The Flash has been in the works for what feels like forever, but after multiple delays, the movie finally races into theaters in June. In recent months, several rounds of reshoots have taken place, first to set the stage for the DC Extended Universe's future (and Crisis on Infinite Earths) and then to make it a standalone project that may or may not be integrated into the DCU.
Early social media reactions for the long-awaited DC Comics adaptation have been positive, but we know better than to put too much stock in those. After all, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was hailed as the best MCU movie since Avengers: Endgame only to end up with 78% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods was a huge box office flop when it opened in February, with many blaming the fact DC Studios announced a slew of new projects for the DCU for lessening interest in that movie. The Flash could suffer the same fate (especially with continued bad press surrounding star Ezra Miller) which makes this news about its budget a little worrisome.
Talking to CBC, The Flash production designer Paul Austerberry called the movie "a big deal for Warner Bros." and confirmed it cost $220 million to make.
While this is more than what recent bombs like Black Adam and Wonder Woman 1984, The Flash still cost less than Man of Steel ($225 million), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($225 million), and Justice League ($300 million).
However, it's still an awful lot of movie to spend on a movie about a character who isn't exactly an A-List DC Comics character. This may not even be taking all those reshoots into account and, short of a $1 billion global haul, The Flash would result in the Scarlet Speedster sidelined for the foreseeable future similar to Green Lantern after 2011's flop.
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 races into theaters on June 16.