The DCEU Failed With DC’s Greatest Story (After the Arrowverse Messed It Up First)

by

The DC Extended Universe has a unique approach to its heroes. Unlike traditional portrayals, Superman isn’t presented as a beacon of hope, but as a hesitant figure worried about the consequences of his actions. Similarly, Batman in the DCEU is far more ruthless than his comic book version, willing to kill to achieve his objectives. While these characters do evolve, it doesn’t happen quickly enough to save the franchise, which had largely run its course by the time *Zack Snyder’s Justice League* was released.

Okay, let’s talk about *The Flash* movie. It finally gives Barry Allen, our speedster hero, a real solo outing, and it tackles what many fans consider DC’s best story – “Flashpoint.” The premise, where The Flash tries to rewrite history to save his mother, is solid gold. My issue? The movie doesn’t *improve* on previous attempts to adapt “Flashpoint,” specifically the versions we saw in the Arrowverse TV shows. In fact, it feels like it falls into the same traps, failing to truly do the story justice.

The Flash Turned “Flashpoint” Into a Love Letter to a Broken Franchise

The CW’s *The Flash* was the first live-action adaptation of the “Flashpoint” storyline. After losing his father to the villain Zoom, Barry Allen traveled back in time. The show skipped over months of him living with his parents, and continued to suggest this new timeline was ongoing for a while. However, the “Flashpoint” arc was resolved quickly, lasting only one episode, with the rest of the season focusing on the consequences of Barry’s actions. Ultimately, the show’s take on the famous story felt incomplete. The DC movie *The Flash* unfortunately repeated these mistakes, delivering another disappointing version of the tale.

Similar to the TV series, *The Flash* movie centers around the main character dealing with the death of his parents. Barry gains the life he’s always dreamed of by traveling back in time, but the movie quickly shifts focus away from his personal journey. Instead, it becomes a showcase of DC characters, prominently featuring Michael Keaton as Batman and General Zod from *Man of Steel*, with a few unnecessary Superman appearances thrown in. While Barry does have a touching moment at the end, it’s overshadowed by the constant parade of cameos. This second attempt at adapting the “Flashpoint” storyline is as unsuccessful as the first, likely meaning we won’t see this story explored again in future Flash films.

The DCU Is Probably Going to Avoid “Flashpoint” With a Ten-Foot Pole

The Flash movie essentially serves as a finale for the old DC Extended Universe (DCEU) because James Gunn is now leading a completely new DC Universe. He wants to avoid confusing viewers by keeping characters from the previous films, particularly those with troubled histories. The new DC Universe has already prominently introduced Superman and hinted at Batman’s presence – we saw his outline in Creature Commandos and heard mention of Gotham City. Right now, The Flash isn’t as crucial to these new plans, and it’s likely the past struggles of the DCEU have influenced that decision.

The new Superman, played by David Corenswet, and the next Batman will likely team up with a speedster, but it’s not certain that speedster will be Barry Allen (The Flash). James Gunn might choose Wally West instead, as Barry hasn’t been prominently featured in previous DC adaptations. Although it’s disappointing that the DC Studios team probably won’t get to tell their version of a classic Flash story, it’s probably a good thing – another failed attempt at a Flash movie could mean the character is shelved indefinitely.

What are your thoughts on the disappointing adaptations of the “Flashpoint” storyline in the DCEU and Arrowverse? Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/4-dc-characters-already-improved-by-james-gunns-dcu/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-13 19:15