Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
The Flashfinally hit the big screen.
But between Warner Bros. shuffling its DC lineup and starEzra Miller’s numerous controversies, for a while, it seemed likeThe Flashmight never get released.
The movie centers on Barry Allen (Miller), a.k.a. the Flash, as he races back in time to stop the death of his mother. However, he accidentally winds up in an alternate universe where General Zod isn’t dead, posing a grave threat to the world.
Miller shares the screen alongside stars likeMichael ShannonandRon Livingston.Michael KeatonandBen Affleckreprise their roles as Batman in the 2023 film.
While the film made $268 million at the box office, according toBox Office Mojo, Co-CEO of DC Studios andGuardians of the GalaxydirectorJames Gunn, spoke highly of the flick. “I will say here thatFlashis probably one of thegreatest superhero moviesever made,” he told Deadline in January 2023.
From A-list stars to darlings of European cinema, here’s what to know about the cast ofThe Flash.
Ezra Miller as the Flash
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Ezra Miller, 30, plays Barry Allen, a.k.a. the Flash, known for his incredible speed and ability to travel through time and space with the Speed Force.
Before the character’s standalone movie, Miller’s version of the Flash previously appeared inJustice League(2017) andBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016). On top of their role in the DC Extended Universe, Miller is known for playing Aurelius Dumbledore in theFantastic Beastsseries and for their breakout role inThe Perks of Being a Wallflower(2012).
Miller has also been at the center of scandal and controversy. The actor has a long history of legal troubles and alleged substance misuse. In 2020, a video surfaced of Millerchoking a womanoutside a bar in Iceland. Two years later, theyattacked patronsat a bar in Hawaii, and the following month Miller was arrested for allegedsecond-degree assault. Later in 2022, the actor was accused ofgroomingandharassingtwo individuals, one of whom was 12 when they met Miller in 2016 and another 12-year-old who had met Miller in February 2022. In August of that same year, Miller was summoned for allegedlyburglarizing a homein Vermont.
The actor later said they were treating their “complexmental health issues,” telling PEOPLE in a statement: “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”
In January 2023, the actorpled guilty to misdemeanor unlawful trespassin the Vermont burglary case and began a one-year probation, though two felony charges were dismissed.
The same month, producer Peter Safran, co-CEO of DC Studios, told reporters: “Ezra is completely committed to their recovery. We are fully supportive of that journey they are on right now. When the time is right, when they are ready to have that discussion, we will all figure out what the best path forward.”
He continued, “But right now … they are completely focused on their recovery. And in our conversation with them, in the last couple of months, it feels like they are making enormous progress.”
Sasha Calle as Supergirl
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Sasha Calle, 27, plays Kara Zor-El, better known as Supergirl. She will bethe first Latina actressto portray the role since it was created in 1959.
“Representation in the entertainment industry really matters, and I’m super honored,” Calle toldV Magazinein 2022. “I’m really happy and really thankful to DC and Warner Brothers for doing this now. It’s so cool that we’re doing this, and, ya know, it’s about time.”
Supergirl will also be one of Calle’s first major roles. Before becoming a superhero, she was best known to soap opera fans for her role as Lola Rosales onThe Young and the Restless. She starred in more than 200 episodes between 2018 and 2021.
Calle could also return as Supergirl in a potential spinoff film. DespiteWarner Bros. shuffling its DC movie lineupand canceling numerous projects,Gunn announced earlier in 2023that aSupergirlmovie was on the way. The studio has yet to confirm which actress will star in the role.
Michael Shannon as General Zod
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Michael Shannon, 48, will play General Zod, a Kryptonian killed in 2013’sMan of SteelandThe Flash’s antagonist.
The actor spoke toVarietyin March 2023 about reprising his role, saying he was “a little confused.” Shannon continued, “I said, ‘As memory serves me, I think I died inMan of Steel. Are they sure they got the right guy?’ But then they explained to me the whole multiverse phenomenon, which I was a little behind the times on that.”
Shannon has been a prominent face in Hollywood for decades. He starred inRevolutionary Road(2008) andNocturnal Animals(2016), both of which landed him Best Supporting Actor nominations atthe Oscars. He also starred in movies likeThe Shape of Water(2017) andKnives Out(2019).
Shannon is married to actress Kate Arrington, who is best known for her recurring roles on shows likeRay Donovan,Mare of EasttownandGeorge and Tammy. Together, the couple have two daughters, Sylvia and Marion.
In February 2022,Deadlinereported that Shannon would star as Joseph McCarthy, the infamous politician known for McCarthyism, in the upcoming biopicMcCarthy.
Michael Keaton as Batman
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Michael Keaton, 71, will reprise his iconic role as Batman. Keaton first starred as Bruce Wayne in the 1989Tim Burtonfilm and again in its 1992 sequel,Batman Returns.
In 2021, KeatontoldThe Hollywood Reporterhe had always wanted to reprise his role as Batman. “Frankly, in the back of my head, I always thought, ‘I bet I could go back and nail that motherf—–,’ " he said. “And so I thought, ‘Well, now that they’re asking me, let me see if I can pull that off.’ "
Keaton was originally supposed to make his Batman return inthe HBO Max filmBatgirl, butWarner Bros canceled the movie. The cancellation was met with backlash from fans, but the co-chair of DC Studios defended the decision, calling the movie “not releasable.”
Aside from starring as the DC hero, Keaton is also known for playing the titular character inBeetlejuice(1988) and a jaded actor inBirdman(2015) — a film that earned him a Best Actor nomination atthe Oscars. Most recently, Keaton earned aGolden Globe and Emmyfor his role in the miniseriesDopesick.
In his personal life, Keaton has had a few high-profile relationships. He was married to the late actress Caroline McWilliams from 1982 to 1990 and datedCourteney Coxfrom 1990 to 1995. He and McWilliams also have a son, Sean Douglas. (Douglas is Keaton’s given name; he took the stage name Keaton to avoid confusion with actorMichael Douglas.)
Ben Affleck as Batman
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Ben Affleck, 50, will also be reprising his role as Batman from 2016’sBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Both Affleck and Keaton will appear in the film because of the multiverse within the DCEU.
In 2002, Affleck began datingJennifer Lopezand the two later got engaged. In 2004, however, they ended their engagement and Affleck began datingJennifer Garner. Affleck and Garner wed in 2005.
During their marriage, they had three children: two daughters,Violetand Seraphina, and a son,Samuel. The coupleannounced their separationin 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018.
In 2021,Affleck was spotted with Lopezfor the first time in over a decade. The two eventually went public with their relationship andmarried in 2022.
After starring inThe Flash, Affleck will reprise his role as Batman inAquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which is expected to release in December 2023after experiencing numerous delays.
Ron Livingston as Henry Allen
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Ron Livingston, 55, plays Henry Allen, Barry’s father who was wrongly convicted of his wife’s murder. Livingston is taking over forBilly Crudup, who originated the role inJustice League.
Livingston has had a long career in Hollywood, starring in everything from cult classic hits likeOffice Space(1999) to box office juggernauts likeThe Conjuring(2013). He’s also starred in series likeBand of Brothers(2001) andA Million Little Things(2018–2023).
In 2009, Livingston married actressRosemarie DeWitt, who is known for starring inLittle Fires Everywhere(2020) and the Oscar-nominated filmRachel Getting Married(2008). The couple have two daughters: Gracie James and Esperanza Mae.
Kiersey Clemons as Iris West
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Kiersey Clemons, 29, plays Iris West, a journalist at Picture News and Barry’s love interest.
Clemons' role inThe Flashwas not her first brush with the DCEU: Her part was originally cut out of 2017’sJustice League. However, whenZack Snyderreleased the full four-hour “Snyder Cut” of the film in 2021, her character’s scenes were added back in.
On top of portraying Iris West, Clemons has also had roles in the Amazon Prime Video seriesTransparent(2014–2015) and the filmsFlatliners(2017) andAntebellum(2020), in which she starred alongsideJanelle Monáe.
Antje Traue as Faora-Ul
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Antje Traue, 42, plays Faora-Ul, General Zod’s second-in-command. Like Shannon, Traue will also reprise her role from 2013’sMan of Steel.
Traue is an accomplished German actress, and many of her past roles are in German films and series, the most notable being Netflix’s horror seriesDark.
She’s also appeared in major English language productions, includingPandorum(2009),Seventh Son(2014) andCriminal(2016), butThe Flashis her biggest Hollywood film to date.
Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen
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Maribel Verdú, 52, will play Nora Allen, Barry’s mother who was murdered when he was young.
She’s been married to Pedro Larrañaga since 1992 and has won numerous Goya Awards.
source: people.com
