‘The Flash’ Director Wants Ezra Miller Back for the Sequel

On 02.27.23 I reported that Warner Bros were planning to keep Ezra Miller as The Flash for further sequels. I wrote:

Miller’s mental health recovery is going well and they think his days of serial criminal activity are behind him.

Andy Muschietti’s “The Flash” will be released next month. It already screened at CinemaCon in April, with people praising Miller’s performance in the film. However, the the actor’s legal troubles have made many wonder if he’ll stick around for more ‘Flash’ movies.

Well, if director Andy Muschietti has anything to say about it, then Miller is here to stay as Barry Allen, aka the Flash.

There wasn’t any doubt in my mind that he would.

In an upcoming episode of The Discourse podcast, Muschietti raves about Miller’s performance. The filmmaker believes that there isn’t anyone else who can take over the role and do a better job. In fact, if there ever is a sequel, he absolutely wants him back.

If [a sequel] happens, yes. I don’t think there’s anyone that can play that character as well as they did. The other depictions of the character are great, but this particular vision of the character, they just excelled in doing it. And, as you said, the two Barrys – it feels like a character that was made for them.

In principal photography, Ezra was brilliant and the most committed and the most professional [actor]. Ezra gave everything for this role – physically, creatively, emotionally. They were absolutely supreme.

Warner Bros co-chairperson Mike DeLuca recently told Vulture that Miller may sit out promotional duties on the film because “in a weird way, it’s not a PR-driven film. So we don’t necessarily have to put Ezra out in front” … Sure, Jan.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard this excuse before for a big superhero blockbuster. Our star, the main hero, doesn’t have to do press, it’s not needed, no PR will benefit this film one bit.

We know the hidden message behind DeLuca’s recent comments. Warner Bros is trying to hide Miller. There’s nothing more to it. They want to let the movie speak for itself, that’s all fine and dandy, but it’s a total lie that “The Flash” is not a “PR-driven film.”

Then again, do you blame them? Miller had quite the summer last year, assaulting people around the world, left and right, but, supposedly, that doesn’t seem to matter much to Warner Bros, as it shouldn’t, especially if the movie is this good. Audiences won’t care either.

Miller’s summer “adventures” are too many to list in just one article, but here goes: he choked a woman, was accused of grooming children, was arrested multiple times for punching people, committed armed robbery, oh, and he reportedly, and illegally, housed a mother and three young children on an unlicensed cannabis farm.

Basically, Miller saw what Armie Hammer, James Franco, Gina Carano, Louis CK and Will Smith had done and said “guys, hold my beer.”