Summary
James Gunn hasn’t cast a new actor forThe Flashin the new DCU. However, fans are eager to see Eliott Page portray the superhero and one artist brings this to life in an epic fan art.
Several actors have portrayedThe Flashin TV shows and movies, including John Wesley Shipp, Rod Haase, Kenny Johnston, Grant Gustin, and Ezra Miller, to name a few. Miller debuted as Barry Allen, aka The Flash, inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016). He portrayed the superhero in multiple movies, includingJustice League(2017),Zack Snyder’s Justice League(2021), and his solo filmThe Flash(2023). Gustin playedThe Flashfor nearly a decade in The CW’s long-running seriesThe Flash(2014 - 2023), which was part of the Arrowverse. Miller was embroiled in controversy and faced disorderly conduct and assault charges in 2022, which nearly derailed the release of the film. Despite much opposition, Warner Bros. Pictures still released the film in 2023,but it was a flop. Gunn and Peter Safran had rebranded the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU) toDC Universe(DCU), so fans are expecting to see a new actor as The Flash. Many are hoping Page is the next to don the red costume.
The Mother of All Nerds shared snaps of Page rocking the bright crimson costume with a lightning bolt emblem onFacebook. “Some fans online are calling for Elliot Page to take on the role of The Flash in James Gunn’s reimagined DC Univers,” the caption read. “Afterthe controversy surrounding Ezra Miller, many fans believe a fresh face is needed, and some have suggested Page as an ideal candidate. The reasoning is largely based on Page’s strong acting credentials and the belief that he could bring a unique interpretation to the character, especially in the wake of Miller’s departure.” The Mother of All Nerds added that Page taking on the mantle could give the character a “new perspective,” especially if Gunn and Safran would want other versions of The Flash like Wally West or Jay Garrick. The previous iterationsfocused on Barry Allen. “Despite some skepticism, especially regarding whether this casting choice would be seen as ‘virtue signaling,’ many fans are excited about the idea and believe Page could do justice to the role,” the post concluded.
The post received mixed responses. While there is no doubt that Page looked great in the costume, some felt that he didn’t have the build because of his “frail, tiny frame.” Others also had issues with his “whiny voice.” “The voice sounds so forced lol reminds me of when I used to prank call in high school I’d put on a ‘grown man voice’ to sound older,” one commented. Page is a trans man, and he has been open about his journey to self-discovery. He announced that he is a trans and uses the pronouns he/they in a post onInstagramin December 2020. Meanwhile, many said they wanted to see Gustin take on the role again. “Grant Gustin was such a perfect casting choice, I wish they’d use him for the movies too,” one suggested.
Gunn will likely bring a new actor for the nextThe Flashfilms to DCU following the negative reception of Miller’s movie due to his controversies. There is no doubt that Page is an excellent talent and can portrayThe Flashjust like the other actors. However, Gustin is probably a better choice because he waspart of the DCEU. Fans loved his portrayal, and they wanted to see him rocking the red costume with the bolt ensemble again. His portrayal was flawless. He made the character fun and relatable. There’s already that “attachment” element in Gustin playingThe Flashafter seeing him in character for nearly a decade. Hopefully, Gunn will listen to fans' suggestions of having Gustin headline the nextThe Flashmovie.
