'The Flash' Rockets into Theaters This Weekend
by EG
The new DC superhero movie The Flash is heading into theaters undeterred by controversy surrounding its star, Ezra Miller. What may be a bigger challenge for the movie is the difficulty that the once-reliable superhero genre has been having attracting the huge audiences that used to be standard. Marvel movies have been struggling to perform up to expectations lately, and the newly re-vamped DC universe is facing headwinds of its own. Can The Flash push through them? Read on for details.
Via Variety.
“The Flash” producer Barbara Muchietti confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that the Warner Bros. comic book tentpole was never in jeopardy of being shelved amid reports of star Ezra Miller’s legal troubles and alleged abuse. Some reports last year claimed otherwise, with rumors circulating that “The Flash” would be shelved for tax incentive purposes à la “Batgirl” given the controversies surrounding Miller.
When asked if there was a legitimate fear of the movie being canceled, Muschietti said, “Not at all. No. That was never real.”
“The Flash” is directed by Barbara’s brother, Andy Muschietti. The filmmaker recently disclosed on “The Discourse” podcast that he has no intentions of re-casting Miller should “The Flash” team return for a potential sequel.
“If [a sequel] happens, yes,” Andy Muschietti said about having Miller back as The Flash. “I don’t think there’s anyone that can play that character as well as they did. The other depictions of the character are great, but this particular vision of the character, they just excelled in doing it. And, as you said, the two Barrys — it feels like a character that was made for them.”
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Muschietti said the siblings are still in touch with Miller ahead of the movie’s June theatrical release. Miller has not yet been involved in the movie’s press tour.
“We have a lot of empathy in general for people who need help, and especially in mental health issues,” Andy said. “That’s why they are taking the necessary steps to deal with their recovery, and we support them in that.”
Miller was cited in Vermont with felony burglary last year. In 2020, the actor made headlines after they appeared to be choke a woman outside of a bar in Iceland. No charges were filed. The actor was also arrested twice in Hawaii in 2022, once for disorderly conduct and harassment. The harassment charge was dismissed.
Variety exclusively reported last August that Miller was seeking treatment for “complex mental health issues” after going “through a time of intense crisis.”
Get the rest of the story at Variety.