Barry Allen (DC Extended Universe)

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Barry Allen
The Flash
DC Extended Universe character
EzraFlash.jpg
Promotional image of Ezra Miller as Barry Allen / Flash in Justice League
First appearanceBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Based on
Barry Allen
by
  • Robert Kanigher
  • Carmine Infantino
Adapted by
  • Chris Terrio
  • Zack Snyder
Portrayed byEzra Miller
Ian Loh (young)
In-universe information
AliasThe Flash
SpeciesMetahuman
GenderMale
OccupationVigilante
College student
Police intern
AffiliationJustice League
FamilyHenry Allen (father)
Nora Allen (mother)
NationalityAmerican
Abilities
  • Immense superhuman speed, stamina, reflexes, agility, senses, healing factor, and endurance
  • Molecular intangibility
  • Time travel and manipulation, dimension travel
  • Electricity and lightning manipulation

Bartholomew Henry "Barry" Allen, also known as The Flash, is a fictional character in the DC Extended Universe. Based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name, he is portrayed by American actor Ezra Miller. The Flash makes his first cinematic appearance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice before having a more prominent role in Justice League and its director's cut. Miller has also reprised the role in other DC Comics media such as the Arrowverse, and is currently slated to star in The Flash, an upcoming film based on the character. The DC Extended Universe marks the first time The Flash has been portrayed in live-action film.

Development and portrayal[]

Early film proposals and casting for the DCEU[]

Development on a film based on The Flash started in the late 1980s when Warner Bros. hired comic book writer Jeph Loeb to write a screenplay, but nothing materialized from that.[1] The project went dormant until it was brought up again following the release of Batman Begins, when writer David S. Goyer was offered a chance to write a script for either Flash or Green Lantern.[2] In December 2004, Goyer was brought to write, produce and direct The Flash.[3] He approached his Blade: Trinity co-star Ryan Reynolds for the Barry Allen role,[2] with the intention of also using Wally West as a supporting character.[4] Goyer soon dropped out due to creative differences, but a film based on the Justice League featuring Barry Allen soon entered development afterwards, with Shawn Levy set to direct and Adam Brody cast as Barry Allen. However, this film also fell through.

On June 9, 2010, Green Lantern writers Greg Berlanti (who would later create the 2014 TV series based on the Flash), Michael Green and Marc Guggenheim were hired to pen a treatment of the Flash film. The Flash script was to be based on the recent run by DC's Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns.[5] Mazeau told Blastr.com that the studio was still actively developing the big screen take on the DC Comics' character and that the project was still active.[6] On July 20, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter has reported that the film was rumored to be released in 2016 but it has not been announced.[7] In October 2014, Warner Bros. announced The Flash would be released in 2018 as the sixth installment of the DC Extended Universe.[8] Ezra Miller was cast to play the title role of Barry Allen.[9] The Flash was later postponed to 2022, with Miller providing assistance to re-writing the script following creative differences with original directors/screenwriters John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.[10] It was later revealed in July 2019, that Andy Muschietti would officially be directing the film, with Christina Hodson serving as the screenwriter.[11] In June 2020, TheWrap reported that Michael Keaton was in early talks to reprise his of Bruce Wayne / Batman from Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).[12] In August 2020, it officially confirmed that Keaton had signed on and that Ben Affleck would be reprising his role of Bruce Wayne / Batman from the DC Extended Universe.[13] Filming began on April 19, 2021 at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden in Hertfordshire, England.[14]

Once Zack Snyder received approval from WarnerMedia to film additional footage for his director's cut of Justice League in 2020, Miller, who at the time was taking part of filming for the third Fantastic Beasts film (2022) in London, was able to film his scenes as Barry Allen / Flash remotely, as Snyder directed the additional scene with Miller over Zoom. Snyder's video feed played through a stand on a table enabling him to direct Miller and the crew, who filmed the scene on his behalf.[15]

Characterization[]

Ezra Miller is the first actor to portray Barry Allen / Flash on the silver screen.

As portrayed in the films, Barry Allen is a remarkably intelligent and determined individual, studying to be a forensic scientist to prove the innocence of his imprisoned father Henry Allen in the death of his mother Nora Allen. As the Flash, Barry is determined to keep his secret identity a secret from others, demonstrated by the many excuses he came up with when confronted by Bruce Wayne, despite none of them being convincing enough to fool the latter. When finally exposed by Bruce, Barry is quick to agree to join the Justice League, due to his great desire to gain friends he could relate to. He deals with insecurity and a tragic past much like the other superheroes in the DCEU, but retains a humorous, talkative personality and positive attitude. Ezra Miller has described his portrayal of the character as "an exploration of a multi-dimensional human being" while exploring the character's consideration as a superhero and a person to "feel the humanity of someone who is heroic — or the heroism of someone who is a flawed, deeply human person."[16] In addition, Barry is implied to be a fan of Rick and Morty and has an extremely fast metabolism due to his superhero activities.

Barry casually describes himself as an "attractive Jewish boy" when first meeting Bruce Wayne in Justice League, just as Ezra Miller is Jewish in real life. This makes the DCEU Flash the first version of the character to be Jewish, and the first confirmed Jewish superhero to appear in film.[17] Prior to this, Ian McKellen/Michael Fassbender's Magneto, as portrayed in the X-Men film series, is shown to be Jewish, but is more often than not depicted as a supervillain.[18] In addition, Superman was created by Jewish comics writers, but has later become an allegory for Jesus in films including Man of Steel,[19] and The Thing has also been described as an allegory for Jewish life in America, but was not revealed as Jewish until much later, nor is he revealed as such in any of the Fantastic Four films.[20]

Running style[]

Critics and fans have noticed Barry Allen's unorthodox running motion in both versions of Justice League. In an interview before the release of the theatrical cut, Ezra Miller shared that he had practiced martial arts for two years in preparation for the role, even venturing to the Wudang Mountains in China to study Qinggong.[21] The monks he encountered inspired some of Barry's more meditative movements as well as his running motion while entering the Speed Force to reverse time during the climax of the "Snyder Cut".[22] Miller also looked to the mechanics of speed skaters, dancers and choreographers as well as certain animals, stating "I was also inspired by crows, cheetahs, mongooses and other fast-moving and intelligent creatures, as well as by rushing water and, of course, lightning."[23]

Fictional character biography[]

Origins[]

Further information: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad (film), and Zack Snyder's Justice League

Barry Allen gains superhuman speed after a S.T.A.R. Labs incident, becoming a metahuman. During his early days as a superhero, he apprehends Captain Boomerang.[24] Around 2015, Bruce Wayne encounters a future version of Allen who appears through a time-travel portal warning him of upcoming events after Wayne has a cryptic dream of the future. At the same time, security footage of Allen apprehending a burglar with his superpowers is decrypted and examined by Wayne after being stolen from Lex Luthor's servers. Wayne sends the footage to Diana Prince.

In 2017, Allen meets Iris West, saving her from injury during a car crash while he also interviews for a job. He later visits his father Henry, who is imprisoned after being wrongly accused of murdering his wife and Allen's mother, Nora. Henry encourages Barry to "move on with his life" during this particular visit despite Barry's protests.

Stopping Steppenwolf[]

Theatrical cut[]

Further information: Justice League (film)

Wayne recruits Allen to join a team of metahumans in the wake of Superman's death, which Allen enthusiastically accepts upon learning that Wayne is Batman. Allen ventures with Wayne to meet with Prince in Gotham City, where they also encounter police commissioner James Gordon and fellow metahuman Victor Stone, also known as "Cyborg".

As the team prepares to fight Steppenwolf and his parademon minions under Delaware Bay to retrieve a Motherbox, Flash is intimidated upon seeing a parademon slaughter one of the scientists guarding the relic, stating that he has "no combat skills". Batman tells him to "save one person" in order to boost Barry's confidence, after which Barry manages to save Cyborg's father Silas and many other civilians, in addition to aiding Wonder Woman by retrieving her sword and protecting her from a falling column. The team is aided by Arthur Curry / Aquaman, who arrives to save them from a deluge of water after Steppenwolf escapes.

After Aquaman joins the team, Wayne decides to use the Motherbox to resurrect Superman after examining its abilities, with Allen siding with him. Curry and Stone are sent to exhume Clark Kent's body, bonding over discussing the situation and their abilities. Upon returning to the lab, Allen charges up the Motherbox, which successfully revives Superman, though he has lost his memories and is triggered to attack the group. Flash tries to ambush Superman with his speed, but Superman counters with his own quickness and brute force, knocking Flash aside. Batman has his butler Alfred Pennyworth bring Kent's girlfriend, Lois Lane, which calms him down.

Allen helps the team deduce that Steppenwolf will be in a nuclear fallout zone in Russia to try and unite all three Motherboxes and reshape the Earth, so the team travels to confront him. While Batman makes himself a distraction to the demon, Flash and the rest of the team flank Cyborg as he tries to pull the Motherboxes apart. Upon seeing that civilians are in danger, Batman orders Flash to evacuate them, but Superman arrives, singlehandedly saving the whole village while Flash saves a single family and helping the team to defeat Steppenwolf. Following the battle, Allen enthusiastically remains part of the team, now named the Justice League, and obtains an entry-level job with the Central City police department to his father's approval. Flash races Superman for fun to see which superhero is faster.

Director's cut[]

Further information: Zack Snyder's Justice League

During the battle under Gotham Harbor, Allen is more confident in his abilities. Prior to Superman's resurrection, Allen mistakes Stone's "no" for "go", charging up the Mother Box, and he is also shown crashing into Aquaman as the amnesiac Superman dodges an attack from him. Stone is also the one who discovers that Steppenwolf's base is in Russia, not Allen. During the final battle, Allen is assigned to provide an extra spark to help Victor pull apart the Mother Boxes. He fails the first time around as he is shot by a parademon while charging up his speed, allowing the "Unity" time to form, which kills the team and begins destroying the Earth. However, after regaining his confidence and healing himself, he manages to enter the Speed Force, running faster than the speed of light to reverse time and save his teammates from annihilation. He assists Stone in separating the boxes, allowing the team to defeat and kill Steppenwolf.

Meeting himself[]

Further information: Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse)

At some point, Allen encountered another version of himself (played by Grant Gustin) in the Speed Force.[25] The two Allens have a brief exchange, discovering they are the same person from different universes, and that the second Allen has adopted the monikor of "The Flash". Oblivious to the crisis the Flash is facing, Allen fades away. This encounter led to Allen's own eventual adoption of the superhero moniker "The Flash."[26]

Knightmare reality[]

Further information: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Zack Snyder's Justice League

In a dark potential future seen in visions by Bruce Wayne and Victor Stone, Darkseid has taken over the world after turning it into an apocalyptic wasteland and corrupted Superman into his second-in-command after killing Lois Lane. Flash, Batman, Cyborg, Mera, Deathstroke, and Joker are seen being hunted by the brainwashed Superman in one of these visions. Allen is shown to have travelled from this future reality back to 2015 to tell Wayne that Lane "is the key" and to "find the others" before disappearing, implying that he is trying to prevent Lane's death.[a]

Reception[]

Miller's performance in the theatrical cut of Justice League was praised as one of the film's highlights, despite the overall mixed-to-negative reviews for the film as a whole.[27][28] In particular, Steve Persall of the Tampa Bay Times noted that "Ezra Miller's hyper-fast Flash is another sort of amusing, his fanboy spirit speaking for the audience while the CGI lightning trailing him is one of the movie's defining effects. The Flash's expression upon realizing he isn't the fastest person in the world is priceless, setting up the first of two end credits sequences."[29] However, certain aspects of the character, such as a "goofy-looking" running motion and "forced" jokes as part of Joss Whedon's rewrites of the film, including the infamous "brunch" line and Barry falling on Diana's chest during the Gotham Harbor battle, were criticized.[30][31]

Despite his lone major film role and numerous cameos at the time, the DCEU version of Flash was praised as a better-written character than his counterpart in the Arrowverse by Erik Kain of Forbes. Writing shortly after the premiere of Justice League, Kain writes that Ezra Miller's rendition of the character, despite being socially-awkward and having far less character development than Grant Gustin's version, is more likeable as a "quirky genius superhero" and is not tied down by "bad soap opera writing, propensity to lie all the time, and episode upon episode of filler" like his television counterpart.[32]

Ezra Miller's performance and characterization in Zack Snyder's Justice League was also well-received with critics praising Barry Allen's increased confidence and chemistry with other characters, reduced "cringe-worthy" one liners, and his more integral role in the final battle, as compared to the theatrical cut.[31] Tom Jergensen from IGN wrote: "He remains the comic relief character and fills that role well, as he's still a green enough hero to freak out when entering the Batcave for the first time. Snyder doubles down on Flash in the finale, with spectacular use of the Speed Force that raises the bar for his eventual solo film."[33]

See also[]

  • Barry Allen (Arrowverse)
  • Flash in other media
  • Characters of the DC Extended Universe

Notes[]

  1. ^ As depicted in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

References[]

  1. ^ McLean, Thomas (2004-07-18). "Hero worship". Variety. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Morris, Clint (2004-12-18). "Exclusive Interview : David Goyer". Moviehole. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
  3. ^ Claude Brodesser; Cathy Dunkley (2004-12-16). "WB shines Flash light". Variety. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Retrieved 2009-07-26.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Barnes, Jessica (2007-02-03). "David Goyer Booted Off The Flash". Moviefone. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  5. ^ "Warners hires writers for 'Green Lantern 2' and 'Flash' (exclusive)". Heatvisionblog.com. 2010-06-09. Archived from the original on 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  6. ^ "Don't worry—that big-screen Flash movie ain't dead yet". Blastr. 2012-03-28. Archived from the original on 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  7. ^ Kit, Borys (July 20, 2013). "Superman and Batman Film Set for Comic-Con Reveal". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  8. ^ Fischer, Russ (October 15, 2014). "DC Comics Movies Announced: 'Suicide Squad,' 'Wonder Woman,' 'Justice League,' 'The Flash,' 'Aquaman'". /Film. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  9. ^ Ford, Rebecca (October 15, 2014). "Warner Bros.' 'The Flash' Movie to Star Ezra Miller". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  10. ^ Kit, Borys (March 15, 2019). "'Flash' Shocker: Ezra Miller Writing Script in Bid to Stay On as Star (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  11. ^ "'It' Director Andy Muschietti to Direct 'Flash' Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  12. ^ "Batman Returns! Michael Keaton to Play Bruce Wayne in 'The Flash'". TheWrap. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  13. ^ Breznican, Anthony. "Ben Affleck Will Return as Batman in The Flash". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  14. ^ Kay2021-01-27T03:07:00+00:00, Jeremy. "Hollywood stays on track with UK shoots despite tighter Covid quarantine rules". Screen. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  15. ^ Chanliau, Pierre (November 13, 2020). "'Justice League': Zack Snyder Used Zoom To Remotely Film New Ezra Miller Scene". The Direct. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  16. ^ Hibberd, James (November 16, 2015). "Ezra Miller on how his The Flash will differ from The CW's version". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  17. ^ Bloom, Nate (2017-11-28). "It's official: The Flash is the first big-screen Jewish superhero". J. Archived from the original on 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  18. ^ Berlatsky, Noah (2017-11-17). "Analysis — With 'Justice League,' now there's a Jewish superhero played by a Jewish actor on the big screen". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  19. ^ Child, Ben (June 19, 2013). "Man of Steel marketing campaign seeks to align Superman with Jesus". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 8, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  20. ^ Byrne, John (w), Wilson, Ron (p), Barta, Hilary (i). "Ancient Evenings, Ancient Pain", The Thing vol. 2, #8. Marvel Comics.
  21. ^ Begum, Mumtaj (2017-11-18). "Young Ezra Miller tried running like The Flash but stumbled". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  22. ^ Ezra Miller’s Flash Running Form Explained (Video). YouTube. 2021-03-30.
  23. ^ Brooks, Nicholas (2021-04-23). "Zack Snyder's Justice League: Why Ezra Miller's Running Stance Is So Strange". CBR. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  24. ^ Kit, Borys (July 28, 2016). "'Suicide Squad' Adds Key DC Character Weeks Before Release". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  25. ^ "Crisis: The Arrowverse Just Crossed Over With the DCEU". CBR. 2020-01-15. Archived from the original on 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  26. ^ "DCEU Flash Got His Name From Arrowverse Version Confirmed". Screenrant. 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  27. ^ "'Justice League:' Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. November 14, 2017. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  28. ^ Kevin Melrose (November 15, 2017). "Justice League: What Critics Are Saying". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  29. ^ Persall, Steve (2017-11-17). "Why 'Justice League' nearly gets it right but still has DC movie problems". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 2020-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  30. ^ "Every Reused Joss Whedon Joke In His Justice League". ScreenRant. 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b Acuna, Kirsten; Guerrasio, Jason. "The 45 biggest differences between 'Zack Snyder's Justice League' and the 2017 theatrical version". Insider. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  32. ^ Kain, Erik (2017-11-27). "Which 'Flash' Is Better: Justice League's Ezra Miller Or The CW's Grant Gustin?". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  33. ^ Zack Snyder's Justice League Review - IGN, retrieved 2021-03-18

CC-BY-SA icon.svg The plot description and characterization were adapted from Flash and Justice League (film) at the DC Extended Universe Wiki, which are available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

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