VFX

DC’s ‘The Flash’ starring Ezra Miller gears up for 16 June release

DC’s much-anticipated movie The Flash is finally set to release on 16 June with the fan-favourite title character. Directed by Andrés Muschietti, the film is two hours and 24 minutes long, starring Ezra Miller in the lead as Flash. 

The first look teaser of 2023 The Flash was revealed in October 2021 during DC Fandome. The movie got its first official trailer on 12 February 2023, creating a furore among the fans as they could see the comeback of Michael Keaton’s legendary character Batman. The trailer also gives a glimpse of Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne.

However, according to ExpressVPN, since his first appearance in the comics in 1940, The Flash has undergone a series of changes. Not only to his costume, aliases, and origin story, but these alterations continued to shape his portrayal in the 2023 movie.

Based on the comic book of the same name, the story follows the journey of Barry Allen, a forensic scientist who develops superpowers after being struck by lightning and exposed to chemicals. Allen is the second of many characters to wear the mantle of The Flash, the first was Jay Garrick, a member of the Justice Society of America, and the third was Wally West, founder of the Teen Titans and core member of the Justice League.

In the latest instalment of The Flash, the titular character travels across time to stop his mother’s murder but unintentionally makes alterations that result in the formation of a multiverse. The film is based on DC Comics’ legendary Flashpoint incident, in which Flash meets new versions of Batman and Superman while attempting to prevent the multiverse from crumbling.

Apart from Ezra Miller, the other cast members include Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Sasha Calle as Supergirl, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Antje Traue as Faora-Ul and Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen. 

The Flash film unfolds in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). It is set in the same universe as Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, Shazam, Birds of Prey, Black Adam, and The Suicide Squad. It has no ties to The Batman or The Joker, who live in their own universe. 

Nevertheless, the DC Universe is entering a new phase under James Gunn and Peter Safran, with several famous characters, such as Superman and Batman, being recast with new actors.

It’s great to see that the film is seeing the light of day, as the film has faced multiple controversies in a year. The directors and writers of the movie have been changed multiple times, and the lead star Ezra Miller has also faced legal issues during the filming process. 

Being a DC superhero film, VFX is a crucial part of the film. Several VFX studios such as DNEG, Scanline VFX, Weta FX, Rising Sun Pictures, One of Us, Crafty Apes and Barnstorm VFX have worked on it. John ‘D.J.’ DesJardin serves as the production VFX supervisor for The Flash. The movie’s visual effects team announced on 29 April 2023 that they had wrapped their work on VFX. We’ll have to wait and watch to get the audience’s reaction to the film’s VFX.

Early reviews for the film are out, and they are fairly positive.