One of the most anticipated movies in the DCEU is The Flash. After a long and dramatic production history, the movie is in front of cameras now with Ezra Miller returning as Barry Allen, aka The Flash.
The Flash looks poised to have some major impacts on the overall cinematic universe which has been a bit messy up until now. In fact, with all the changes that Zack Snyder's Justice League made to the DCEU, it establishes Flash in a different way. With the various character alterations and plot points introduced, it could change a lot about what to expect from Flash's first solo adventure.
His Relationship With Batman
One of the aspects of Joss Whedon's Justice League that actually worked pretty well was the way Batman served almost as a mentor for The Flash. While Snyder's movie still has Bruce Wayne recruiting Barry Allen, that relationship isn't established as strongly.
Ben Affleck's Batman is set to play a big role in this movie, which begs the question of how their relationship will be presented. Without that prior mentor relationship established, their bond might not be as strong.
His Father
Every hero needs some sort of tragic backstory and Barry Allen is no different. In Justice League, it is shown that Barry's father is in prison for murdering Barry's mother, despite them both claiming he is innocent. By the end of the movie, Henry Allen is still in prison.
In Snyder's detailed outline of the future of the Justice League franchise, it is revealed that Bruce Wayne would eventually help to get Henry a retrial and he is released from prison. Given Bruce Wayne's involvement in this movie, that could still happen.
He's Met Iris
Apart from Ezra Miller, one cast member who has managed to stay involved in the project throughout the endless string of directors was Kiersey Clemons. She will play Iris West, the love interest of Barry Allen.
While her scenes were cut from the theatrical version of Justice League, Snyder included them in his cut, establishing the first time Barry and Iris meet. While it was a brief meeting in the midst of Barry saving her life, it would be nice to see that followed up on in this movie.
Experience As A Hero
When Barry is introduced in Justice League, he is far from an established hero. He is shown foiling a convenience store robbery and stopping Captain Boomerang from robbing a bank in Suicide Squad.
However, Justice League introduces him to a whole world beyond simple robberies as he fights beings from other planets and is aware of the lurking threat of Darkseid. This is explained a lot more in Snyder's version and it will be hard to see him return to foiling petty crime after all that.
More Than Comedic Relief
It's no surprise that Whedon leaned into the comedy a lot more than Snyder did in his version of Justice League. Looking at both versions, it's clear Whedon overdid it with the constant quips and jokes, especially with Flash, who was rendered almost a cartoon character.
While Flash is very much the comedic relief of Snyder's cut as well, he is given a lot more to do beyond that. He is made to be a more complex and interesting hero, which will help the audience be more attached to him when he is headlining his own movie.
His Friendship With Cyborg
Of all the other superheroes in the movie, the one Barry seems to form the biggest bond with is Cyborg. While both Justice League versions seem to highlight this budding friendship, it is more effective in Snyder's version as Cyborg is a more developed character.
While Ray Fisher was supposed to appear in The Flash at some point, that now seems unlikely given the behind-the-scenes drama Fisher deserves to explore this character more and The Flash would be a fun project to include him in.
His New Job
Both versions of the Justice League end with Barry showing his father how he has been hired at a new crime lab job. However, Snyder's version of the movie went into a lot more about how chaotic Barry's life was beforehand.
He is shown jumping from gig to gig in the midst of crime-fighting and focusing on his dad's case. It will be interesting to see if that fun and messy lifestyle is maintained in the new movie and how his new job fits into it all.
Time Travel Ability
Though Barry mentions the Speed Force being able to manipulate space and time in Whedon's version, there is no indication of just what his powers are capable of. In Snyder's version, the fact that Barry can travel through time actually becomes a big part of the climax.
Given that this movie will play with the multiverse and include Michael Keaton's version of Batman, it's safe to say that his powers will be explored evermore. And the fact that it was introduced in the Snyder cut makes it easier for the audience to accept.
He Saved The Day
The final battle against Steppenwolf is one of the biggest improvements in Snyder's version as Whedon's final battle is an uninspired CGI mess. And while Whedon's version has Flash running around rescuing random bystanders, he actually saves the day in Snyder's version.
After Steppenwolf brings the Mother Boxes together and Darkseid comes to Earth, there is a glimpse at the destruction of the planet before Flash is able to go back in time and stop it from happening. Having such a big moment should change him as a hero.
The Knightmare Sequence
One of the most talked-about aspects of Zack Snyder's Justice League is the so-called Knightmare sequence at the end. It is a tease of the post-apocalyptic future Snyder was building to follow Darkseid conquering Earth.
Flash is featured in this sequence along with surviving heroes like Batman and Cyborg. While it seems unlikely Snyder's plans will ever become a reality, if there is a possibility, The Flash could help set it up.
