After countless twists and turns, "The Flash" movie's multiverse journey officially begins today. However, with the DC Cinematic Universe reboot imminent, does this film truly usher in a brand new universe? Let's break down "The Flash" movie's ending and the future fate of the DCU!
1. The Fate of the Multiverse:
In the climactic battle at the end of the film, Supergirl Kara and Michael Keaton's Batman both heroically sacrificed themselves under General Zod's attack. No matter how the two Barrys tried to traverse, this universe was destined to perish, even creating a "Dark Flash" doppelganger. This made Barry realize the importance of "the past" being unchangeable, as Bruce had reminded him. Therefore, Barry decided to abandon everything and return to the day his mother was killed, putting the crucial "can of tomatoes" back on the shelf.
2. George Clooney's Surprise Return:
However, due to Barry's quick thinking, he moved the entire row of tomato cans in the supermarket to a higher shelf, allowing the surveillance camera to capture his father looking up, thereby proving his innocence. This caused a slight variation in the timeline once again. The Bruce Wayne who arrived in front of the courthouse was surprisingly not Ben Affleck from the original universe, but George Clooney!
George Clooney had replaced Keaton and Val Kilmer in 1997's "Batman & Robin," portraying Batman in the Tim Burton series. However, due to the film's poor performance and the infamous "nipple suit," it became a major blemish in film history; Clooney even swore for years to "never play Batman again" because of it.
It's worth noting that this ending was considered top-secret by DC, so Clooney's true identity was not revealed in any preview versions before the film's release.
3. Post-Credits Scene:
In the post-credits scene, Barry carries a drunken Aquaman, Arthur Curry, out of a bar, describing his multiverse adventures to him, including how Arthur in another universe was also "furry and friendly" (actually a dog), and how he returned to find Wayne looking completely different. However, Arthur wasn't paying attention at all.
4. The Next Step for the DC Universe:
In fact, rumors of George Clooney's cameo had already circulated in February this year. At the time, James Gunn even clarified on Twitter that Clooney would not replace Ben Affleck, and the new universe would be spearheaded by new actors. Therefore, it's certain that "The Flash" movie did not, as widely expected, directly lead into the brand new DC Universe helmed by Gunn.
Currently, Gunn's blueprint includes a standalone "Supergirl" film, and a "The Brave and the Bold" film that will tell the adventures of Batman and Robin.
Releasing this December, "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" will be the final film in the original DC Extended Universe series. Will this universe simply fade away without resolution? This remains one of the unresolved questions from "The Flash" movie.