The Flash: Two Batmans, a Supergirl, and a Multiverse of Possibilities

The Flash, the highly awaited DC film, which has faced multiple delays, has finally received its first official trailer. Ezra Miller will be reprising his role as the speedster, which he previously played in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, as well as making cameos in the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover and Peacemaker. The Flash is slated for a theatrical release on June 16, 2023.

Despite undergoing various changes in direction and leadership, including the purchase of Warner Bros. by Discovery, multiple controversies surrounding its lead actor, and numerous rewrites, The Flash is scheduled for release this year as one of the final instalments of the current DC Extended Universe.

The cast of the Flashpoint storyline-inspired film includes not only Ezra Miller playing a dual role, but also Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, and Sasha Calle (known for The Young and the Restless) making her debut as Supergirl. Michael Shannon and Antje Traue will also reprise their Man of Steel roles as General Zod and Faora-Ul. 

Moreover, Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck will reprise their roles as Batman, which means two caped crusaders will appear in the movie. In the trailer, both actors make an appearance, with Affleck’s Bruce Wayne giving Barry ominous warnings about the dangers of meddling with time travel and alternate universes. Additionally, Michael Keaton is seen wearing the Batman suit for the first time since 1992’s Batman Returns.

Michael Keaton initially portrayed the iconic superhero in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman. This critically acclaimed and commercially successful film was a game-changer for how superhero movies were perceived and ultimately paved the way for the genre’s future box office dominance. Keaton’s last portrayal of Batman was in the 1992 film “Batman Returns,” after which he chose to step away from the role during the development of a third movie. 

Tim Burton was replaced as the director by Joel Schumacher who took the series in a campier direction with 1995’s Batman Forever and it’s much-reviled 1997 follow-up, Batman & Robin.
The Flash is included in the “Elseworlds” scheme for the unified DC Universe moving forward. Although not considered a direct component of the new interconnected storyline being developed by Gunn and Safran, it could still have consequences and possibilities for a crossover in the future.