The Official Flash Thread

[Willi Berg]

Where are you right now, roughly?

I'm reading Geoff Johns' version, because I think he's fantastic. And I love going back to the Crisis era, with Marv Wolfman, and Flash going up against the Anti-Monitor, because it was such a great moment in super-heroes. You're the only person all day I'll be talking this distinctly about it. But I just thought his sacrifice, I remember crying and getting upset as a kid and that really registering with me.

It's interesting that Berlanti mentioned the Anti-Monitor. It made me wonder how "big" Flash's universe will be in the movie series, since there will be some sort of setup with Krona et al. in Green Lantern.

I just watch the pilot of No Ordinary Family and I REALLY liked what they did with the super speed SFX. The scene where Julie Benz's character figured she can run fast and shes running through the freeway and every thing is in slo mo were great..and that was just a TV show.

I can't wait to see what they'll do for The Flash

It's good that they're getting this experience with more superheroes, not just effects but writing about a family of superheroes, which could benefit the Flash movie story since it is about a family as well.

 

[bjt]

Jensen Ackles as Barry Allen

Christina Hendricks as Iris West

 

[MadVillainy]

I dont like those choices

 

[Octoberist]

I just hope the first film isn't your typical origin because I don't want to see the same movie again and again.

It's time to just 'flashforward' to The Flash as The Flash. established. Then maybe flashback if you have to.

Even X-Men First Class sound promising because it's fresh to see a 60s Silver Age superhero film, regardless if you agree with the direction of the story.

 

[MadVillainy]

No it would be better just to do a straight forward origin. If they didnt want a run in the mill origin they shouldve gone with Wally.

Lately people have been saying "Forgo the origin", but missing out the origin youre missing on having scenes where characters interact with each other with the first time. I dont want films to be a Lost episode with a flashback almost every 10 mins

 

[lixdexia]

i want a conglomerate flash named wally in a back to the future style story where he goes back in time and meets a younger version of himself moving in with barry and iris and forms a stronger paternal bond with barry.

 

[Willi Berg]

I do think they're going to build up the story, starting with Barry's work, his relationship with Iris, introducing her young nephew Wally etc. I think the story will become more complex as time goes on, in terms of explaining the Speed Force, the Multiverse etc. But it's got to start simple in a way to build the relationships and allow people to buy into this whole world before it gets too complicated.

 

[Chris B]

I suggested him before he was ever rumored for Captain America, but I still think John Krasinski wouldn't make a bad Flash.

 

[Dark Knight]

It's interesting that Berlanti mentioned the Anti-Monitor. It made me wonder how "big" Flash's universe will be in the movie series, since there will be some sort of setup with Krona et al. in Green Lantern.



It's good that they're getting this experience with more superheroes, not just effects but writing about a family of superheroes, which could benefit the Flash movie story since it is about a family as well.

If the Flash film is based off of some of Johns and Wolfmans Flash work, than the film will be fun, emotionally charged and epic!

 

[Dark Knight]

I think they are going to look at someone like Ryan Gosling or Scott Porter for the Flash.

 

[Octoberist]

God, Gosling would be cool but he declined.

BUT NEVER SAY NEVER IN HOLLYWOOD.

 

[misjuevos]

should gl make an appearance in a sequel since they are good friends? not like a cross over to tie in movies but just cause they are good friends.

 

[Willi Berg]

should gl make an appearance in a sequel since they are good friends? not like a cross over to tie in movies but just cause they are good friends.

Greg Berlanti said at Comic-Con that it was fun thinking about that scenario down the line and "getting to that place", and talking about their friendship. But right now they were thinking about trying to give Flash as much weight and scope as the GL movie.

 

[jwdixon]

I think that the following would make a great Flash movie. Use Vandal Savage as he was presented at the beginning of Wally West becoming the Flash. Immortal, magical and play up his cave man beginnings. He fights Wally West, but we get Flashbacks to him fighting Barry and Jay over the years. That way we get all three Flashes. Vandal defeats Barry and Jay and it is up to Wally to bring down Savage. I would have Jay still be alive and acting as a mentor to Wally, but not able to run anymore, perhaps a missing leg.

Wally taps into the speed force and uses that to trap Savage where he is no longer a threat.

Ideally, it would be great to have three movies and each one showcase a different Flash, but I doubt that has much change of success.

 

[Willi Berg]

Ideally, it would be great to have three movies and each one showcase a different Flash, but I doubt that has much chance of success.

I don't think each movie would showcase a different Flash, but expand more on the story and add to the characters in the Flash universe, like their plans for Green Lantern.

As time goes on they can play more with the "wackier" ideas, but they have to establish the rules first.

 

[Evil Twin]

I'd rather see the Dibnys in a sequel than GL. I think that's a more natural fit.

 

[misjuevos]

im just excited about a flash movie. of all the powers, seeing superspeed in live action is one of the best. not to mention the gl power.

 

[TheShah]

Jensen Ackles as Barry Allen

Christina Hendricks as Iris West

Ackles has too much of a "Type A" image to be mild mannered Barry Allen, in my opinion.
Plus I haven't really seen his acting chops beyond SUPERNATURAL to know if he's gonna be able to carry a movie on his shoulders.

 

[TheShah]

I just hope the first film isn't your typical origin because I don't want to see the same movie again and again.

It's time to just 'flashforward' to The Flash as The Flash. established. Then maybe flashback if you have to.

Even X-Men First Class sound promising because it's fresh to see a 60s Silver Age superhero film, regardless if you agree with the direction of the story.

Awesome line.

I agree. The Flash is such a character, that even though his origin is important... it's not in a large scale DC Universe.
It's very personal.

A Flash movie with him established as the superhero in his city, with his job and having the perfect balance between it all would be VERY different from the typical superhero movie.
And the plot would move forward due to a villain / threat in his city that now messes with the status quo that's been created by The Flash watching over the city.
I wouldn't even want flashbacks as origins, but have it come out instead as simple narration or conversation.

It would be a unique way to go I think.

 

[TheShah]

No it would be better just to do a straight forward origin. If they didnt want a run in the mill origin they shouldve gone with Wally.

Lately people have been saying "Forgo the origin", but missing out the origin youre missing on having scenes where characters interact with each other with the first time. I dont want films to be a Lost episode with a flashback almost every 10 mins

I understand, but look at it this way.
A movie with the hero established, and admired and having the film be a huge success... makes the origin that much more appealing.
To be able to know HOW this character they saw in the first film became the way he is, who was involved, what happened, etc.

I mean the term 'origin' has become synonymous with a kind of revelation.
An origins story in comics is always used after the introduction of a character to reveal their back story to make the audience more appreciative of their established persona.
Why not the same in movies? That way you hit the ground running in the character's first ever live action appearance and don't have to worry about ****ing up the origin either.

Starting a movie mid-career of a superhero, and not having to introduce, and set up, and explain and establish... gives even the writers a LOT more room to focus on established relationships and interactions that IMPLY a history without focusing on it.
For majority of non-comic fans, they'll accept an introduced character established in their role just as easily as they'll accept one whose origin is explained AS that introduction... if done well.

 

[TheShah]

i want a conglomerate flash named wally in a back to the future style story where he goes back in time and meets a younger version of himself moving in with barry and iris and forms a stronger paternal bond with barry.

You bring up a good point.
If the focus of the first Flash movie happens to be the Flash of Two Worlds storyline (not sure what it was called but the one where he goes back in time to meet Jay for the first time?)

That way we can see Barry as the established Flash, and there can be referances to him not being the first, similar to how it was done in the Watchmen movie.
Then during the movie he can at one point go back in time, and meet the older Flash and have an adventure with him.

This way they can set up multiverses, a simpler explanation of the Speed Force (for now), the fact that there's multiple heroes not just present but past, etc... really plant the seeds for a DCU and its mythos.

 

[ChickenScratch]

I am totally not a fan of origins in movies. I'm all about getting on with it, telling a good story with the character shouldn't be dependent on showing how he got there. A good story should teach you all you need to know about a character from his actions and his relationships with people and the world around him.

Mickey Spillane never gave an origin for Mike Hammer, but all those books ruled. Fleming didn't give an origin for James Bond, CR was an early assignment in his career, by no means an origin but a turning point. Die Hard didn't spend time explaining who McClain was. In all cases they just got on with it and told a story. If background needs to be given it should be organically in the story.

 

[Young Superman]

Matthew Morrison for Barry Allen / The Flash!



Felicia Day for Iris West Allen!

Robert Patrick for Leonard Snart / Captain Cold!

 

[Willi Berg]

I agree that it could work if Barry is already established, where we see him at his job, we see his relationship with Iris, and then when trouble occurs, we see that he actually is the Flash. (Kind of like that the rumours of what they're doing with the new Superman movie.)

But there still has to be a scene where we see how he got his powers (since this is a fantasy power, not like James Bond.) And I don't think that the explanation has to take long anyway. Whether early in the movie or as a flashback, it can quickly move to "present day" established Barry. i.e. the entire movie doesn't have to be an "origin story". Just like Reynolds says that Hal Jordan's origin won't be "labored", that we get the origin early on and then "the adventure begins", and not just in the third act.

I still think that time travel and crossing of young and older versions right away can easily become too complicated so early on, and can cause the audiences to not engage with the characters because we don't get to know them. I think the Watchmen story in the movie suffered because of that- they dived right into these problems of these older, retired superheroes, when we didn't really get to know them when they were superheroes. And the 'Back To The Future' sequel played with what was already established in the first movie.

 

[Octoberist]

Young Superman pretty much got it right!

Morrison and Day!