Canceled Plans, Release Changes & Everything We Know

Summary

• The potential for The Flash 2 depended on the success of the first film and whether it fits into the new architecture of the DC Universe.
• There is already a finished script for The Flash 2, which features the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl.
• The Flash 2’s story could focus on the multiverse chaos and the aftermath of The Flash, potentially introducing a new reality created by Barry Allen.

Will The Flash 2 ever happen after The Flash? What role might Barry Allen play in the franchise’s future? Will the DCU’s upcoming reboot completely recast the DC speedster and throw everything from the DCEU movie timeline out? With James Gunn’s Superman kicking off the new DCU, signs have never looked particularly promising, but that doesn’t mean plans weren’t drawn up.

Andy Muschietti’s story, which draws from DC Comics event Flashpoint, deals with the multiverse and time travel, and The Flash‘s ending sets up the potential for an alternate timeline that could continue despite the DCU reboot. At this stage, despite The Flash‘s box office performance, a sequel has never been officially canceled, with Aquaman‘s David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick having penned a script already. Even if it doesn’t happen, here’s everything you need to know about The Flash 2.

The Flash 2 News & Key Articles

The Flash 2 Key Articles

Is The Flash 2 Happening?

When discussing the possibility of The Flash 2 happening, The Flash director Andy Muschietti (via Collider) revealed that they were waiting to see how the film does before discussing a sequel. Muschietti noted that DC was currently crafting a new architecture for its universe, and that whether The Flash 2 would happen depended on whether it could fit into this new architecture. Muschietti also pointed out how “the multiverse allows all of these different worlds to coexist” and that, “hopefully,” The Flash would get a sequel.

However, the plans for the DCU appear to have rendered this prospective potential decidedly unlikely, as DCU co-CEO James Gunn has repeatedly expressed that the franchise is bringing only a few DCEU figures into the new era, with this group appearing to be almost entirely comprised of those who appeared in Peacemaker. Xolo Maridueña is set to reprise his role in the DCU as Blue Beetle, but his DCEU appearance never saw him interact with other DCEU heroes anyway, meaning moving him over to the new era of DC’s on-screen franchise is a less complicated matter.

With this backdrop in mind – and David Corenswet’s Superman casting seemingly serving to confirm that the DCEU Justice League are all set to be recast – the lack of updates on The Flash 2 appear to be because the project is not an active part of release plans. However, this remains officially unconfirmed.

The Flash 2 Plans Revealed

According to Variety, there was already a finished sequel script courtesy of Aquaman scribe David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick ready for a greenlight on the sequel. That report also confirmed the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman and Calle’s new Supergirl, which is confusing given The Flash‘s ending introduces George Clooney’s Batman. Quite what it would have built to is unclear: Walter Hamada has apparently wanted to make a Crisis On Infinite Earths movie, which The Flash does sort of set up. It obviously wouldn’t have tied into the original Snyderverse plans to build to Flashpoint and then the Justice League sequels teased by Zack Snyder’s Knightmare epilogue.

The Flash 2 Potential Release Date – If It Happened

The DC Universe slate currently includes Joker: Folie à Deux, Superman, and The Batman – Part II, building to a very different future for DC going forward. However, it is worth noting that the two Batman Elseworld releases are set to debut on either side of the DCU Superman movie, suggesting The Flash 2 could’ve been able to debut well into the DCU scheduling had it been greenlit. As such, if The Flash 2 had been approved, it likely it would’ve released around the time as The Batman – Part II based on the release changes that the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes put in place.

The Flash 2 Cast: Ezra Miller Recasting Status & Who Would Return?

According to The Flash director Andy Muschietti, no one can replace Ezra Miller (via The Playlist) for this iteration of Barry Allen. The Ezra Miller controversies led to uncertainty regarding Barry Allen’s future in the DC Universe, even more so because The Flash sees Miller play two Barrys. Going by Muschietti’s answer, Miller would reprise their role as Barry Allen should The Flash 2 happen. As the script includes them, it seems likely both Michael Keaton’s Batman and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl would return in The Flash2 and George Clooney’s Bruce Wayne would have to return at least briefly. Other The Flash cast members that could return include Kiersey Clemons (Iris West) and Ron Livingston (Henry Allen).

Related: Complete Breakdown Of Ezra Miller’s Allegations & Controversies (With Updates)

The Flash 2 Story: How The Flash Ending Sets Up A Sequel

Not much has been said about what The Flash 2’s story would look like. However, considering that The Flash is a Justice League-level multiverse film featuring multiple superheroes, perhaps The Flash 2 would go for something smaller. The Flash‘s ending obviously sets up more multiverse chaos as Barry Allen changed the main DC timeline to bring in George Clooney’s Batman by freeing his father from prison. That multiverse meddling would presumably have to be the focus of The Flash 2.

There’s also the possibility that The Flash 2’s story would have adapted something like Crisis on Infinite Earths. If The Flash 2 happens as a DC Universe movie rather than an Elseworlds film, whatever happens in the sequel would have major implications for the franchise. Either way, The Flash 2 could deal with the aftermath of The Flash, highlighting the differences between the original DCEU and this likely new reality that Barry Allen might create in the film.

Will The Flash 2 Be Part of James Gunn’s DC Universe?

James Gunn described The Flash as a “fantastic movie” during the DC Universe: Chapter 1 – Gods and Monsters announcement. However, it appears The Flash 2 will not be a part of the DCU, despite the franchise releasing the Elseworld label to release movies and shows that are not canon to the main cinematic universe. In the over a year since the DC Universe was first announced, the Flash has received very little mention, and there has been none of the hero appearing in an upcoming DC Universe Chapter 1 release.

A DC Universe will never be complete without the Flash, be it Barry Allen or Wally West. Therefore, it is safe to say that a Flash will be part of James Gunn’s DC Universe at some stage in its future. However, whether The Flash‘s Ezra Miller will return as Barry Allen in Gunn’s new DC Universe is difficult to say. Neither Ben Affleck’s Batman nor Henry Cavill’s Superman is returning for the new franchise, meaning that a Flash recast or reboot could still be on the cards. As such, even if The Flash 2 does not happen, the new DC Universe will likely feature the character at some point.