Kiersey Clemons was originally cast in The Flash by director Rick Famuyiwa after they worked together on Dope. The actress would go on to shoot a cameo role in Justice League, but when the filmmaker parted ways with Warner Bros. over "creative differences," her future was left up in the air.
That's primarily because Joss Whedon cut her scenes from the theatrical cut (which we'd later get to see in the "Snyder Cut"), and while Andy Muschietti brought her back for his version of The Flash, it was a largely thankless, minor supporting role.
Talking to Nylon, Clemons looked back at what was set to be a very different version of the movie under Famuyiwa's watch.
"I specifically wanted to do The Flash because I felt safe and respected being led by Rick in such a big world," she recalls. "When I read with Ezra...In the audition, we’re sitting on a rooftop taking in a sunset. It was this dance where at the end, I just laid my head on Ezra’s shoulder."
"At the same time they were going to lean their head, and it was this moment where all of us in the room were like, 'Oh, wow, this is magical. Make this Iris West and Barry Allen.'"
That tender romance between the two was ditched as time passed and, for a while there, Clemons was under the belief her stint as Iris had ended before it ever even began.
"I was freaked out because at one point, there were rumors going around online that I was getting recast, which is humiliating. It was more embarrassing and hurtful than getting cut out of Justice League, which I was able to understand more than the rumors of being recast. They had to cut the movie down; that’s how it goes."
"With The Flash, I was so young and was so excited, and the director that I was supposed to be on with was gone. And so, I felt dismissed and replaceable."
While the actress didn't share too many thoughts on her role in the version of The Flash which bombed in theaters last month, it sounds like this DC experience is one she's ready to put behind her. "Now that the movie’s out," Clemons says, "I feel like for the last nearly 10 years, I’ve just been smiling and giving so much grace."
"I think it was to protect my peace of mind. Now I can finally say and admit this whole thing made me cry more than it made me smile. I think I only smiled over this thing at the premiere."
It's a real shame to hear that her time as part of the DCEU was tinged with so much negativity, and we're guessing her interest in this genre is pretty much nonexistent now. These days, Famuyiwa is one of the creative minds behind The Mandalorian, though, so perhaps she could head into a Galaxy Far, Far Away?
The Flash is currently playing in theaters.