The Flash Movie: Everything We Know About The Story (So Far)

Ezra Miller will return as Barry Allen in the upcoming DCEU film, The Flash, and here’s everything we know about the story so far. Ezra Miller’s iteration of The Flash was first teased in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, before making his first full appearance in Justice League, a role that was later improved and expanded on in the director’s cut, Zack Snyder’s Justice League. With his first solo film set to release in 2022, Ezra’s next performance is highly anticipated, as it will also see the long-awaited return of Michael Keaton as the Batman of Tim Burton’s classic films. But there seems to be even more to look forward to in The Flash.

The Barry Allen version of the beloved scarlet speedster debuted in 1956, and since his inception, alternate timelines and the multiverse have always been closely tied to his character and stories. The very first iteration of The Flash was Jay Garrick, whose 1940s Golden Age adventures are referenced in Barry’s first appearance. This might have been confusing at first, given that both Jay and Barry knew and worked alongside Superman, but this was explained in 1961’s Flash of Two Worlds,” a historic story that popularized the concept of alternate universes in the superhero genre. Barry and Jay were each The Flash in their respective realities, and each knew a version of Superman. Their powers allowed them to visit other universes and work together on occasion.

Similarly, the Reverse-Flash, aka Eobard Thawne, is The Flash’s greatest nemesis, yet he was born in the 25^th Century. Thawne’s feud with Barry involves time travel, an ability granted to both of them, thanks to their powers of super speed. The Flash’s entertainingly mind-bending travels through time and the multiverse has been the subject of not only comics but their adaptations as well. The most notable example of this is the 2014 live-action Arrowverse TV series, The Flash, but these concepts were teased in the DCEU as well. In Dawn of Justice and the Zack Snyder version of Justice League, Barry travels through time to prevent alternate and apocalyptic futures from coming to pass. It seems that this ability will be placed front and center in the upcoming DCEU film, as teased by its DC FanDome preview.

Barry Allen Creates A New Flash Costume

Barry Allen wore a new version of his classic superhero costume in both versions of Justice League and a brief cameo in Suicide Squad. The outfit was, as described by Bruce Wayne, able to resist extreme cold and comparable friction to what space shuttles experience during reentry. In addition to being extremely protective of Barry, the suit was stylish, keeping the signature red color and lightning bolt logo while appearing more armored than the comic version. As shown in the FanDome preview, Barry will be getting a new and even more comic-accurate suit in 2022’s The Flash, and there’s a fascinating potential reason why.

During the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event, the TV version of Barry Allen, played by Grant Gustin, briefly spoke to the Ezra Miller iteration. Each version of Barry complimented the other’s costume, noting the protectiveness of the DCEU suit and the comfort and sleekness of the Arrowverse costume. Barry’s new suit in The Flash may be inspired by his brief interaction with his Arrowverse counterpart. Moreover, the DCEU’s Barry has not been referred to as “The Flash” yet, but he learns of this moniker from the Arrowverse’s Barry, and will most likely use the name in the DCEU now.

Barry Allen Travels Back In Time & Creates Flashpoint

The FanDome trailer for The Flash also reveals that Barry may travel back in time to prevent his mother’s death. This is similar to the 2011 comic storyline called Flashpoint, in which Barry’s attempts to save his mother wreak havoc on the timeline, creating an apocalyptic present day that he must reverse, along with defeating his nemesis, the Reverse-Flash. The comic version of Flashpoint resulted in a major continuity reboot for the DC Universe, which was relaunched under the “New 52” line. If The Flash is a live-action adaptation of DC Comics’ story Flashpoint, there may be significant ramifications for the DCEU.

Assuming that Barry attempts to save his mother through time travel, he might also create a warped new timeline and have to repair it. The Flash could result in a major continuity shakeup for the DCEU. Given that there are no plans for further appearances by Henry Cavil’s Superman or new Zack Snyder Justice League movies, a continuity event like this isn’t impossible. Given that there are other DCEU films like Black Adam, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods in production (and continuing off of the timeline established before The Flash), a major continuity shakeup seems unlikely and a hard reboot impossible. Instead, Barry will most likely return the timeline to its original form by the end.

The Flash Meets Michael Keaton’s Batman

The most anticipated story detail of The Flash is the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman. Debuting in Tim Burton’s game-changing 1989 superhero film, Michael Keaton played a soft-spoken, tortured, and surprisingly humorous version of Bruce Wayne and Batman. After two classic films and a phenomenal ongoing comic series by Sam Hamm and Joe Quinones, the Burton iteration of Batman will appear in The Flash, thanks to Barry’s ability to travel across the multiverse. When Michael Keaton was announced to be reprising his famous role, some believed that he’d have only a brief cameo, but the FanDome trailer suggests otherwise. Keaton’s Batman provided the voiceover for the footage and much of its runtime was spent in the Burton version of Wayne Manor and the Batcave.

Batman himself only appears briefly at the end of the footage, but his voiceover suggests that he’s aware of Barry’s multiverse-spanning adventures, and Barry speaks to him, asking him “you in.” With The Flash seeming to be an adaptation of Flashpoint, Barry might be unable to return to his original timeline as a result of his actions, and Keaton’s Batman may become an ally in his quest to repair it. In Flashpoint, Barry worked alongside an alternate version of Batman, now Thomas Wayne (having witnessed his son, Bruce, get murdered in a twist on the classic Batman origin). Flashpoint’s Batman was far more bitter and brutal than the mainstream version, so Keaton’s Batman could be a fitting choice to play that role in the movie.

The Flash Also Meets An Alternate Flash & Supergirl

Another noteworthy moment in the FanDome footage was a shot of Barry Allen, flanked by Supergirl and what appears to be another version of himself, also played by Ezra Miller. While Supergirl might be from another timeline, her Kryptonian outfit and House of El chest symbol suggests that she’s part of the main DCEU like Barry. Supergirl’s existence in the DCEU was confirmed in a Man of Steel prequel comic, and some believe that she was teased in the film when Clark explores the Fortress of Solitude. Given Barry’s timeline meddling, another version of Barry Allen, perhaps from a slightly different version of the DCEU or a different part of its timeline, is unsurprising. Given the story details teased in its FanDome footage, The Flash is sure to be one of the DCEU’s most exciting installments yet.

About The Author

David Miller
(628 Articles Published)

David Miller is a staff writer for Screen Rant, indie comic writer, and life-long lover of all things Star Wars, Marvel, and DC. He was born and raised in New York and has a degree in English from Rider University. He relates to Peter Parker maybe a little too much.

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