How DCEU Flash’s New Costume Is Different From Justice League’s Version

The Flash in the DCEU is officially getting a brand new look for his upcoming solo-film that is a huge departure from his Justice League look. One of the DC films that have been in development the longest is the Barry Allen-centric movie featuring Ezra Miller as the cinematic version of the Scarlet Speedster. Being cast all the way back in 2014, The Flash movie has gone through a lot of creative changes behind the scenes. From several (reportedly) rewrites of the screenplay to the multiple changes in the director’s change, it’s been 6 long years for Warner Bros. to bring this project closer to happening.

But after several years of back-and-forth, Warner Bros. is finally closer to getting The Flash film going with It director Andy Muschietti helming the project. While it’s drawing inspiration from the infamous Flashpoint storyline, it’ll be the DCEU’s own take on it. As Barry goes back in time to save his mother from being murdered, it’ll be a game-changer in the fastest man alive’s life as he gets further into his superhero career. The Flash will reportedly start production in March 2021, unless the global pandemic delays it as it has with several TV and film productions. But while Flash has been seen in the DCEU fully suited up, his film will be giving the hero a brand new look.

Revealed at DC FanDome, Barry will be running around in a new speedster suit after having worn the initial armor in Justice League and Suicide Squad. While Miller will be seen in that costume again in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, The Flash movie will have Barry sporting his new uniform. So far, it has only been seen in concept art via DC FanDome as they have probably been in pre-production for quite some time in light of COVID-19. But once principal photography is underway, it’ll likely not be long after till Warner Bros. releases a first official look of Miller in the physical suit. Until then, these are the key differences between Barry’s suit from Justice League and the one he’ll wear in The Flash film.

The Suit Is Way More Organic And Less Armor-like

In the DC Universe, Barry is one of the many heroes who doesn’t really go with an armored costume as a speedster. In the DCEU, however, Barry’s first suit went more for an armory design that, supposedly, he made himself. While it didn’t get explored a lot in the 2017 version of Justice League, it’ll hopefully get a more exposed background in 2021 through the Snyder Cut. However, Barry’s new suit that he’ll be wearing is going away from the armored look by being more organic, closer to what he normally wears in the comics. While The Flash in the books usually has a traditional spandex suit, a few incarnations have had a little bit of both.

Based on the concept art, Barry’s latest design is a lot closer to his skin and formed after his physique. It’s unclear what material is used for the upgraded look, but it looks far more comfortable than his Justice League suit. While the armor suit is definitely logical and something that is key to Barry being The Flash, it makes sense that he eventually tries to find a design that is easier to move around in. The initial suit may have almost acted as a way to support him while he figures out how to use his powers without exhausting or hurting himself.

Barry’s New Flash Suit Is No Longer A Prototype

One of the key elements that often gets forgotten about the DCEU Flash is that he’s still exploring what it means to be a superhero. When audience members first meet him, Barry is still early in his journey as a speedster and that includes his super-suit. Given that it’s his design and something that doesn’t necessarily look all completed, it should be considered a prototype more than anything. At that stage, Barry is far from being The Flash that hardcore fans know and love as he still has to get there. That includes his official look and that is the role this new costume plays.

Even though The Flash has already been seen saving people as well as stopping criminals in his prototype suit, the new design looks and feels more official. As unique as Barry’s first DCEU suit is, the one he will get in the upcoming movie feels and looks more of a completed look. Visually, it is almost telling a story of its own in how Barry has found himself as the Scarlet Speedster at last. The prototype was a way for him to find an initial design to help Barry explore his abilities while keeping his identity a secret from the public.

Batman Creates Barry’s Newest Suit

One of the biggest aspects that have fans excited for The Flash movie is Michael Keaton reprising the role of Bruce Wayne from his Batman franchise kicked off in 1989. While he isn’t the only Dark Knight present in The Flash, as Ben Affleck’s Batman is also returning for the DC project, Keaton’s version plays a big part in Barry’s story. After Barry goes back in time to save his mom, he’ll reportedly return back to a universe where Keaton is now this world’s Caped Crusader. Whatever their dynamic will be like, it will be one that fans will have to wait patiently for. However, the confirmed (and very exciting) part about Keaton’s return is that he’s the one that gives Barry his new look.

With the near endless resources and expertise that Batman has at his disposal, it’s not shocking that Bruce ends up helping create a new suit for Barry. Whether or not they work on it together or if Bruce comes up with the design himself remains to be seen. But if anyone in the DCEU would make a new costume for The Flash, it would, without a doubt, be Batman. It would make perfect sense if Bruce is able to customize a new outfit for Barry that is more organic while still having those protective elements that his first suit had.

The Suit Seems To Be Inspired By Arrowverse’s Flash (And Classic Comics)

While Barry’s new suit is a great design, it’s possible that a different Barry Allen played a factor in the DCEU upgrading Flash’s costume. During the Arrowverse crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths, Miller and The Flash’s Grant Gustin, made DC live-action history as they shared the screen together. Not only did the two actors’ respective versions of the Scarlet Speedster finally get to meet, but it officially created a bridge between the Arrowverse and the DCEU existing in the same Multiverse. During their amazing (but very brief) encounter, Miller’s Barry comments on how comfortable Gustin’s Flash suit looks while the Arrowverse counterpart commends on the DCEU suit looking very safe.

Whether it was intentional or not, Miller’s new look for his film does have similarities to Gustin’s The Flash season 6 design. The decision to have his lightning bolt logo with a red chest background is definitely something from the TV show. While Arrowverse’s Flash has switched to the white-and-gold chest piece, he initially began with the red-and-gold design which the DCEU is now using too. But his upgrade also does resemble most of Barry’s comic costumes, particularly the ones that have come in recent years from The New 52 and DC Rebirth. Not only does his costume resemble what Barry wears in the comics, but the cowl is more accurate now, particularly with the lightning bolt ears on the side.

Barry’s Flash Lightning Has Changed (And May Be Linked To The Suit)

While Barry looks a lot more like The Flash from the comics in the suit itself, there’s another key factor that the concept art is seemingly teasing. So far, whenever Barry is using his powers, he generates lightning energy that appears blue. But in both of the concept art pieces, Barry is now seen generating yellow lightning rather than blue, which is the first time the DCEU version of The Flash has been seen surrounded by that kind of energy. It has so far not been revealed why his lightning color has gone from blue to yellow all of the sudden.

A possible scenario that could be taking place in The Flash movie, once he gets the suit, is that the costume somehow plays a role in changing his lightning color, particularly as the lightning seems to be emanating from his chest logo. With someone as handy as Bruce Wayne involved in upgrading Barry’s uniform, it’s possible that Wayne Technology is potentially playing a part here. Since the Speed Force and overall speedster costume has barely been scratched upon in the DCEU, there are a number of possibilities to what is causing Barry to now be creating yellow lightning energy when he runs. But nevertheless, it highlights once again how incredibly different his new suit will be from the one Flash has been using in the DCEU so far.

There is so much that the DCEU has to explore with their cinematic version of The Flash besides his various looks. Nothing is so far known about how the film universe will tackle the Rogues, Reverse-Flash, Barry’s relationship with Iris West and more. But with the launch of Miller’s solo movie, it’ll hopefully be the beginning of a franchise that will explore the Scarlet Speedster’s world in new ways that haven’t been seen before. But to know that Barry will be getting a massive costume upgrade is just one of many things to look forward to when The Flash returns to the big screen as well as in Snyder’s Justice League.

About The Author

Andy Behbakht
(1034 Articles Published)

Andy is a senior writer at Screen Rant as he has covered the world of entertainment journalism since 2010, including superhero/comic book media. In addition to his work as a reporter, Andy co-hosts The Flash Podcast while running and producing the entire DC TV Podcasts network. He is also the founder/editor-in-chief of The Marvel Report since Fall 2015. Andy has previously written for sites such as FanSided, KSiteTV, TV Fanatic, It’s Just Movies, Heroic Hollywood, TV Overmind, and more.

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