Why Zack Snyder wouldn’t cast Grant Gustin as The Flash

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

When it became official that The Flash would be leading his own feature film, as well as appearing in other DC Cinematic Universe films, many were hoping that Grant Gustin from The Flash series on The CW would be called upon to step up to the big-screen. However, once Ezra Miller was cast as The Flash it became clear that unlike Marvel, DC would be keeping its television and feature film universes separate. While speaking with the NY Daily News, BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE director Zack Snyder commented that using Grant Gustin was never under consideration, which wasn't due to lack of faith in Gustin's ability, but more so due to the big differences in tone between the television series and the films.

I just don’t think it was a good fit. I’m very strict with this universe and I just don’t see a version where…that [tone is] not our world…Even if Grant Gustin is my favorite guy in the world and he’s very good, we made a commitment to the multi-verse [idea], so it’s just not a thing that’s possible.

I'm sure there are those of you who would have loved to have seen Grant Gustin whip around Central City on the big-screen as well as rub shoulders with Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), but keeping the small-screen adventures of Barry Allen separate from the events of the big-screen universe is definitely a good thing in my view. There's no need to tip-toe around the events of upcoming films or to avoid mentioning/showing certain characters because you can't afford to have Ben Affleck pop up for a guest appearance. It all leads to more opportunities for both universes to keep what makes them unique and to continue telling good stories. Zack Snyder's BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE will hit theaters on March 25, 2016, while the big-screen incarnation of THE FLASH is set for a March 16, 2018 release.

What do you folks think? Would you preferred to have seen Grant Gustin as The Flash on the big-screen? Tonal inconsistencies be damned.