The Flash Post-Credits Scene Breaks A DC Movie Tradition

The Flash only contains one post-credits scene, but the brief bit of extra content breaks a long-running DC movie tradition. The Flash was surrounded by a massive swirl of preconceptions and expectations before release, some reasonable and others less so. Though the movie was in development for several years and went through numerous changes behind the scenes during production, its eventual placement right at the end of the DCEU, combined with its story taking inspiration from the famous comics’ event Flashpoint, seemed to be a perfect pairing. As such, it became a popular theory that the post-credits scene may tease the DC movie reboot to come.

However, The Flash ended up being a much more self-contained story than its narrative inspiration may have hinted, and the movie didn’t tease what’s to come from James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters.” This shouldn’t be entirely unexpected as The Flash was written and filmed before Gunn and Safran took over as heads of the new DC Universe. However, The Flash‘s post-credits scene still stood out as unique, breaking a long-running DCEU movie tradition.

The Flash Post-Credits Scene Doesn’t Set Up A Sequel Or New Character

Despite The Flash‘s pre-credits story ending with Barry seemingly in yet another new timeline, The Flash‘s post-credits scene seems to be little more than a quick, fun joke. In the scene, Barry and Arthur Curry, aka Aquaman, stumble out of a bar, and Barry explains how he’s met multiple different Batmans as Arthur passes out in a puddle. The scene is unique, as it’s the first DC canon movie since Wonder Woman in 2017 not to directly set up a new character or tease a sequel after the credits (the only pseudo-exception being Birds of Prey, which doesn’t have a post-credits scene).

Every movie since has done one or the other:

• Justice League (2017) teases Lex Luthor’s partnership with Deathstroke and the formation of a larger villain alliance.
• Aquaman (2018) sees the seemingly-dead Black Manta rescued by Doctor Stephen Shin, and the two make a pact to figure out more about Aquaman and discover the secrets of Atlantis.
• Shazam! (2019) introduces the odd psychic caterpillar-like villain, Mister Mind, who recruits the movie’s antagonist, Doctor Sivana, as an ally.
• Birds of Prey (2020) does not have a post-credits scene.
• Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) introduces the original Wonder Woman actress, Linda Carter, as the Amazonian Asteria.
• Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021) features the same Lex Luthor/Deathstroke scene as the theatrical cut. Another scene expands on the apocalyptic Knightmare timeline and then introduces Martian Manhunter.
• The Suicide Squad (2021) reveals that Weasel is still alive, but, more importantly, it shows Peacemaker getting recruited for what would become Peacemaker season 1.
• Black Adam (2022) re-introduces Henry Cavill’s Superman and teases future tension between him and Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam.
• Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) sees agents Emilia Harcourt and John Economos recruit Billy Batson for a role in the Justice Society.

Following those, The Flash is the first movie to not directly introduce a new character or tease the plot of an upcoming movie or show. However, the ending of The Flash was changed to remove potentially confusing setups for now-canceled or changed projects. Before the credits, Barry realized that the Bruce Wayne of his new reality is none other than the one played by George Clooney. In earlier cuts, that Batman was Ben Affleck before he’d appear in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and, in a different cut, Michael Keaton, who was at one time set to appear in multiple future DC projects like the canceled Batwoman.

Every DC Post Credits Scene Set Up That’s Been Left Unresolved

Several DC post-credits scenes have been paid off, but a frustrating number haven’t. With the DCU about to officially reboot with the release of Creature Commandos and Superman: Legacy, it seems unlikely that many, if any, unresolved threads will ever be delivered on. Lex Luthor’s villain team-up never came to fruition as neither Superman, Batman, or the Justice League got another movie. Aquaman‘s Black Manta reveal hasn’t yet been paid off, but there’s still time with Aquaman and the Lost Kindom coming out in December. Shazam!‘s Mister Mind was only technically paid off, as Shazam! Fury of the Gods joked about the team-up still not happening.

Wonder Woman‘s Asteria has not appeared again, though it’s possible she was a part of plans for the now-canceled Wonder Woman 3. Nothing from Zack Snyder’s Justice League has been revisited as the filmmaker’s sequel plans were scrapped. Black Adam‘s Superman tease is perhaps the most infamous unresolved post-credits scene, as Cavill was confirmed to be out as Superman very shortly after this tease of him being back in. Shazam! Fury of the Gods has not yet been resolved, but with a few Amanda Waller-adjacent characters confirmed to continue into the new DCU, a payoff is still possible.

Why The Flash’s Post-Credits Scene Doesn’t Introduce The New DC Universe

The Flash‘s post-credits scene (or final pre-credits scene) doesn’t appear to set up anything for the DC Universe, but, despite the movie being quite literally about rebooting timelines, the move isn’t terribly shocking. Though previous Bruce Wayne scenes right before the credits were once set to lead into other projects, The Flash‘s release came at a bad time to make promises about the future. James Gunn and Peter Safran came on as new co-CEOs of DC Studios after work was largely done on The Flash, and it’s unlikely that there was any time (or that plans were solid enough) to add in a more direct final shot.

Furthermore, nothing seems to be solidified with Barry Allen himself. While the character’s ability to travel the multiverse makes it possible for actor Ezra Miller to revisit the role in the new DCU, no comments have been hitherto made confirming that he’s either in or out. The Flash‘s disappointing box office performance and Miller’s legal troubles may complicate the matter, but an answer will likely come as the new shared universe kicks off in full in 2025.