Ever since James Gunn and Peter Safran took the reins of DC Studios, fans have been waiting to hear how ‘The Flash’, one of DC’s most iconic superheroes, will be rebooted for the new DC Universe. Following the failure of the Ezra Miller-led adaptation of Barry Allen and the underperformance of ‘The Flash’ (2023) at the box office, Gunn’s teasing about the Speedster has elicited both enthusiasm and controversy among comic book movie fans.
His remarks imply a future of The Flash that is rich, contemplative, and possibly quite unlike what we have previously experienced. Additionally, it does not reject the legacy of the character, but redefines his role in a bigger DC story.
Barry Allen Or Wally West? James Gunn Leaves The Door Open For Both In DCU
During a recent public Q&A (Younis Alzubeiri), Gunn jokingly responded to a question about the two most popular versions of ‘The Flash’, Barry Allen and Wally West. When questioned about his preference, Gunn laughed and said that he liked them both. “I like them both. I like blondes and redheads,” he stated. That carefree response might appear to be a generalization, but it might reflect one of the major aspects of the approach he is taking for the Flash mythos in the DCU: flexibility.
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Rather than committing the franchise to one incarnation immediately, Gunn appears to be willing to create a richer tapestry of legacy. To fans, that leaves the door open to some thrilling possibilities. This includes one idea that has been gaining significant traction on the internet: the possibility of Grant Gustin, from ‘The Flash’ series, returning. Gustin played Barry Allen in nine seasons, which made him one of the most recognizable live-action versions of the character ever.
Although Gunn has not confirmed anything, he has publicly stated that he would be happy to collaborate with Gustin. He described the actor as incredibly talented, and he would not wish that talent to go to waste. Many fans immediately took that remark as an indication that Gustin’s speedster was not entirely dead, even in a rebooted universe. And Gustin himself has weighed in on his readiness to come back. He recently told fans that he would gladly put on the Flash suit again.
DCU Is Building A Slow And Deliberate Introduction For ‘The Flash’
Interestingly, Gunn’s strategy doesn’t seem to be rushing into a full The Flash movie right out of the gate. Rather, the DCU is establishing the groundwork by introducing supporting elements and villains related to the mythos of the character first. The most interesting example is the rumored introduction of Gorilla Grodd, one of the most powerful and iconic villains of ‘The Flash’. The hyper-intelligent telepathic super-ape Grodd has long been a part of the Central City folklore.
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Now, he might appear before ‘The Flash’ in a spinoff featuring Jimmy Olsen. This move to spotlight Grodd before fully unveiling a new Flash movie makes narrative sense. Grodd is closely connected with Flash lore and would be a natural point of arrival for the hero. Gunn might be trying to make sure that when The Flash finally enters the mainline narrative of the DCU, it is not forced but rather a natural extension.
The gradual introduction of Grodd and other metahumans can build anticipation, enhance world-building, and provide the eventual appearance of the character with a greater emotional payoff. Besides villains such as Grodd, DCU has also indirectly validated the presence of The Flash and other speedsters through Easter eggs in ‘Superman’. The film recognizes the Justice Society of America (JSA) and its Hall of Fame.
This suggests that heroes such as Barry Allen (who have traditionally been a part of JSA in comics) and others already exist in the DCU timeline. Moreover, what is clear is that Gunn is taking a meticulous, fan-aware, and character-rich approach to bringing The Flash into his new DC Universe.
