Along with the full reveal of the DC Universe's Chapter 1, joint CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran addressed the big elephant in the room, that being The Flash and Ezra Miller's potential to stay on as Barry Allen in this new superhero world, whose status on the “to be defined” category was firmly upheld.
Even before Warner Bros. Discovery's new DC strategy went public, Miller had been making headlines for the past couple of years due to their erratic behaviour, controversies, and possible mental health issues, all of which ended with Miller pleading guilty to trespassing charges a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, Warner Bros. executives had seemingly kept the door open for them to return as The Flash, and since Miller will not face jail time for their offences, that option appears to be on the table for Gunn and Safran.
During the DCU slate announcement (via Deadline), the CEO duo noted that they are optimistic about Miller's ongoing recovery, with Safran saying, “Ezra is completely committed to their recovery. We’re fully supportive of that journey.” However, he did hold off on giving a definitive answer, instead leaving that discussion for “When the time is right.” That sentiment was echoed by Gunn when asked whether the actor playing Supergirl in The Flash, Sasha Calle, could continue in the role, with Gunn limiting his statement to “We’re figuring it all out.”
The latter would be a vital decision considering Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was confirmed as one of the movies making up DC's slate for the coming years. It’s not as if The Flash is any different, given that he and the Green Lanterns are arguably DC's most popular superheroes after Batman and Superman. After all, the DC Universe will be looking to rely on these two as their linchpins moving forward.
Putting Gunn and Safran's words into context, it’s clear that new management is waiting to see how well The Flash performs commercially this summer, as Warner Bros.' test screenings are believed to have generated high expectations in the studio's ranks, even more so with Super Bowl trailer reveal coming soon. If either The Shazam! Fury of the Gods or The Flash do well, the most logical step would be to leave the door open for these superheroes to stay on board, especially when so little is known about DC's confirmed plans.
Chapter 1 of Gunn's DCU slate includes new Superman, Batman, and Supergirl movies. However, as of now, only the former two are confirmed to feature new actors playing the iconic roles, meaning Miller and Calle could see their contracts renewed if The Flash proves to be the summer blockbuster it was always meant to be.
The Flash is scheduled for release on June 16, 2023
Source: Deadline