The Flash

**Bartholomew Henry "Barry" Allen**, also known as **The Flash**, is a fictional character in the DC Extended Universe. Based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name, he is portrayed by American actor Ezra Miller. The Flash makes his first cinematic appearance in *Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice* before having a more prominent role in *Justice League* and its director's cut. Miller has also reprised the role in other DC Comics media such as the Arrowverse, and is currently slated to star in an upcoming film based on the character. The DC Extended Universe marks the first time The Flash has been portrayed in live-action film.

## Development and portrayal

#### Early film proposals and casting for the DCEU

Development on a film based on The Flash started in the late 1980s when Warner Bros.hired comic book writer Jeph Loeb to write a screenplay, but nothing materialized from that. The project went dormant until it was brought up again following the release of *Batman Begins*, when writer David S. Goyer was offered a chance to write a script for either Flash or Green Lantern. In December 2004, it was announced that Goyer would be writing, producing and directing *The Flash*. He approached his *Blade: Trinity* co-star Ryan Reynolds for the Barry Allen role, with the intention of also using Wally West as a supporting character. Goyer soon dropped out due to creative differences, but a film based on the Justice League featuring Barry Allen soon entered development afterwards, with Shawn Levy set to direct and Adam Brody cast as Barry Allen. However, this film also fell through.

On June 9, 2010, *Green Lantern* writers Greg Berlanti (who would later create the 2014 TV series based on the Flash), Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim were hired to pen a treatment of the Flash film. *The Flash* script was to be based on the recent run by DC's Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns. Mazeau told *Blastr.com* that the studio was still actively developing the big screen take on the DC Comics' character and that the project was still active. On July 20, 2013, *The Hollywood Reporter* has reported that the film was rumored to be released in 2016 but it has not been announced. In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced *The Flash* would be released in 2018 as the sixth installment of the DC Extended Universe. Ezra Miller was cast to play the title role of Barry Allen. *The Flash* was later postponed to 2022, with Miller providing assistance to re-writing the script following creative differences with original directors/screenwriters John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. It was later revealed in July 2019, that Andy Muschietti would officially be directing the film, with Christina Hodson serving as the screenwriter.In June 2020, TheWrap reported that Michael Keaton was in early talks to reprise his of Bruce Wayne / Batman from Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). In August 2020, it officially confirmed that Keaton had signed on and that Ben Affleck would be reprising his role of Bruce Wayne / Batman from the DC Extended Universe. Filming began on April 19, 2021 at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Hertfordshire,England.

Once Zack Snyder received approval from WarnerMedia to film additional footage for his director's cut of *Justice League* in 2020, Miller, who at the time was taking part of filming for the third *Fantastic Beasts* film (2022) in London, was able to film his scenes as Barry Allen / Flash remotely, as Snyder directed the additional scene with Miller over Zoom. Snyder's video feed played through a stand on a table enabling him to direct Miller and the crew, who filmed the scene on his behalf.

#### Characterization

As portrayed in the films, Barry Allen is a remarkably intelligent and determined individual, becoming a highly skilled forensic scientist to prove the innocence of his imprisoned father Henry Allen in the death of his mother Nora Allen. As the Flash, Barry is determined to keep his secret identity a secret from others, demonstrated by the many excuses he came up with when confronted by Bruce Wayne, despite none of them being convincing enough to fool the latter. When finally exposed by Bruce, Barry is quick to agree to join the Justice League, due to his great desire to gain friends he could relate to. He deals with insecurity and a tragic past much like the other superheroes in the DCEU, but retains a humorous, talkative personality and positive attitude. Ezra Miller has described his portrayal of the character as "an exploration of a multi-dimensional human being" while exploring the character's consideration as a superhero and a person to "feel the humanity of someone who is heroic — or the heroism of someone who is a flawed, deeply human person." In addition, Barry is implied to be a fan of *Rick and Morty* and K-pop as seen in the film.

Barry casually describes himself as an "attractive Jewish boy" when first meeting Bruce Wayne in *Justice League*, just as Ezra Miller is Jewish in real life. This makes the DCEU Flash the first version of the character to be Jewish, also making him the first confirmed Jewish superhero to appear in film. Prior to this, Magneto, as portrayed by Ian McKellen in the X-Men film series, is Jewish but is more often than not depicted as a supervillain. In addition, Superman was created by Jewish comics writers, but has later become an allegory for Jesus in films including *Man of Steel*, and The Thing has also been described as an allegory for Jewish life in America, but was not revealed as Jewish until much later, nor is he revealed as such in any of the Fantastic Four films.

## Film appearances

### *Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice* (2016)

Barry Allen/Flash makes his first film appearance in a brief role, coming out of a time-travel portal as Bruce Wayne decrypts information taken from Lex Luthor. Flash tells Bruce that Lois Lane "is the key" and to "find the others" before disappearing. Bruce then examines the decrypted information and finds that Allen is one of several metahumans that Luthor had been researching in an attempt to blackmail them, sending the decrypted information, including security footage of Allen apprehending a burglar with his superpowers, to Diana Prince.

### *Suicide Squad* (2016)

Barry Allen/Flash appears in a cameo role in the film during a flashback where he is shown apprehending George "Digger" Harkness / Captain Boomerang. Allen's photograph is also seen while Bruce receives files on metahumans from Amanda Waller in exchange for protecting her reputation during a mid-credits scene.

### *Justice League*

#### Theatrical cut (2017)

Following the events of *Batman v Superman*, Bruce recruits Barry to join a team of metahumans in the wake of Superman's death, which Barry enthusiastically accepts upon learning that Wayne is Batman. Barry ventures with Bruce to meet with Diana, who is Wonder Woman, in Gotham City, where they also encounter police commissioner James Gordon and fellow metahuman Victor Stone, also known as "Cyborg". The film also establishes that his father, Henry, has been imprisoned after being wrongly accused of murdering his wife and Barry's mother, Nora.

As the team prepares to fight Steppenwolf and his parademon minions under Delaware Bay to retrieve a Motherbox, Flash is intimidated upon seeing a parademon slaughter one of the scientists guarding the relic, stating that he has "no combat skills". Batman tells him to "save one person" in order to boost Barry's confidence, after which Barry manages to save Cyborg's father Silas and many other civilians, in addition to aiding Wonder Woman by retrieving her sword and protecting her from a falling column, though he accidentally falls on her chest in the process. The team is aided by Arthur Curry / Aquaman, who arrives to save them from a deluge of water after Steppenwolf escapes.

After Aquaman joins the team, Bruce decides to use the Motherbox to resurrect Superman after examining its abilities, with Barry siding with him. Arthur and Victor are sent to exhume Clark Kent's body, bonding over discussing the situation and their abilities. Upon returning to the lab, Barry charges up the Motherbox, which successfully revives Superman, though he has lost his memories and is triggered to attack the group. Flash tries to ambush Superman with his speed, but Superman counters with his own quickness and brute force, knocking Flash aside. Batman has his butler Alfred Pennyworth bring Clark's girlfriend, Lois Lane, which calms him down. As Clark leaves with Lois to regain his memories, the team recuperates in the Batcave, though Steppenwolf steals the Motherbox, which was left unguarded during the ruckus.

Barry helps the team deduce that Steppenwolf will be in Russia to try and unite all three Motherboxes and reshape the Earth, so the team travels to confront him. While Batman makes himself a distraction to the demon, Flash and the rest of the team flank Cyborg as he tries to pull the Motherboxes apart. Upon seeing that civilians are in danger, Batman orders Flash to evacuate them, but Superman arrives, singlehandedly saving the whole village while Flash saves a single family and helping the team to defeat Steppenwolf. Following the battle, Barry enthusiastically remains part of the team, now named the Justice League, and obtains an internship with the Central City police department to his father's approval. In a mid-credits scene, Flash races Superman for fun to see which superhero is faster.

#### Director’s cut (2021)

Barry Allen's backstory was further explored in Zack Snyder's director's cut of the film, including his first meeting with Iris West as he saves her from injury during a car crash while he also interviews for a job. His relationship with his father is also explored more-in-depth, as Henry tries to dissuade Barry from being "held back" by him and to let go of his pursuit of a criminal justice degree and holding down four "dead-end jobs". In the "Snyder Cut", Barry retains his talkative personality and humor, but is shown as more confident in his powers and fighting abilities. The controversial scene of Barry falling on Wonder Woman's chest during the fight under Gotham Harbor is also omitted, as it was a later addition in the theatrical cut.

During Superman's resurrection, Barry mistakes Victor's "no" for "go", charging up the Mother Box, and he is also shown crashing into Aquaman as the amnesiac Superman dodges an attack from him. Victor is also the one who deduces Steppenwolf's base is in Russia near Chernobyl, not Barry. During the final battle, Barry is assigned to provide an extra spark to help Victor pull apart the Mother Boxes. He fails the first time around as he is shot by a parademon while charging up his speed, allowing the "Unity" time to form, which kills the team and begins destroying the Earth. However, after regaining his confidence and healing himself, he manages to enter the Speed Force, running faster than the speed of light to reverse time and save his teammates from annihilation. He assists Victor in separating the boxes, allowing the team to defeat and kill Steppenwolf. In the film's epilogue, a future-Barry is seen with Victor, Mera, Deathstroke, and Batman meeting Joker before an evil Superman arrives, in Bruce's second "Knightmare" vision.

### *The Flash* (2022)

A film adapting elements from the *Flashpoint* storyline is currently in the works, with Ezra Miller set to reprise his role as Barry Allen/The Flash. The film will also feature both Ben Affleck's DCEU portrayal of Batman as well as Michael Keaton's version of the caped crusader from Tim Burton's *Batman* films. It will also feature Sasha Calle as Supergirl.

## Other appearances

### Arrowverse

Ezra Miller's rendition of Barry Allen / Flash makes a cameo appearance in the Arrowverse television special *Crisis on Infinite Earths*, meeting that universe's version of the character in the Speed Force. The two Barrys have a brief exchange, discovering they are the same person from different universes. Unaware of the crisis that the Arrowverse Barry is facing, the DCEU Barry fades out, saying that he had "told Victor this was possible".

Jim Lee, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer at DC confirmed that it was from this appearance that the DC Extended Universe's rendition of Barry Allen gets his superhero name, after first hearing the name "the Flash" from his Arrowverse counterpart.

## Reception

Miller's performance in the theatrical cut of *Justice League* was praised as one of the film's highlights, despite the overall mixed-to-negative reviews for the film as a whole. In particular, Steve Persall of the *Tampa Bay Times* noted that "Ezra Miller's hyper-fast Flash is another sort of amusing, his fanboy spirit speaking for the audience while the CGI lightning trailing him is one of the movie's defining effects. The Flash's expression upon realizing he isn't the fastest person in the world is priceless, setting up the first of two end credits sequences." Despite his lone major film role and numerous cameos at the time, the DCEU version of Flash was praised as a better-written character than his counterpart in the Arrowverse by Erik Kain of *Forbes*. Writing shortly after the premiere of *Justice League*, Kain writes that Ezra Miller's rendition of the character, despite being socially-awkward and having far less character development than Grant Gustin's version, is more likeable as a "quirky genius superhero" and is not tied down by "bad soap opera writing, propensity to lie all the time, and episode upon episode of filler" like his television counterpart.

Ezra Miller's performance in *Zack Snyder's Justice League* was viewed more positively with critics praising Barry Allen's confidence and chemistry with other characters. Tom Jergensen from IGN wrote "He remains the comic relief character and fills that role well, as he’s still a green enough hero to freak out when entering the Batcave for the first time. Snyder doubles down on Flash in the finale, with spectacular use of the Speed Force that raises the bar for his eventual solo film."