The Flash: What to Know Before You Watch DC’s Upcoming Film

The new addition to the DC Universe is fast approaching. Set to be released in June of this year, the highly anticipated The Flash promises to sweep fans off their feet with its rumored cameos, DCU references, and other surprises. Ahead of the release, there are a few things you should probably know.

Catching Up On The Story

We would recommend watching a few films before diving into The Flash. Of course, this will involve some streaming and/or downloading, which is where your internet speed comes in. By calculating the time it would take to download The Flash in different countries, ExpressVPN’s study shows that where you’re located plays a big part in how fast your internet is, so pre-empting that will make your viewing experience much smoother.

As such, we suggest setting a weekend, sitting down with some popcorn, and taking in some DC history. Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Man of Steel (2013), Batman V Superman (2016), and Justice League (2017) should cover the main plot points and characters you should be aware of.

Having said that, don’t worry if your bingeing time is limited. DC Studios Co-CEO James Gunn has taken to Twitter to share that no knowledge is necessary to watch the film. If you have the time, having some context can certainly not harm you, but if not, it doesn’t seem like your viewing experience will be spoiled.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1660975544618594304

The Plot

Comic book cinema can be hard to keep up with, especially for big studios like DC with its multiple universes and mind-boggling crossovers.

In The Flash, Barry Allen travels back in time to try and stop his mother’s death. However, the consequences are disastrous. By changing events in the past, he gets stuck in alternate realities where meta-humans are unheard of, and will need help from other superheroes to fix the timeline.

Although not yet announced, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick has already written a sequel to The Flash.

Delays in Production

Amongst all the names announced for the film so far, Ezra Miller is undoubtedly the one that sparked the most buzz. Miller has been the face of Flash since 2016 in Batman V Superman, and this is their solo debut as the superhero.

As avid fans know, there have been various delays to the production. According to Variety, DC’s CEOs Peter Safran and James Gunn are keen to give the cast adequate time to cope with personal issues.

In addition to Sasha Calle as Supergirl and Michael Shannon as General Zod, the latest Flash trailer (below) shows Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck playing two different Batmans. Along with two alternate versions of Barry Allen as The Flash, this again speaks to the time-bending, butterfly-effect-evoking aspect of the film.

If there’s one thing we know about DC is that it is a never-ending franchise that has yet a lot to span. We look forward to finding out what the future holds for The Flash, and until then, it will be interesting to see fans’ reaction once the film hits the theatres this summer.