Ezra Miller, the troubled star of Warner Bros. Discovery's standalone DCEU project The Flash, returned to the set of the project to film a day of pickups. The controversial actor has returned to the set of the highly anticipated film that rumors say will change the future of the DCEU.
Based on the DC Comic character of the same name, The Flash will star Miller as fan-favorite hero Barry Allen, a speedster known as the fastest man alive and a founding member of the most popular incarnation of the Justice League. The film’s plot is reportedly based on the popular Flashpoint comic book arc, which sees Barry Allen use his powers to go back in time and undo the murder of his mother, irreparably altering the timeline and kicking off a tumultuous sequence of events in the process, meeting alternate versions of himself and other heroes as he tries to undo his mistakes. The Flash began filming in April of 2021, with an official logo being released at the time.
Since then, Miller has found themself in a seemingly unending parade of controversy, including multiple arrests over the following year. Now, a report from The Wrap confirmed that they had returned to the set for pickup shots, generally minor bits of footage captured to augment already existing shots in post-production. Principal filming on the project concluded a while ago, and the initial testing of what could be a monumental turning point for the DCEU reportedly went down favorably with those screened.
In a statement released some time ago, Miller confirmed that they would be seeking treatment for complex mental health issues. “Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment," Miller said. "I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.” Many fans and general onlookers were relieved at the news for public safety reasons and concern for the star themself.
While the extent of the treatment that Miller subjected themself to is unknown, it was seemingly enough to convince higher-ups at Warner Bros. Discovery that it was safe to proceed with the star in their capacity as the titular character in the upcoming project. Miller met with executives to discuss their future as The Flash, with the talks reportedly being very positive and concluding that the project would be released on schedule. The movie, which is being helmed by director Andy Muschietti, also features Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star Ben Affleck and a collection of other big names.
Despite this seemingly happy ending, some fans point to the fact that scrapping The Flash was not feasible for Warner Bros. Discovery, leading to the executive’s vote of confidence not being a credible indicator of the star’s improved behavior but instead a necessity for business reasons. Whether Miller will be able to salvage their reputation and go on to reprise the role in future DCEU projects remains unknown.
The Flash is currently set for a theatrical release on June 23, 2023.
Source: The Wrap