While The Flash no longer looks set to have the same level of importance to the DCEU DCU as it once did under the previous regime, many fans remain excited about the movie. After all, it's going to be a Multiversal adventure that brings Michael Keaton back as Batman and introduces Sasha Calle as Supergirl!
Variety recently shared a preview of this year's big screen offerings, revealing that "Studio insiders haven’t been this excited for Warner Bros. superhero movie since 'The Dark Knight' movies."
Sounds promising, right?
However, the trade goes on to point out that "almost everything" about The Flash suggests it will be a "massive summer sensation," but emphasise the "almost."
Pointing to Ezra Miller's recent issues, it's pointed out that their past behaviour is all some people know about them, "a terrible place to start for a studio that needs to sell its star as an aspirational superhero." It's previously been reported that The Flash has received overwhelmingly positive response at test screenings, but the odds are still stacked against this one.
"With DC’s new leadership preparing a reboot on top of the controversy surrounding Miller," it's explained, "Warner Bros. now has a precarious high-wire promotional campaign ahead of it to get audiences to stop paying attention to its star's past and focus instead on the movie they’re leading."
Throw in the fact that plans for The Flash to set the stage for movies like Batman Beyond and Crisis on Infinite Earths have likely been scrapped by DC Studios, and selling the Scarlet Speedster's first solo movie looks set to be easier said than done.
Many fans have rolled their eyes over the fact this adventure will feature two versions of The Flash, both of whom look set to be idiots. Batman returning to action after retiring is interesting, though, and we know Supergirl won't be at full power when we meet her here. That's a good way to ensure she doesn't just lay waste to the movie's mystery big bad.
That's still expected to be Michael Shannon's General Zod, with no apparent plans for Reverse-Flash to appear despite him being an obvious choice of villain for this story.
The Flash is set to be released in theaters on June 23, 2023.