On the surface, there don’t seem to be many similarities between Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick and Ezra Miller’s The Flash, other than the fact they both feature protagonists with a penchant for traveling as fast as possible. And yet, recent developments have created rumblings that the DCU blockbuster is poised to become a global sensation.
It was confirmed yesterday that Andy Muschietti’s long-gestating comic book adaptation will receive its world premiere at CinemaCon, months before it hits theaters in June of this year. While that sounds fairly innocuous, showcasing the completed film to an audience so far ahead of its big screen bow is a surefire indicator that Warner Bros. has huge faith in The Flash.
After all, James Gunn did declare it to be one of the best superhero features he’s ever seen, and the co-CEO of DC Studios isn’t one for mincing his words or hyperbole. So where does Top Gun: Maverick fit in? Funnily enough, Joseph Kosinski’s legacy sequel was revealed at CinemaCon well before it exploded into life in the multiplex, and it went on to secure a reputation as one of the finest big budget adventures of the modern era, as well as a certifiable box office juggernaut.
As you can imagine, though, not everyone is convinced that The Flash possesses the same potential, but that doesn’t mean the hype isn’t already moving through the gears four months out.
It would be a shock were The Flash to come close to Maverick-level commercial success, critical acclaim, or awards season glory, but stranger things have definitely happened, and it would surely cement Miller’s status as part of the DCU moving forward.