The Flash: Warners will throw only one premiere close to the release due to a new secret ending and the sequel is already written

The world’s fastest superhero has ironically taken an incredibly slow pace to get to a release. The Flash has been delayed and ankle-deep in controversy when the film’s star became a PR nightmare for the studio with the various offenses Ezra Miller has been charged with. Finally, the film is about to hit theaters, and the studio has decided to keep Miller very low-key on the promotion circuit. Warner Bros. has even decided to limit the film to one premiere that is uniquely late in the time frame. However, the reason the studio has made this decision doesn’t seem to be Miller related.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. has decided to forgo additional worldwide premieres in favor of just one that will take place only four days before the film’s opening. For a big-budget tentpole summer blockbuster of this caliber, this is an unusual approach. This seems to be due to a “secret ending” and not an attempt to avoid extra Miller press. Superhero films have a tradition of featuring secret endings that tease the next film or reveal big cameos, so a secret ending isn’t anything revolutionary. However, the WB and DC seem to be playing this one very close to the chest.

While there will only be one premiere thrown, The Flash is still having advanced screenings in several international outlets, with one event even hosted by Michael Keaton in London. Additionally, Warners is running 400 advanced showings in the U.S. and Canada to campaign the film by word-of-mouth. The reactions to the film from those who have already seen it have been overwhelmingly positive, which include interesting names like Tom Cruise and Stephen King. It’s not said if these screenings will have this secret ending attached.

Despite the controversy and the reset of the DC universe under James Gunn, the studio seems to really be happy with this film. So much so that the script for the sequel has already been written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, writer of Aquaman, which will be waiting for greenlight after the studio sees the response to the first. Director Andy Muschetti has stated that if a sequel does happen, he will definitely bring Miller back. “I don’t think there’s anyone that can play that character as well as they did. The other depictions of the character are great, but this particular vision of the character, they just excelled in doing it. It feels like a character that was made for them.”