Some of DC Comics' greatest superheroes will unite later this year for JUSTICE LEAGUE, and Warner Bros. has been busy putting together solo adventures for the team members. WONDER WOMAN will be deflecting bullets on the big screen this summer, AQUAMAN swims into theaters next year, and Ben Affleck is expected to continue the Dark Knight's crusade on crime in THE BATMAN (even if he won't be directing it).
But THE FLASH has stumbled on the road to production. At first, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER writer Seth Grahame-Smith was set to make his feature directing debut from a script by Phil Lord and Chris Miller (21 JUMP STREET, THE LEGO MOVIE). When that collapsed, DOPE director Rick Famuyiwa stepped in before ultimately departing over the typical "creative differences".
And now we know that screenwriter Joby Harold (of the upcoming KING ARTHUR: LEGEND OF THE SWORD) is starting back at square one with a new script for the Scarlet Speedster, who still needs some direction.
Ezra Miller will be starring as Barry Allen, a forensic scientist who acquires unbelievable speed after surviving a freak accident (the movie's superpower origin will likely be altered from the comics' lightning strike).
As the Flash (the second character to bear the name and utilize the Speed Force after Jay Garrick), Allen becomes the red-suited crimefighter of his hometown Central City, while occasionally joining other heroes in the Justice League to keep the entire planet safe from extraordinary threats.
After running through a single TV season back in 1990, the Flash recently returned to television on the popular CW series, currently in its third season with Grant Gustin as the "Fastest Man Alive". In addition to countless comic stories (playing a critical role in the legendary "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event), the crimson-clad metahuman has also appeared in numerous animated series and videogames, including the upcoming sequel to Injustice: Gods Among Us.
At this point we don't know who the big-screen Flash will be facing — maybe villainous speedster Professor Zoom, or the criminal Rogues like Captain Cold, Mirror Master and Weather Wizard? Or perhaps movie will distance itself from the CW series with an obscure or original adversary.
The character's speed also grants him an array of additional powers such as rapid healing, throwing lightning and vibrating through solid objects. Based on the Flash's brief and baffling appearance in BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, the movie version will also be tapping into some time-travel abilities. And judging by the early peek at JUSTICE LEAGUE, he'll also be displaying a pretty droll sense of humor.
Wherever (and/or whenever) the movie's events take the Flash, who should be in the director's chair?
Tim Miller seems like a fan favorite after DEADPOOL showed his talent for kinetic FX-filled action, irreverent humor and red-suited superheroics. SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD (and almost ANT-MAN) director Edgar Wright would do a killer job on another comic book adaptation, although he'd need to be given full creative reign (which seems unlikely) for it to really succeed. For a left-field choice, Wayne Kramer demonstrated an exciting visual acuity on the crime thriller RUNNING SCARED that could make a compelling comic book movie.
Let us know below who you think would be a super selection to direct THE FLASH!
For the previous Cast This column, there were some interesting ideas for Hal Jordan in the planned GREEN LANTERN CORPS movie, including Matt Bomer, John Krasinski, Viggo Mortensen and Jon Hamm. But the favorites seemed to be:
1. Jake Gyllenhaal 2. Clive Standen ("Vikings") 3. Armie Hammer
And for Jordan's Corps partner John Stewart:
1. Sterling K. Brown 2. Idris Elba 3. John Boyega