The Flash hits theaters in less than a month, and there is no doubt that it will be a unique event in the history of DC Comics and its screen adaptations. Announced as part of the Snyderverse spinoffs just like Aquaman and Wonder Woman, Barry Allen’s individual movie suffered several delays but finally fans will be able to enjoy the film that will change the future of the franchise.
Directed by the Argentine Andy Muschietti, responsible for the recent adaptations of It, the movie will not only feature the return of Ezra Miller as the Scarlet Speedster, it will also bring back Ben Affleck’s Batman and Michael Shannon’s Zod, who were an important part of the canon built by Zack Snyder. And it seems that they will not be the only ones.
Beyond the rumors of some cameos like Gal Gadot’s, the most recent trailer for the film, published by Twitter user The Flash Film News, shows the return of another character from the Snyderverse, Jeremy Irons’ Alfred Pennyworth:
Irons first played the character back in 2016 in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the first official appearance of Affleck’s Bruce Wayne. Later, the British actor would become Batman’s butler again in Justice League, both in the theatrical version and the director’s cut that was released on HBO Max in 2021.
Alfred is one of the most important people in Bruce Wayne’s life and a very popular character within DC’s mythology. In fact, he got his own TV show in recent years, which ended last year after three seasons.
Besides Irons return as the character, Alfred will be seen on screen once again in 2024 in the skin of Andy Serkis, who plays the butler in The Batman.
How Could The Flash Set Up the DCU’s Future?
In the comics, the Flashpoint arc is a very important event as it changes the future of certain characters through the alteration of the timeline, caused by Barry’s trips through the Speed Force.
The film, although there will be some changes from the original material such as the presence of Supergirl instead of Superman, will most likely follow the same line. Which means that the events of The Flash will change the future of the DCU, if only in small details.
And, as if it had been planned from the start, it couldn’t come at a better time. Although the release of two films that were part of the old canon, Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom still remains, after the return of Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry, the projects that arrive later will be part of James Gunn’s plan.
The Flash, however, will work as a soft reboot, and will not drastically change the entire canon, rather whatever is necessary to accommodate the new protagonists and new stories.
Besides Miller, Affleck, Shannon and Irons, the movie stars Sasha Calle as Supergirl, Michael Keaton as Batman, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, and Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, among others.
