Warner Bros. shared an exciting update regarding The Flash‘s eventual streaming release date on Max, formerly known as HBO Max.
Ezra Miller’s The Flash is finally on its way to theaters in a matter of weeks after going through years of development problems, which resulted in delays to its release seemingly every few months over the past decade.
This movie will hit theaters shortly after the DCU’s first movie of the year Shazam! Fury of the Gods arrives on HBO Max after a disappointing theatrical run.
And with all of the heroes and villains that will take the spotlight in The Flash, it’s fairly expected that it will be a popular choice for viewers once it begins streaming, which was just teased in a new report.
The Flash’s Streaming Release Date Revealed
Casey Bloys, Chairman & CEO of HBO & HBO Max Content, revealed during Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max event that The Flash will debut on the streaming service in fall 2023:
“‘The Flash’ will land on the service the fall after its exclusive run in theaters this June.”
This comes as studios are shifting their theater-to-streaming release window strategies, with Warner Bros. specifically expanding that window for certain blockbusters.
For example, Shazam! Fury of the Gods will hit Max just under 70 days after its theatrical debut, while Black Adam took less than two months to begin streaming on the service.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav previously commented on the studio’s approach to streaming and theatrical releases, calling the value and viewing experience “elevated” on the big screen while embracing everything streaming brings too:
“We will fully embrace the attributes as we believe it creates interest and demand provides a great marketing tailwind, and generates word-of-mouth buzz as films transition to streaming and beyond. When you’re in theaters, the value of the content and the overall viewing experience is elevated.”
That content is then “elevated again” when moving from “one window to the next,” pointing out the success that Elvis and The Batman had when they moved from theaters to HBO Max:
“Then when the same content moves to PVOD, and then streaming it is elevated again. As films moved from one window to the next, their overall value is elevated, elevated, elevated. We saw this clearly demonstrated with ‘The Batman’ and ‘Elvis.'”
Will The Flash Succeed Streaming on Max?
With all the anticipation building for The Flash‘s release, especially with such positive test screenings, it’s fairly expected that this movie will perform well once it hits the streaming world.
Considering that The Flash is expanding the boundaries of the DCU’s Multiverse, even with it potentially not tying into the new movies and shows coming under James Gunn and Peter Safran, there is plenty to look forward to.
The word of mouth from DC’s biggest names should help keep The Flash in a positive light in the meantime, with Warner Bros. still hoping that it plants its stake into the extensive summer blockbuster landscape with a bang.
The Flash will debut in theaters on June 16 before moving to Max this fall.
