Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: The Flash

  • ‘The Flash’s Ezra Miller Breaks Silence on Recent Events

    ‘The Flash’s Ezra Miller Breaks Silence on Recent Events

    There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding The Flash star Ezra Miller, especially due to continued accusations that have reached a threshold of many wondering what the future has in store for the film. Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to cancel Batgirl with the controversies surrounding The Flash star had many baffled and there were even hints on how they might tackle it.

    It seems that something is happening now after all, as Miller has broken the silence on his recent behavior as revealed by Variety. It seems that he has opened up about the legal issues and accusations. He seemingly apologizes for his behavior and highlights that he’s back towards a “healthy, safe and productive stage” of his life.

    The future of The Flash has been a massive question mark, especially with the controversies surrounding its stars. It was already pushed back by an entire year; ironic given just how often the project seemingly was postponed before it even got a chance to start production. After going through many directors and writers, the drama surrounding the project seemingly just added to its issues. We’ll have to see how they handle it moving forward and if this is their first attempt at repairing the PR surrounding the project.

    Source: Twitter

  • Shelving ‘Batgirl’ but Not ‘The Flash’ Isn’t Protecting the Brand

    Shelving ‘Batgirl’ but Not ‘The Flash’ Isn’t Protecting the Brand

    David Zaslav, the new President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, blamed the shelving of Batgirl on wanting to protect the DC brand. And yet, The Flash movie is still on the studio’s slate as they seek to determine what to do with the film following the countless allegations and arrests surrounding its star Ezra Miller. For a studio intent on protecting its brand, the decision to react slowly to Miller’s actions is a poor one.

    None of us know if Batgirl was good and now with the film being shelved in favor of a tax write-down, it’s likely we’ll never know, which is bizarre. After all, this is the same studio that released Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman 1984, films that while still successful was far from critical darlings. Batgirl was developed as an HBO Max film, with rumors later circulating that, like with Blue Beetle, the Leslie Grace film would actually get a chance to grace the big screen in a theatrical release. It had two promising directors at the helm – a duo that directed some of the best episodes of Ms. Marvel for Marvel Studios – and a rising young star in the titular role.

    Let’s not forget, that it also managed to secure the incredibly talented Michael Keaton, who was set to return as Batman, and Brendan Fraser as the film’s villain. Even if it wasn’t an “event film” as the studio had hoped, there was plenty to be excited about with Batgirl. Instead of releasing it, the studio decided not to put any more money into it and try to recoup its cost with a write-down. So, why then has The Flash continued to move along with no problem?

    Ezra Miller, who was once a promising actor in Hollywood, has quickly seen his star dim in recent years due to their actions. It all began with a video surfacing of Miller allegedly choking a fan in a video in April 2020. Somehow, despite the video circulating all over social media, nothing seemed to become of it, and it was quickly swept under the rug. Flash forward – pun intended – to March 2022 and Miller was arrested in Hawaii for disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar. A couple of weeks later, Miller was then arrested again for assault after he was said to have thrown a chair, resulting in the injury of a 26-year-old woman.

    As if that wasn’t bad enough, in June the actor was accused of grooming a child and a protective order was put in place against him. The problem? Miller was said to be on the run with the teen. Later reports would suggest a mother and her three children had moved into the actor’s Vermont farm in a “roommate situation” that was concerning because there were said to be unattended guns and drugs on the property. Then the actor was charged with “offense of felony burglary into an unoccupied dwelling” in Stamford, Vermont earlier this week. And that’s just a simple summary of everything.

    To say your studio wants to protect its brand all while bringing an actor with so many allegations back for reshoots? I mean, that seems quite ludicrous. The fact that the future of The Flash still remains in question is just downright absurd. If it’s okay to pull the plug on Batgirl, a $90 million film, ya know, one where the leading lady wasn’t at the center of a troublesome media storm? Then surely the same can be done with The Flash.

    Canceling Batgirl was cruel to those who worked on the project. There was a sense of pride and passion in Batgirl that was evident by all involved. There’s no reason Batgirl couldn’t have at least been put on HBO Max and given a chance to be seen. Grace and directors Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi deserved to have their work seen. And while The Flash director Andy Muschietti is talented, and his cast impressive, they ultimately have to carry the weight of Miller’s troubles into the promotion of the film and that’s not fair to them. Purely removing Miller from marketing the project isn’t enough because the cast and crew will still be asked to answer for their actions.

    Sure, The Flash has a hefty budget and could play a huge part in the DC cinematic universe moving forward, but at what point is the line drawn? You can’t claim you want to protect the brand and then release a film starring someone with such a worrisome list of allegations against them. Actions speak louder than words.

  • Warner Bros. Weighing Options as Ezra Miller’s Spiral Continues

    Warner Bros. Weighing Options as Ezra Miller’s Spiral Continues

    As Ezra Miller’s very public downward spiral continues, Warner Bros. is now reportedly weighing their options with how to proceed with their $200M+ Miller vehicle, The Flash. After being charged with felony burglary, Miller was in the news again when it was reported that a mother and her three children who had been staying with Miller are now missing and being searched for by child’s services in Vermont. With Miller continuing to be in the news for all the wrong reasons, Warner Bros. is said to be considering three options with The Flash.

    According to THR, while it is not the studio’s first choice, they have come to the realization that should Miller’s erratic and headline-grabbing behavior continue, they will have to bury the film and eat its massive budget. While this is not their first choice nor their preferred option, it is the first time during Miller’s spree that reports out of the studio indicate it’s a possibility. At the other end of the spectrum, should Miller seek help and come forward with a public apology, the studio is willing to move forward with the film and allow Miller limited opportunities to promote it. In between those two ends is an option where the studio releases the film and keeps Miller away from press entirely, and then recasts the character moving forward, a move that has been the subject of fan speculation and discussion for months.

    According to the report, a recast and reshoot for The Flash would be impossible because Miller plays several characters in the film and “is in almost every scene.” Even as Warner Bros. has canceled several projects and looks to the future, their decision to move forward with The Flash, which was first announced in 2014, seems informative. Fans of long speculated that the movie could serve as an opportunity to “reboot” the continuity of the existing DC Universe and with the studio’s newly announced direction, it does seem a likely option.

    Source: THR

  • ‘The Flash’s Grant Gustin Shares His Feelings on the CW Series Ending

    ‘The Flash’s Grant Gustin Shares His Feelings on the CW Series Ending

    CW’s The Flash is coming to an end with its upcoming ninth season. Not only that, but it’ll also be a shorter run, which was also the case with some other CW shows. With its ninth season, it’ll also be the Arrowverse series to have had the longest season count as it has now passed Arrow, which ended with eight seasons.

    Of course, it’s not every day that a franchise ends after such a long tenure and it won’t be an easy change for many of the cast. Grant Gustin, who played the series take on Barry Allen, got a chance to share his thoughts on wrapping up work on the role and what it’s like leaving the role behind after all this time.

    I’m really excited to get to do this one more time, finish on our terms. I’m going to enjoy every minute of it, as much as I can…. I couldn’t be more honored to be associated with this character, probably for the rest of my life and career. It is seriously a true honor.

    Grant Gustin

    There’s been an outcry of support for the actor to take on the role of the cinematic version of The Flash, especially with the drama surrounding Ezra Miller. Though, one could say Gustin deserves a break after such a long tenure in the role. Who knows what future role he is eyeing and if there’s a project he’s already set his eyes on potentially joining at some point in the near future?

    Source: TVLine

  • ‘Shazam 2’, ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘The Flash’ May Get Delayed Again

    ‘Shazam 2’, ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘The Flash’ May Get Delayed Again

    In perhaps the most shocking film news of the year, Warner Bros. Discovery made the move to cancel HBO Max’s Batgirl after it had already completed filming. The project was axed alongside Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, an animated sequel to 2020’s Scoob!, which was also nearly finished with its production process. These decisions came as the result of a change in leadership at the company, with new CEO David Zaslav making drastic modifications to Warner Bros. Discovery’s project output in an attempt to save the business money. Other such changes include the removal of multiple previously released HBO Max Originals, such as The Witches and An American Pickle, from the streaming service for the sake of partial tax write-offs.

    A new article from The Hollywood Reporter indicates more release alterations may be coming, specifically to the company’s slate of upcoming DC films. While fans are mostly concerned about projects that have yet to begin marketing, like Angel Manuel Soto‘s Blue Beetle or Andy Muschietti‘s The Flash, THR reports that imminent entries on Warner Bros. Discovery’s schedule could be in motion as well. Shazam!: Fury of the Gods and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are both listed as projects that might see a change in release dates in the near future. Fury of the Gods, which just had a grand showing at San Diego Comic-Con and recently dropped its first trailer, is currently set for a December 21st release, while The Lost Kingdom is supposed to hit theaters on March 17th, 2023.

    No reason was given for any potential shift, but THR did note that Aquaman may be undergoing some changes in its Batman department. Michael Keaton was reportedly set to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne from the original Tim Burton films, The Flash, and Batgirl, replacing Ben Affleck from the Zack Snyder universe as the Caped Crusader going forward. However, a recent video posted to Jason Mamoa‘s Instagram seemed to hint that Affleck would indeed return. The cancellation of Batgirl and uncertainty surrounding The Flash could mean the switch to Keaton has been undone, with THR also noting that Keaton’s original scene as Batman in The Lost Kingdom caused confusion among early test audiences. Warner Bros. Discovery has an earnings call on Thursday, and all eyes are directed toward Zaslav for answers.

    Source: THR

  • ‘The Flash’: Warner Bros Discovery’s $200 Million Problem

    ‘The Flash’: Warner Bros Discovery’s $200 Million Problem

    Over the past year, Ezra Miller has found themselves in a plethora of trouble. Following multiple arrests in Hawaii, the controversial star is currently on the run and is facing even more concerning allegations, which is leaving Warner Bros. Discovery to consider what to do with The Flash movie now that it is in post-production.

    For years, it seemed as though The Flash movie was a myth – a film that was in development but seemed likely to come to fruition. Then, in July 2019, Warner Bros. hired Andy Muschietti to direct the long-promised Flash movie starring Miller. The young actor had, of course, been attached to the project since 2014 when it was revealed he’d joined the cast of Batman v. Superman. So, with the movie now in the can and set to introduce a brand new Supergirl to live-action, the studio is eagerly trying to determine how to go about handling the film with Miller’s troublesome behavior.

    According to a new report from Deadline, the studio is said to have considered getting help for the young actor. However, with the allegations against Miller continuing to build, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav has a big decision to make… and soon. Per the outlet, one option Zaslav is considering is pulling back on Miller’s promotional duties for the 2023 film. This choice would confine it to some P&A, but no publicity tour. Another option being explored is moving the film to HBO Max. While a third option would be to lean in toward making the movie a hit and then dropping Miller if they can’t get their act together. Either way, the studio is facing a tough decision and will need to make a choice relatively soon.

    A studio source told Deadline the hope is that the sandal will remain “low level” ahead of the film’s release next year. For now, The Flash remains on track for a Summer 2023 theatrical release with Miller still very much in the starring role. As for the actor’s future beyond The Flash? Deadline reports Miller will not be involved in any future plans involving the character and the forthcoming DC Universe being constructed by Zaslav.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Warner Bros. Discovery Has No Plans to Recast ‘The Flash’s Ezra Miller

    Warner Bros. Discovery Has No Plans to Recast ‘The Flash’s Ezra Miller

    Controversies have been piling on since Ezra Miller‘s escapades in Hawaii have led to them pulling in quite a bit of bad press for Warner Bros. Discovery’s upcoming The Flash film. As they are currently busy restructuring the company, it seemed like they may make some harsh decisions regarding the film and its future, especially as we’ve seen many other actors end up getting replaced due to mounting controversies, such as Mads Mikkelsen taking over for Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Yet, it seems that this won’t happen for The Flash.

    In a new piece by Variety, they talk about the fact that if they decided to replace Miller, they’d be forced to reshoot the entire film. They are supposedly in pretty much every scene and it would require magic to find a way to replace them in the film. It’s already at a point where it could be deemed very risky even releasing in theaters given how often the production on The Flash was pushed back with Warner Bros. losing writers and directors at an alarming rate.

    Variety points out that it costs way too much money to scrap and to turn a profit the film has to release in theaters. Miller‘s involvement with the before-mentioned Fantastic Beasts was also kept at a minimum, as it was released just as the controversies hit their peak. Yet, it’s a bit more complicated when they are playing the main title role. They already postponed the film, once again, by an entire year, and with a mid-2023 release, there’s quite a lot of time to let the controversy “pass by” as costs simply keep mounting for Warner Bros.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘The Flash’s New Suit Spotted at Licensing Expo

    ‘The Flash’s New Suit Spotted at Licensing Expo

    While we still have quite some time to go before The Flash hits theaters and redefines the DC Extended Universe, a new look at the updated costume has been revealed during the Las Vegas Licensing Expo. Not only do we get a good look at the Flash’s costume in all its glory, but he’s also joined by what will be Sasha Calle‘s Supergirl suit. You can see the shared images below:

    Sadly, it doesn’t look like they also have Michael Keaton‘s updated Batman suit at the Expo, but it seems they are focusing on these two pieces. It does look like they have The Batman‘s iconic cycle in the background. Still, it’s great to get a closer look at the design that moves away from the armored design we see in the Justice League films. It seems more closely inspired by the iconic comic designs, which were more of a skintight outfit.

    It’s crazy to think that we’ve originally seen this design in concept art almost two years ago, but still have to wait one more year to finally see it on screen. The pushback on the multiversal storyline also creates an issue with other releases, as some that take place in whatever new universe is set up by this film also may not release for some time, such as Batgirl which will feature Michael Keaton‘s Batman. There’s no official word for what the future of the DCEU will look like. So, we’ll have to wait for an update.

    Source: Twitter

  • Warner Bros. Teases ‘The Flash’ During CinemaCon

    Warner Bros. Teases ‘The Flash’ During CinemaCon

    Warner Bros. Discovery has been shaking up the industry and there have been many questions about what we might expect from the future of its DC Slate. Still, there are quite a few films in development and CinemaCon is the perfect place to tease what the future has in store. While delayed, one of the biggest releases is The Flash which will also redefine the DC Extended Universe moving forward.

    Unsurprisingly, the studio opted to focus on Michael Keaton’s return as Batman in the forthcoming film. The clip from the film saw Keaton’s Batman sporting multiple Batman suits, while also teasing his batmobile. “You wanna get nuts? Let’s get nuts.”

    The biggest news, however, is that Michael Shannon is returning as Zod in The Flash. Shannon was last seen as Zod in Man of Steel, which saw Henry Cavill‘s Superman controversially snap Zod’s neck in the film. Since then, remembers have circulated of Zod’s possible return, but this marks the first official confirmation of his return to the DC Extended Universe.


    Source: Twitter.

  • Jesse L. Martin No Longer a Series Regular on ‘The Flash’ After 8 Seasons

    Jesse L. Martin No Longer a Series Regular on ‘The Flash’ After 8 Seasons

    It’s the end of an era, as Jesse L. Martin is no longer a series regular on the CW’s The Flash after an eight-season run with the DC adaptation. He is currently on his way to lead the new NBC drama The Irrational but won’t be leaving the series entirely. He is still set to appear in multiple episodes of the upcoming ninth season of the series, but won’t have a larger role moving forward. It still won’t be the same to see CCPD detective Joe West have a large part as the guardian of Barry Allen.

    While not a complete exit, it’s heavy to think that only three of the original cast members remain, which are Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, and Danielle Panabaker. There were rumors that a ninth season might not happen, as all their contracts were set to end with the eighth but they managed to renew at least Gustin‘s contract ahead of the renewal announcement. Supposedly, Patton and Panabaker have also negotiated to return.

    What stands out in the report from Deadline is that Martin wasn’t actively approached for a return, which gave him the opportunity to be available for other series and pilots. It seems that he was offered the role and closed the deal as he was their first choice. Supposedly, it’ll allow him to still do up to five episodes of The Flash. He’s set to start work on The Irrational in May or early June, which will also film in Vancouver. So, it definitely seems like it’ll be easy for him to join in for a few episodes.

    Source: Deadline