The Flash
Expected: March 23rd, 2018
Character synopsis: A human who, through an accidental chemical reaction, gains super speed and super reflexes.
Origin: Depending on the version of the Flash that is selected for the feature film, there can be a variety of origins. Also known as the Scarlet Speedster, or the Crimson Comet, the most likely pick of alter egos seems to be Barry Allen – a police scientist who is exposed to chemicals and gains super speed. He uses that speed to fight crime, eventually donning red tights with a lightning bolt.
Powers: His super speed and super reflexes allow him to do the obvious things, like run fast and react very quickly in fights, but they also allow him to defy the laws of physics at times by doing things such as moving through walls. The Flash and other Speedsters can also speak at accelerated rates.
Greatest Enemies: Like most iconic superheroes, The Flash has gone up against countless foes. Some likely ones for the film could be Mirror Master (a felon who can hypnotize enemies, travel to other dimensions, and become invisible by entering his own reflection), The Trickster, (a former circus acrobat who uses practical joke weapons to antagonize the Scarlet Speedster), and Weather Wizard (a villain who uses a wand to weaponize the weather).
Casting: Actor Ezra Miller was confirmed as the feature film Flash, after as many rumors as any character has undergone did the rounds. To say that Miller wasn’t on many fan lists is an understatement. He may be the most left-field of any casting that Warner Bros. has done yet, and these are the people that picked Ben Affleck for Batman. I was originally hoping for an actor along the lines of Chris Pine, Dave Franco or Bradley Cooper, but Miller is a pick I can get on board with. He’s a great actor, there’s no denying that – the question is whether that will translate to such an action-heavy character. Considering he’s got over three years until this movie hits theaters, I’d say there’s plenty of time for that skill set to develop, however.
History and future: Until now, there hasn’t been a live-action Flash movie – but the character has made some television appearances. There was a one-season show on CBS in 1990 starring John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen, and the character now has his own so-far successful CW series, starring Grant Gustin. The character of The Flash is a key member of the Justice League, so he will undoubtedly show up in other characters’ films – though to what extent is still unknown.
– Alexander Lowe
