The Flash: A Mindbending Experience At The Cinema + Q & A with Andy and Barbara Muschietti

Last Updated on April 28, 2023

The Flash is one of the year’s most anticipated films, if not the decade. Featuring the popular Flashpoint storyline and Michael Keaton’s return to the bat-suit, there’s been a lot of talk about the movie over its many years of development. Then add all of the controversies with its leading actor and the mysterious future of DC cinema, then you’ve got one of the summer’s most intriguing releases. So you can imagine my excitement when Warner Bros invited me out to Los Angeles for the first press screening of The Flash.

I think I should state the obvious from the jump: you aren’t getting any spoilers in this article. This is just too special of a film to even tiptoe with spoilers. There are many aspects of the movie that are going to absolutely blow people away. From the unexpected cameos to the absolute showstopping performance from Ezra Miller, it’s a movie everyone needs to experience on the big screen. The return of Michael Keaton has been publicized a lot, but I still got goosebumps seeing him in the old suit. It’s almost like seeing an old family member after years of separation. And then the surprises, oh boy, the surprises!

One of the most impressive aspects of the film is how director Andy Muschietti deals with such a complex narrative. Like the IT films before, which seemed like an impossible task to adapt properly, Muschietti is able to frame things very simply. Not once was the time travel stuff convoluted or confusing, as they do a great job of explaining it with visuals. I know I wasn’t expecting spaghetti to be the perfect metaphor for time travel, yet here we are.

After the screening was a Q&A with Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, who serve as the director and producer of the film, respectively, I just have to mention how charming these two are. While Barbara was quiet, with Andy mostly leading the talk, both provided insight into the production. He was full of information, even some not even about The Flash (Did you know that The Office’s Melora Hardin was originally cast in Back to the Future?). And he even blew our minds that the short-haired version of Barry is actually the wig, with Ezra’s real hair being the longer-haired Barry. Quite possibly the best wig ever done on film.

This is one of those movies that relies on knowing very little going in. Sure, a basic knowledge of the Flashpoint storyline may guide you along. But Muschietti has crafted such a fun time at the movies that I can’t imagine having any of these moments experienced on anything other than a giant theater screen. Michael Keaton’s return as Bruce Wayne/Batman is really all they needed as a hook to get fans excited for this film. It’s something that most of us never thought we’d see again in a million years. Yet he easily slides back into the suit (even if it’s clearly a stuntman during most of the action). Barbara touched a bit on the shockingly easy process of getting Keaton involved:

He was just wonderful. He is the most energetic human being you’ll ever meet. It’s, it’s insane. And actually, you know, one of the missions is when you had him on set, you had to be on the ball 100% and keeping him busy because you don’t want that man bored. But well [he walked into this] Italian restaurant. His, you know, in his hood. And we’re, Andy and I are sitting there a little nervous… but he came in jogging, sat down. We had, you know, food. He rolled the script literally under his arm and left jogging as well. So Andy and I, after the meeting, are like, we have Batman.

The Batcave has been featured all over the promotion of this film, and that’s because it’s an absolute sight to behold. Andy touched on it, as well as Keaton’s first time on the massive set:

We built the entire Batcave on one of the biggest sets at Leavesden, which is, you know, the Warner Brothers stages in London or in Leavesden. So we build the whole thing. All the bat cave that you see there, except for the full waterfall that goes down. It’s all entirely practical. And when he when he arrived to the set, the bat cave was already finished and it was lit and everything, and he stayed like this for a while. I didn’t want to interrupt him or anything.

Muschietti also talked about a moment when Keaton was in the suit for the first time and asked Andy to take a photo of him for his grandson. It’s moments like that which remind you why Keaton is so likable.

When the subject of Ezra Miller was approached, both filmmakers seemed quite optimistic about their current health. It should also be noted that Andy, often switching between talking about Barry and Ezra, refers to them as both he/they a lot, which he even apologized for. But I think it’d be dishonest to alter what he said, even to change “he’s” to “they’s,” so I kept them. Hopefully, this gets in front of any controversy. He went on to say:

Well, Ezra is an extraordinary actor. It’s probably one of my, not probably, one of my best experiences working with an actor ever. He’s brilliant. His contributions are constant. And also he likes to play and he likes to do more takes than I do, which is a lot. So take 24. I’m like, I think we’re done. And so he’s like, Can we do one more? They say, Can we do one more? Yeah, of course. And they’re great.

While the subject of a sequel was brought up, Andy seemed rather coy. It seems they’re mostly waiting to see what the box office will be like before they get anyone’s hopes up, which is understandable. All I can say is that I would love for the Muschietti duo to return for another one. And, despite being such a controversial figure these days, I would really want Ezra Miller back as Barry Allen. Once you see the movie, you’ll see why Warner put up with so much nonsense from them. It’s an absolutely phenomenal performance. He switches between the two characters with ease. The technical marvel of how they pulled it off is also incredible.

Andy touched on how Ezra is essentially playing two very different people, despite them being the…well, the same person. It’s a complicated dynamic, but it works so well. When the host of the event called one of the Barry’s an “idiot doofus” Andy wholeheartedly agreed:

We can say he’s an idiot. Okay. Yeah. And he was a very fun challenge to, you know, to explore those two characters for them, for Ezra, for me, it was a lot of fun. So it was complicated and the complexities of, you know, designing the perfect odd couple. Nothing was set in stone while we were, you know, working with the script. The script was sort of written. Parts of the script were written like, like almost like the last days of Prep especially. I wanted to deepen the emotional repercussions of having two characters that are diametrically opposed and sensibilities, and they have to work together. And I thought that there had to be a clash at the end.

I was also extremely fortunate enough to talk to Andy about his film and how much I loved it. He was very appreciative, shaking my hand and telling me how much that means to him and that he made it for fans. He also said how difficult and long the shoot was and that it means a lot that so many are embracing it already. At this point, Andy and Barbara were swept away to be taken back to CinemaCon. It was a fantastic experience and one that I will not soon forget. If you are interested in seeing The Flash, avoid spoilers because, like Avengers: Infinity War, so much of the fun is knowing as little as possible and then not believing what your eyes are seeing.

In case you need a bit of a refresh, The Flash plot:

Worlds collide in “The Flash” when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

What do you think? Are you going to see The Flash when it releases? What aspect are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments!

The Flash is IN THEATERS ON JUNE 16, 2023.