Grant Gustin gave a recent update on his desire to play The Flash again, and after the hero’s past 12 years of on-screen adventures, the star’s return needs to happen to help DC. Gustin first played Barry Allen in two episodes of Arrow season 2 before leading The Flash for 9 seasons. Even before he got powers, it was clear that Gustin’s version of the character would become a fan favorite. After a decade since his 2013 Arrowverse debut, Gustin’s Flash took his final lap in 2023, with The Flash season 9 ending the Arrowverse as a whole.
2023 was a big year for DC’s premiere speedster. While Gustin’s Arrowverse series ended, Ezra Miller’s cinematic version of Barry Allen led the character’s first live-action movie. Sadly, the DCEU’s The Flash became a box office bomb, losing Warner Bros. Discovery millions. Since James Gunn’s DC Universe was announced, there has been speculation that Gustin could return as the Flash of the DCU. Both Gustin and Gunn have commented on the actor joining the franchise, which seems to be a very real possibility, even if the Flash is not the character. Now, Gustin adds to his the Flash return rumors.
Grant Gustin Left The Door Open For More The Flash Appearances
The Actor Might Not Be Done With The DC Hero
Despite the actor’s personal choice to move on being a huge part of why The Flash ended with season 9 when there were even plans to include the Arrowverse’s Justice League in season 10, it seems like Gustin has not completely closed the door on his time as the Flash. On the Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast, Gustin talked to the Smallville actor — Rosenbaum also voiced the Wally West version of The Flash in multiple animated series. During their conversation, Gustin revealed he is open to returning as the Flash.
Instead of being questioned about joining the new DC Universe as the Flash, Gustin was asked whether he would reprise his role as Barry Allen for a sequel series about his version of the Flash. The actor left the door open to such a project, saying, “Yeah, of course.” Gustin also revealed that he would have many things to ask about on the creative side of the series to make sure his the Flash return was warranted, possibly even serving as a producer, which was not the case in the Arrowverse’s The Flash.
DC Is In A Tough Spot When It Comes To The Flash
The Character’s Public Image Has Taken A Hit
While Gustin’s version of the Flash is incredibly popular, the character’s reputation is now at a low. That stems from how Ezra Miller’s The Flash movie became a major box office bomb. With the return of Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck’s versions of Batman, as well as several multiverse elements, cameos, and a storyline based on one of the most famous Flash comic book events of all time, DC thought it had a hit on its hands with 2023’s The Flash. However, the film finished its worldwide box office run with $271.4 million on a budget of around $200 million.
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The movie’s failure has sent shockwaves throughout DC’s plans for the character. Asked about the Flash’s role in his new DC Universe, James Gunn said that DC is taking a beat on the development of the Flash. Recently, it was also revealed that a video game based on the speedster was in the works, but the project was canceled once Miller’s Flash movie tanked at the box office. As it stands, there does not appear to be any clear plan for how to turn the hero’s public image around after the movie was a disappointment.
Grant Gustin’s The Flash Success Is What DC Needs To Make The Hero Popular Again
Gustin’s positive stance on returning as the Flash comes at a perfect time for the character. His version of Barry Allen is by far the most popular live-action take on the hero. Many even claim Gustin’s Flash to be the definitive take on the speedster outside the comics. Gustin led the Arrowverse’s longest-running series, with his version of Barry Allen getting his powers in the first season of The Flash and becoming a veteran superhero with multiple crossover events under his belt by the end of the show’s run.
Marvel Studios has shown with the return of the Netflix characters from The Defenders Saga, like Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again, that tweaking well-received castings to fit a franchise can be a better plan than discarding them. Since Gunn is a fan of Gustin’s and has said he wants to work with the actor in the future, the DCU could make him its Flash, with Gustin playing a new version of Barry. Another path to getting the hero’s image back on track is a The Flash sequel series starring Gustin, with the DCU delaying the speedster’s debut.
The Flash
4/10
- Release Date
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2014 – 2022
- Showrunner
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Eric Wallace
- Directors
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Stefan Pleszczynski, David McWhirter, Dermott Downs, Alexandra La Roche, Ralph Hemecker, Phil Chipera, Rachel Talalay, Marcus Stokes, Chris Peppe, Danielle Panabaker, Menhaj Huda, Jesse Warn, Glen Winter, Gregory Smith, Chad Lowe, Jeffrey W. Byrd, Rob Hardy, Tom Cavanagh, Kevin Tancharoen, Millicent Shelton, Vanessa Parise, Kevin Smith, Brent Crowell, Eric Dean Seaton
- Writers
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Lauren Certo, Judalina Neira, Kelly Wheeler, Alison Schapker, Zack Stentz, Joe Peracchio, Julian Meiojas, Lilah Vandenburgh, Keto Shimizu, Gabe Snyder, Mike Alber, Gabrielle Stanton, Jaime Paglia, Carina Adly MacKenzie, Emily Silver, Bryan Q. Miller, Ray Utarnachitt