Ezra Miller's chances of getting his version of Andy Muschietti is now expected to direct the DCEU film with Christina Hodson coming aboard as screenwriter. The Flash has proven to be the DCEU project to have seen the most development hurdles, a true irony for The Fastest Man Alive that's even been noted by Ezra Miller himself. Yet, with Muschietti and Hodson ing the film, along with Miller remaining attached as the title character, things seem to be finally picking up.
The news of Muschietti and Hodson's involvement comes in the aftermath of a creative ime reached by Miller and former directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. Miller’s days as the Scarlet Speedster seemed numbered with the news that he and comic book writer Grant Morrison were penning a new darker Flash screenplay in a bid to have Miller to remain in the role. Yet, Daley and Goldstein would ultimately depart the project, with Miller remaining aboard.
Looking at the very protracted development process for The Flash, Miller’s clear ion for the role of Barry Allen, as seen in his talk of incorporating the "Speedster Multiverse" into the story among other elements, is ultimately one of several factors that led to his vision for the project winning out. Here's how he got his version of The Flash.
Ezra Miller Has Outlived Three Flash Creative Teams
Ezra Miller first 2020 release date, prior to the duo's departure earlier this summer.
Meanwhile, since g on as the character in 2014, Miller has made two cameos as Barry Allen in Justice League. For all the creative birthing pains The Flash has gone through, Miller has been the one party to consistently remain attached to The Flash. Where a project being stuck in such a state of development hell has frequently dissuaded other actors, Miller has shown no sign of losing interest in the role, and that by itself speaks to his commitment to portraying Barry Allen.
Ezra Miller Was Sold On A Specific Version Of The Flash
While the past year-and-a-half has seen the DCEU release both Shazam, The Flash was originally intended to release prior to both, meaning that the project arguably no longer fulfills the same role in the larger DCEU story as it was initially intended to. That's important when discussing Ezra Miller as, by all s, he signed on as Barry Allen with the understanding that the character would fall within certain creative parameters
While full details of the intended story for The Flash have never been fully revealed, the Flashpoint story arc, which kickstarted DC Comic's New 52 reboot, was reportedly the basis for the film as recently as 2017. Flashpoint sees Barry Allen travel back in time to prevent the murder of his mother, Nora Allen, by The Reverse-Flash. However, Barry's decision throws the DC Universe into an apocalyptic cataclysm that sees Atlantis and Themyscira go to war with one another, and Thomas Wayne becoming a twisted Batman.
The Flashpoint story clearly fits in well with Zack Snyder's original layout of the DCEU, especially in regard to its portrayal of Barry Allen. With Miller having signed on as Barry Allen with this version of the character in mind, and with time travel being a major component of his character arc. However, that seemed to change following the failure of Justice League and hiring of Daley-Goldstein.
Ezra Miller Was Fighting For a Darker Flash Story
Something that’s been very clear since Miller ed the DCEU is that he knows The Flash inside and out. His ion for the character and excitement for tackling the role of Barry Allen has been consistently visible in every interview he’s given since his casting. Miller clearly relishes the opportunity, and his aforementioned talk of the "Speedster Multiverse" specifically point to the pivotal role he sees the project fulfilling in the larger DCEU. What's more, Miller's never shown the slightest dip in enthusiasm despite seeing one director after another sign on and walk from the project. In fact, despite those difficulties, he's described the project in the of being "a gift to the fans."
Above all, he wanted to maintain a dark, mature version of the story that took its cues from Snyder's take on the DC pantheon. Going as far as to pen a script with Grant Morrison in line with what he signed on for speaks volumes of his ion for the character, and is clear evidence of just how stark the contrast was between his vision for The Flash and that of Daley and Goldstein.
Ezra Miller's Flash Script Was Rejected, But The Movie Is Darker
While Warner Bros. rejected Miller and Morrison’s script, the studio decided to keep him in the role despite his Spider-Man: Homecoming being indicative of the direction they likely intended for The Flash.
Andy Muschietti, of course, is best known for directing 2017's It: Chapter Two. At a minimum, Muschietti's involvement signals a compromise on the part of Warner Bros. for Miller’s desire for a darker take for The Flash. Additionally, Muschietti is now one of several horror directors to the DCEU, which indicates the overall direction of the franchise, and the role of The Flash within it, will be one less comedy-driven than Daley and Goldstein’s vision for the project.
Fantastic Beasts Gives Ezra Miller Leverage in His Flash Negotiations
Aside from his clear ion for the role, Ezra Miller also had an additional bargaining chip with his attachment to the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts is hardly a franchise that the studio has any intention of rebooting. Outside of his role in the Justice League ensemble, Miller has only made two cameo appearances as Barry Allen, meaning that The Flash is a character Warner Bros. could recast if they chose to do so. Indeed, the studio could even theoretically shift the focus to the Wally West or Bart Allen version of Scarlet Speedster if the situation proved untenable. With Miller as the last man standing in the project’s creative disagreements, it indicates that Warner Bros. greatly values Miller’s involvement with Fantastic Beasts.
The ending of last years’ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald also makes clear that Miller’s character, Credence Barebone, is to be a key player in the future of the series. With Miller’s vision winning out and the boarding of Muschietti and Hodson, all signs point to Miller’s involvement in Fantastic Beasts as a major factor in Warner Bros. decision to keep him in the role and offer a compromise towards his vision for The Flash.
It should be emphasized that The Flash situation is not yet a done deal and, surely, the number of directors of who have boarded and departed the project show that the film can still be subject to change. However, that fact remains that Ezra Miller has been the only participant to stay put through all the project’s directorial difficulties. Furthermore, Muschietti’s horror pedigree indicates that the project is lining up more to Miller’s liking, while Christina Hodson boarding as screenwriter is a major push from the studio given her scripting duties on Batgirl. It's been a long-time coming for The Fastest Man Alive, but with these latest developments on The Flash, Barry Allen’s long-gestating solo film could finally be escaping its creative purgatory.
