The Flashspoilers may have dropped from an unlikely source, giving fans a strong hint at the nature of the film’s fearsome antagonist. This latest detail is the last piece in a puzzle that has been filled in bit by bit in the lead-up to the film’s much-anticipated release.
Based on the eponymous character of the same name from DC Comics,The Flashis set to serve as the narrative device with whichJames Gunn and Peter Safranaffect their soft reboot of the DC Extended Universe, which has been in the works since the two were appointed to the head of the DC film division. The film will be based onFlashpoint,a well-loved comic book event that did much the same for the comic book continuity as the co-bosses hope to implement in the DC Universe, with Barry Allen’s attempt to save his mother’s life via speed-force-enabled time travel causing monumental changes in time and kicking off a multiverse-spanning adventure.
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While the public has been given the gist of the film’s plot and planned cameos through regular channels, such as withThe Flashbig game TV spotshowing off Micheal Keaton’s Batman, the film’s antagonist has been another issue. As described byBuzzfeed, the biggest hint about the film’s villain has not been from any forthcoming ads or posters but rather from a one-off description from the Abrin 2023 Toy Fair in Latin America. The description at fault reads, “Two collections of different sizes will be launched but with the same characters: two versions of the Flash, Batman, and the villain, Dark Flash - who steals the soul of speedster heroes.” The last line of the description, in conjunction with the character’s name, tells fans everything they need to know about the villain.
Another clue to the film’s antagonist comes from a similar source, as a line of collectibles featured a more visual hint of what fans can expect from the film’s antagonist. Funko Inc., which is trashing up to $36 million worth of its Pop Figurines, unveiled a figure alongside others in the collection for theFlashfilm that matches the description given for official licensing, which is “a mangled face and wearing a bulkier black Flash suit—one covered in spikes emerging from it.” While the motif of a ‘Dark’ speedster, or even a dark version of Barry himself, is not uncommon, the descriptions of the film’s antagonist don’t accurately map onto any of these characters from the comics orthe CWFlashseries.
Despite the anticipation and importance of the upcomingFlashfilm, several issues still cloud the film’s premiere and success, such as the latest look atSupergirl onThe FlashTV spotgetting fans worried about the special effects. Add to that all the trouble that Ezra Miller, the film’s star, caused shortly after filming wrapped, and the decision to remove cameos from Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot reprising their well-loved roles as Superman and Wonder Woman, respectively, and there is a reason for several fans to sign off from the hype train surrounding the film. However, to what extent these minor issues can impact the DCEU’s most anticipated project remains to be seen.
The Flashis scheduled to premiere in theaters on May 29, 2025.
