that Henry Cavill more than likely won't be returning as Clark Kent any time soon, and it's no secret the studio is moving on to a reboot with a reimagined Kal-El played by a Black actor. So, perhaps in The Flash, we'll end up getting an older Batman and the daughter of Superman?
3. Barry Allen And Iris West
While we're not expecting Kiersey Clemons' role in Zack Snyder's Justice League to be referenced in any way, this movie is clearly going to explore the relationship between their two characters.
Whether this will be a friendship or something more is hard to say, but Barry and iris were spotted walking out of a building that's seemingly doubling for a courthouse. Reaching the bottom of those steps, Barry stops to talk to some reporters...could it be that they're talking to him about his father, Henry? The Scarlet Speedster attempting to clear his name is surely a given in this movie.
Whatever the case may be, these two look great together and this dynamic should be fun to watch play out on screen (hopefully, there will be fewer slow-motion hot dogs when they first meet here).
2. Wonder Woman's "Cameo"
It's clear that we're going to get a lot of cameos in The Flash, and we're sure director Andy Muschietti has tonnes of surprises up his sleeve that we won't know about until we're sitting in the theater.
Once upon a time, there were seemingly plans to borrow the concept of Atlantis and Themyscira going to war from the Flashpoint comic book for this movie, but that was several writers and directors ago. Now, neither Gal Gadot nor Jason Momoa are expected to make cameo appearances, though it's entirely possible they could show up in some capacity for this movie.
Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom is about to start shooting in the UK, so that opens the door to Barry being reunited with Arthur Curry, but the photo above may reveal the extent of Wonder Woman's "cameo." If nothing else, we guess it proves she still exists in this iteration of the DCEU.
1. Batman Returns
Okay, this isn't a set photo as such, but it is one of the biggest talking points we have from The Flash thus far. A few weeks ago, Andy Muschietti took to Instagram to share a first look at the Batsuit; it's identical to the one Michael Keaton wore in those first two movies, but was splattered in blood.
On the surface, it was impossible not to look at this and think of Watchmen. While we're not expecting Dr. Manhattan to appear, it wasn't that long ago DC Comics revealed that he had created the DC Universe. Could it be that this movie will reveal the same, laying the groundwork for a huge crossover?
We're not banking on that, but it's certainly one compelling possibility. We're sure the filmmaker isn't teasing Batman's death, though the older Bruce Wayne may be more likely to take a beating while suiting up! Here's hoping some nighttime set photos show Keaton suited up at some point, eh?