What is the Speed Force in ‘The Flash?’

Now that The Flash is currently in theaters everywhere, casual audience members may want to learn more about the cryptic “Speed Force” that was mentioned in the film. Just what is the Speed Force and what is its connection to Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen in the movie?

First of all, it’s worth it to mention that the Speed Force exists in both the comics and the DC Extended Universe movie franchise. Even though it is a plot element heavily incorporated in The Flash, it was already mentioned in a previous DCEU film, Justice League. 

What is the Speed Force in The Flash?

Essentially, the Speed Force is the source of Barry’s power in the latest DCEU film. Specifically, Barry explained to Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne in Justice League that the Speed Force is a “layer of dimensional reality that seems to manipulate spacetime.”

The catalyst for Barry becoming connected to the Speed Force happened when he got struck by lightning one night and had chemicals spill on him, simultaneously. This granted Barry the super speed ability he has as Flash. Barry even used the Speed Force to reverse time and prevent the destruction of the world in the events of Justice League.

In addition to granting speedsters supersonic abilities, the Speed Force also requires those conduits to consume an inordinately high amount of calories to utilize the power. In addition, the Speed Force, being a dimensional layer, is also something that Barry has inhabited himself and encountered an alternative version of himself, as was explored in an episode of The Flash TV show on the CW in which Miller made a cameo appearance.