The Flash (film)

## Film Chronology

***The Flash*** is a 2024 superhero film, based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name. The film is the first film in the Mob Cinematic Universe and first installment in Phase One and The Crisis Saga. The film was released in the United States on March 29, 2024.

The film is directed by Patrick Reid and stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash, Candice Patton as Iris West-Allen, Jesse L. Martin as Joe West, and Tom Cavanagh as Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash.

A sequel, *The Flash and the Multiverse of the Speed Force*, is scheduled to be released in December 2029.

## Synopsis

Barry Allen, a forensic crime scene assistant for Central City Police Department, experiences a life-altering event when he is struck by lightning during a storm. This storm is not just any natural phenomenon; it is triggered by an explosion at S.T.A.R. Labs, where a particle accelerator malfunctions. This extraordinary incident bestows upon Barry superhuman speed, marking the birth of "The Flash."

## Plot

Barry Allen, a forensic crime scene assistant for Central City Police Department, experiences a life-altering event when he is struck by lightning during a storm. This storm is not just any natural phenomenon; it is triggered by an explosion at S.T.A.R. Labs, where a particle accelerator malfunctions. This extraordinary incident bestows upon Barry superhuman speed, marking the birth of "The Flash." Meanwhile, Captain Joe West of CCPD, alongside Barry's friend Iris Allen, focuses on building a robust blogging platform. Iris, demonstrating her journalistic prowess, decides to chronicle the adventures of The Flash, unaware of his true identity.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn when an evil speedster, known as the "Reverse-Flash," appears. Adorned in a striking yellow suit and emanating red lightning, he becomes Barry's nemesis. The Reverse-Flash, driven by a deep-seated vendetta, vows to annihilate everything Barry holds dear. He travels back in time to the year 2000, where he and Barry engage in a fierce battle. Tragically, during this confrontation, Barry's mother, Nora Allen, falls victim to Thawne's wrath and is killed, setting a dark tone for the story.

Back in the present, Barry, grappling with this personal loss, finds an ally in Cisco Ramon. Cisco possesses unique "vibe" powers, making him an invaluable partner in combatting the Reverse-Flash. Together, they devise a strategy to confront their formidable foe. The climax of their battle sees Barry and Cisco leveraging a device engineered by Cisco. This device proves crucial, as it strips Thawne of his supernatural abilities, leading to his incarceration at Iron Heights Prison.

In a compelling post-credits scene, the story extends beyond Central City's confines. Barry encounters a mysterious, god-like figure named Mar Novu, also known as The Monitor. The Monitor presents Barry with a grave warning and a call to action: a "deadly threat" looms, one that originates from his own kind. This encounter sets the stage for an expansive and high-stakes narrative, hinting at challenges that transcend time and space, demanding The Flash's involvement in events of cosmic significance.

## Cast

* Grant Gustin as Barry Allen/The Flash
* Candice Patton as Iris West-Allen
* Jesse L. Martin as Joe West
* Tom Cavanagh as Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash

## Appearances

### Locations

* Earth
	+ Central City
		- Star Labs

### Items

* The Flash suit
* Cisco Ramons' Suit (Vibe suit)

### Sentient Species

* Humans
* Meta-humans

### Organizations

* A.R.G.U.S
* S.T.A.R. Labs

## Production

Discussions for the film began in 2018 with Mob Productions CEO Freddie Goodwin in discussions with DC Comics CEO on gaining the rights to all of DC for their own story universe, which would start with a The Flash story adaption. A deal was finalized in late 2020 with Mob Productions hiring Patrick Reid to direct the film with Benjamin Knowles & Bridie Lindsey to write the script. They finished a script in two months, but were forced to restart from scratch when Reid wanted to focus on a more unique story of The Flash set in 2024 and 2000, while keeping true to the New 52 Comic storyline.

The writing process was very difficult according to Knowles and Lindsey, with the two of them needing to rewrite the script four times to meet Reid's standards, but was a massive accomplishment by the end of the process. Reid commented on this stating he wanted the film to be successful and needed to make sure the screenplay was as good as the comic stories we are adapting. He added "We have the actors, but they need a good script to do their best work." In June 2021, Reid began making minor adjustments to the script himself to suit his style of directing during the filming process, which he stated wasn't the hardest part but was important to get right.

By 2021, the writing process was finished with the new script being completed, with the new script featuring the Reverse-Flash as the villain, which is a more traditional Flash villain for a film. Reid said they wanted to have the story work for both new fans of The Flash and old fans who've seen his Golden Days before the New 52 storyline began.

Originally slated for release in August 2025, the film's premiere was unexpectedly moved forward to March 29, 2024. This change in the release schedule reflected growing confidence in the film's development and heightened anticipation from audiences eager to witness The Flash's leap from comic book pages to the silver screen.

Main cast member Grant Gustin returns to his iconic role as Barry Allen / The Flash. Gustin embodies the character of Barry Allen, a forensic crime scene assistant for Central City Police Department, who gains superhuman speed after being struck by lightning caused by a particle accelerator explosion. Jesse L. Martin also rejoins the cast, portraying Joe West, the Captain of the Central City Police Department and a key figure in helping Iris Allen establish a blogging station.

Candice Patton stars as Iris Allen, Barry Allen's friend, who creates a blogging platform to write about The Flash, remaining unaware of his true identity. Tom Cavanagh takes on the dual role of Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash, Barry's nemesis characterized by red lightning and a yellow suit, who travels back in time with the intention of destroying Barry's life, including the murder of Nora Allen.

Michelle Harrison plays Nora Allen, Barry Allen's mother, who tragically becomes a victim in the ongoing conflict between Barry and the Reverse-Flash. Carlos Valdes portrays Cisco Ramon, a close friend of Barry's with "vibe" powers, who assists in the fight against the Reverse-Flash and creates a crucial device to strip Thawne of his powers.

Completing the main cast, LaMonica Garrett appears as Mar Novu / The Monitor, a god-like figure who confronts Barry in a critical post-credits scene, warning of a "deadly threat" and seeking Barry's assistance in an impending cosmic conflict.

Principal photography for the fan-made film adaptation of The Flash began in early 2021 at a dedicated studio in Los Angeles, California, under the working title "Speed Force." The film was shot using advanced digital cameras, with some sequences employing innovative visual effects techniques to capture the high-speed action characteristic of the Flash character. The director of photography, a passionate fan and seasoned filmmaker, worked to bring a unique visual style to the film.

In this ambitious project, the creators aimed to pay homage to the original DC Comics while bringing their own creative vision to life. They revealed that the screenplay was a collaborative effort, incorporating ideas from various fans and writers who are enthusiasts of The Flash lore.

The set design for the film was heavily inspired by classic science fiction and time-travel narratives, with the largest set piece being an intricate representation of the Speed Force, a concept central to The Flash's story. This set was one of the most elaborate ever constructed for a fan-made project, reflecting the team's dedication to authenticity and detail.

Filming also extended to various locations around Los Angeles, chosen for their ability to mirror the diverse landscapes of Central City, The Flash's fictional home. These locations included local schools, universities, and parts of downtown Los Angeles, providing a realistic backdrop for the film's action sequences. Additional filming occurred in San Francisco, chosen for its iconic cityscapes, and in various natural settings in California, which were used to represent the more fantastical elements of The Flash's universe.

The production concluded in late 2021, with post-production extending into 2022. The team worked diligently to ensure that the special effects, particularly those involving super-speed and time travel, were both visually stunning and faithful to the source material. The fan-made film of The Flash represents a labor of love and a testament to the enduring popularity and impact of this iconic superhero.

Once writing and filming process have been complete by June 2022, the production went to post-production and visual effects. Reid didn't want to feature too much CGI as he felt that would ruin the "realistic" aspect of the film. He wanted to make the film have a meaning that is relatable and felt if that was done in a scene with CGI, it wouldn't have the same effect, and opted to ensure only the fight scenes and the scene within the Speed Force had the most CGI added to them.

Reid made sure the lightning that The Flash has looks realistic as well as from the Speed Force, which was very "important because that needed to be set from the moment we meet The Flash", he added he wanted to make it actually look like he has Speed Force connections and that is why his lightning is generated.

The Speed Force was important to get right Reid said. He added that since the film didn't have much more than 5 minutes of screentime inside the Speed Force, they didn't use a green screen for the shots, and instead just had actors act out in normal areas and used visual additions to add to it by changing the sky to a different color with lightning based effects and particles.

Reid and the effects team took inspiration from Stranger Things' "Upside Down" dimension and the Quantum Realm from the MCU.

In April 2024, after the release of the film, a plan for a sequel had already been discussed with Reid who would be hired once again to direct. He commented that if he did take the directing role for the sequel, it will need to explore the Speed Force dimension and explore the multiverse in "great detail that no other film could do."