Disclaimer: The following quotes used in this article have been adjusted for clarity.The Arrowverse’s Reverse-Flash actor fromThe FlashTV show has given his thoughts onThe Flashmovie, with the DC star having recently provided his review of Ezra Miller’s superhero film. 2023 didn’t just mark the end of The CW’sThe Flash, but also the arrival of Barry Allen’s cinematic adventure inthe DCEU movie timeline. However, after years of being stuck in development hell,The Flashfilm didn’t get the results that Warner Bros. Discovery was hoping for, as it became one of the biggest superhero flops.
Nearly two years afterThe Flashmovie’s theatrical release, one of the prominent stars ofThe FlashTV show has shared their thoughts on the DCEU film, as Tom Cavanagh spoke about the 2023 installment atFan Expo Portland (via MrHistorican). Cavanagh - who played the villainous Reverse-Flash and many versions of Harrison Wells - addressed that, while aware of Miller’s controversies from this time period,he actually enjoyedThe Flashmovie,stating the following:
Tom Cavanagh: I saw it! A) I did see it, B) I liked it! Here’s what I think…I know they had all sorts of things, off-camera issues, and stuff going on.They do a remarkable job - the first half of that movie, in my opinion, and as somebody who’s protective of Grant Gustin as The Flash, I thought they were so very winning…They played him like they took the IQ level down and I thought that was good. No, but they did it purposely, and I think that’s going to make The Flash more innocent and different. Good call!
Because you don’t want to repeat what a guy did for a decade on television. When Keaton shows up - spoiler alert! - you’re like, “Holy c–p!” It’s so funny if you look at The Flash DVD cover, what’s on it? Batman, which tells you a little bit of something. Then the end of it, it’s a massive digital thing. That’s not always easy to accomplish, but if you watch the first half of that movie, and you watch its genesis story, it was a little slightly different than ours and I thought it was extremely well done. I remember talking to Geoff Johns about this, he’s DC, and Marvel’s kicking ass, I’m like “What do you think about their success?” and he’s like, “What’s good for comic books is good for all of us.” And I sort of feel that way.
What Tom Cavanagh’s The Flash Movie Review Means For The DCEU Film
While Tom Cavanagh’s overall commentary on the DCEU film praisedThe Flashmovie for its strengths,the Eobard Thawne actor didn’t avoid referencing the elements of the film that didn’t work. For example, while Cavanagh expresses being thrilled to seeMichael Keaton’s Batman inThe Flash, his comments that"It’s so funny if you look at The Flash DVD cover, what’s on it? Batman, which tells you a little bit of something"do tie to criticisms of the Dark Knight being more marketed for the film than the actual main superhero who stars in it.
Looking at Cavanagh’s statements regarding the controversial CGI sequences towards the movie’s end, it’s clear he understands the challenges that are part of filmmaking, especially for a release that is centered around a character who’s been explored in other stories. Even though it was always clear that making the movie different enough fromThe FlashTV showwould be a challenge,Cavanagh clearly felt the two versions were unique enough from one another. In the end,The Flashmovie will always be the subject of some very divided opinions, be it from more general audiences or from fellow Hollywood voices.
Our Take On Tom Cavanagh’s The Flash Movie Review
Despite being aware that not everything worked aboutThe Flashfilm,it’s fascinating to hear Cavanagh, someone who has been part of the speedster’s media franchise for a decade, chime in on a different iteration of the DC icon. Whether or not this will lead to more actors fromThe Flashseries opening up about how they felt about the movie, assuming they saw it, remains to be seen. But for now, the world can relive bothThe FlashTV show andThe Flashmovie through streaming and on Blu-ray/DVD.
The Flash
Cast
The Flash follows CSI investigator Barry Allen, who wakes from a coma with super speed after a lightning strike. Collaborating with S.T.A.R. Labs, he adopts the identity of The Flash to safeguard his city, marking his journey as the Fastest Man Alive in this superhero tale.
The Flash is a DC Extended Universe film starring Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, A.K.A. The Flash. Wishing for a world where his mother still lives, Barry Allen manages to find a way to travel through time to save her. However, Barry ends up in an alternate universe where metahumans aren’t present, meaning a living General Zod arrives to conquer the planet. To save this world and return home, Barry will seek the help of two alternate reality heroes, Batman (Michael Keaton) and Supergirl (Sasha Calle).
