Flash Forward – Who Should Replace DCEU’s Flash Ezra Miller?
Fans of the CW series want to see Grant Gustin step in as the Flash in the DCEU. But should he? Or should there be a new Fastest Man Alive?
According to sources at Rolling Stone, executives at Warner Bros. have been discussing the future of Ezra Miller as the Flash. As soon as the story broke, fans of the CW’s Flash series took to Twitter to encourage the studio to cast Grant Gustin in the role instead. And listen y’all, Gustin’s Barry Allen is a delightful little jellybean of a metahuman. But I can’t help feeling like the studio should consider passing the gauntlet to a next-generation speedster – my main fast-man Wally West.
Who is Wally West?
Wally West is the nephew of Iris West, the eventual wife of Barry Allen. He’s also a bit of a Flash stan. But he was unaware that his aunt was friends with the Scarlet Speedster. One day, while visiting Iris and her friend Barry in the CSI lab, he was also doused in chemicals and struck by lightning. This lab is clearly a safety hazard. Doesn’t the DC universe have OSHA?
Anyway, Wally eventually becomes the Flash’s sidekick. He was the first Kid Flash and a founding member of the Teen Titans. And his connection to DC’s next-generation superhero team is why I wholeheartedly endorse his becoming the new DCEU Flash.
Courtesy of DC Comics
DC recently pushed the premiere of The Flash to summer 2023 after Covid-related delays. But we know the film will be dealing heavily in multiversal shenanigans. In the comics, Wally finds was trapped inside the Speed Force for quite some time – so his disappearance from one version of Earth into another isn’t a stretch. And introducing Wally West into the DCEU is a perfect opportunity for Warner Bros. to start exploring some of their best characters.
I’m a huge proponent of seeing characters like Raven, Robin, Wonder Girl, Starfire, and Aqualad on the big screen. I’d love to see DC branch outside of its Justice League comfort zone and lean toward the kind of more stylized storytelling like we saw in Birds of Prey. I’m a die-hard Young Justice fan because the show told amazing, compelling stories about DC’s younger generation characters.
LOOK AT ALL THIS WHELMED EXCELLENCE, courtesy of Warner Bros.
Ezra Miller & Their Future with Warner Bros.
Last week, Miller was arrested in Hawaii for disorderly conduct and harassment. Reportedly, the actor lashed out at a group of bar patrons for singing karaoke and later harassed the couple in whose home they were staying. The news came just two months after their troubling Instagram post involving a small-town chapter of the KKK. As this new report of their erratic behavior makes its way through the news cycle, it’s unsurprising that Warner Bros. might be considering other alternatives.
Ezra Miller as The Flash courtesy of Warner Bros.
Should Grant Gustin Become the DCEU Flash?
I can see why fans are so eager to see Gustin on the big screen. His iteration of the Flash is guaranteed smile-material. The Flash is so often described as the heart of the Justice League, and this actor has definitely stolen the hearts of fans.
Sure, narratively speaking he could hop universes to fill in for his alternate-Earth counterpart. But this CW-cinnamon roll in the DCEU feels a bit like a bad copy-paste job. Would just show up altered for the tone of the DCEU and pull a Rhode from Iron Man 2? He could. But that doesn’t feel like the best option to me after spending 9 seasons telling a Flash story already.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
As for availability, it’s unknown if Gustin in the DCEU is even possible. At the end of January, it was reported that he signed a one-year contract with CW. Season 9 of The Flash will likely premiere on the CW this fall. Fans of the show were pleasantly surprised at the news of a new season. Season 8 ended neatly enough that the show could have been done. But with S9 still several months out, it’s hard to know what the show’s future will hold afterward.
Gustin could fill the role, but why not just let him stay where he’s thriving? DC has seen great success with Shazam! Because DC’s kid and teen characters are fun and relatable. I think it’s time to start looking toward the future, DC. But if you need proof, here are some of the best Wally moments from Young Justice.
