Summary
DC Studios' refreshedDCUhas the opportunity to revise several beloved characters, and I’m hoping they make the Flash a proper hero again.Supermanwill be released in the summerof 2025 and will launch the new cinematic DC Universe, following in the footsteps ofMan of Steel, which launched the DCEU in 2013. Unlike its predecessor,Supermanlooks poised to deliver a decidedly more vibrant take on the titular hero flanked by several supporting characters that have yet to be seen in live-action in its first phase of movies entitledChapter One: Gods and Monsters.
While details about many of theupcoming DC Universe moviesand shows remain relatively sparse, what has been revealed thus far suggests that the DCU is prepared to flip the script on previous live-action iterations of its most central characters. Hopefully, the Flash will be among them, as recent iterations of his character are seemingly less interested in his heroism than his potential to be even worse than villains. The fact that Flash is once again being sidelined in favor of his more famous caped counterparts is not a great sign for Barry, but I’m holding out hope that DC will change course with his characterization.
How To Watch DCEU Movies In Order (By Release Date & Chronologically)
The DCEU’s timeline may be about to be rebooted in the DC Universe, but here’s how to watch the DCEU in release order or chronological order.
The Flash’s Recent Storylines Have Focused More On Him Accidentally Dooming Timelines
Most of Flash’s live-action outings inthe DCEU timelineinvolved some form of time travel. While the specific nature of Flash’s time travel abilities in the DCEU is quite confusing, his first two appearances inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceand the theatrical cut ofJustice Leaguesaw him use time travel advantageously, both to help stave off the looming threat of Darkseid. His debut DCEU appearance saw him warning Bruce Wayne of Superman’s descent into villainy at Darkseid’s side, and the second saw him rewind time to prevent the Unity from taking place.
In 2023, Flash’s debut solo outing in his self-titled movie then saw the hero discover the Chronobowl, allowing him to freely travel back in time further than ever before. After recognizing that he could prevent the death of his mother with this newfound ability, Flash proceeds to flout the advice of Bruce Wayne and trigger a doomed timeline. A future version of himself in this new timeline is later revealed to be a de facto villain (Dark Flash) whose tenacious attempts to avoid an “intersectional inevitability” heralded the destruction of the multiverse.
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradoxalso adapted this Flashpoint storyline, only this animated timeline saw Earth beset by Justice League members who turned evil.
This adaptation of the Flashpoint Paradox is nothing new, and one of Flash’s most compelling storylines. Yet DC doubled down on Barry Allen fumbling his time travel powers in the laterJustice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part 3. This time, Barry Allen doomed an entire multiverse (albeit through Constantine’s influence) by killing an infant Darkseid - who is himself a nexus being.This once again makes Flash and his time travel responsible for dooming an entire multiverse. At this point, The Flash is becoming something of a one-trick pony - and it doesn’t look particularly heroic.
The Flash Is A Major DC Hero - But He’s Often Not Treated Like It
Flash has spent too long in the shadow of DC’s golden children - and it looks like a trend that the DCU is set to continue if its confirmed release slate is anything to go by.
Flash’s recent outings have made him out to be a hapless handler of the Speed Force, whose habit of fumbling timelines makes him a decidedly dangerous figure. This flies in the face of his status as one of DC’s most central superheroes, a status that Superman and Batman have enjoyed across all forms of media - especially live-action movies - for decades. Yet even when compared to live-action newcomers like Aquaman and Wonder Woman, Flash still feels too much like an afterthought - which is a baffling state of affairs given his powers.
The DCEU did a great job of spotlighting Aquaman, a character that is traditionally mocked and sidelined for his unorthodox powers. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, meanwhile, are often spotlighted across all of DC media as the franchise’s “Big Three.” While these three are great, the Flash has spent too long in the shadow of DC’s golden children - and it looks like a trend that the DCU at risk of continuing if its confirmed release slate is anything to go by.
The DCU Hasn’t Announced Any Plans For The Flash In Chapter 1
The DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters has confirmed projects for a slew of lesser-known DC characters like Booster Gold, Swamp Thing, and the Authority, which is a promising sign that the new cinematic franchise is attempting to freshen things up. Still, DC’s Big Three have confirmed projects in the works withSuperman,The Brave and the Bold, andParadise Lost. While James Gunn has been quoted saying that the DCU’s confirmed slate for Chapter One is not yet complete, the absence of a Flash project is conspicuous.
It has yet to be confirmed whether Diana Prince herself will star inParadise Lost, but it will still explore the Wonder Woman mythos nonetheless.
I find this frustrating, asFlash is arguably one of DC’s most underrepresented characters, yet has been sidelined in the DCU by both the most prolific superheroes in live-action cinema and many live-action newbies like Booster Gold. This is despite the presumption that the DCU will adapt the Justice League in the future, which is practically predicated by a shared universe. Considering how beloved the character is by comic book fans, DC needs to start putting Flash first sooner rather than later, as he is currently in danger of becoming one of DC’s most forgettable heroes to casual viewers.
The DCU Needs To Let The Flash Focus On Being A Hero Again
While he may not have as much of a cinematic legacy, the Flash is still one of DC’s most recognizable heroes and should be as respected as his fellow Justice League members. He can still be the go-to font of comic relief (particularly when balanced with Batman), but that does not have to mean that he is bumbling or made significant primarily by mistakes. While there is every reason to believe that James Gunn’s DCU will facilitate this humor,the franchise should really lead with Flash being a true hero deserving of his spot among the Justice League’s top brass.
Thankfully, there is a good chance that this will happen, given the early debut ofthe DCU’s Authority. This team comprises heroes that harbor far less qualms about murdering wrongdoers, something which acts in extreme contrast to the Justice League. Their DCU debut may be looking to highlight the virtues of their Justice League counterparts by comparison, particularly in the case of Superman. Nevertheless, this all relies on DC Studios bringing Flash to the forefront of its overarching narrative with a solidDCUdebut in which he proves his heroic credentials - only this time without nearly dooming the multiverse.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
