The Flashdirector Andy Muschietti honors the legacy of Zack Snyder’s DC Snyderverse trilogy by building uponZack Snyder’s Justice LeagueinThe Flash.
Zack Snyder’s Justice Leaguewas released just weeks before production began forThe Flashin April 2021, and insider claims reported that the Muschietti siblings had watched the film and “100% dug the Snyder cut.” As a result of these claims, insiders expressed that they changedThe Flashto reflect the canon ofZack Snyder’s Justice League, which saw the introduction of Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen as Snyder envisioned the Scarlet Speedster when initially casting them. DespiteJames Gunn taking out Snyderverse scenes fromThe Flashending, these rumors and insider claims come full circle with Andy Muschietti saying he honored Zack Snyder inThe Flash.
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Sean O’Connell atCinemaBlendsat down with Andy and Barbara Muschietti and asked if they showed SnyderThe Flash, to which Andy replied, “I would love Zack to watch this movie. I think we honored the part of the movie that he created in terms of characters and characterizations. And cast. So, I think he would enjoy it.” To further this, Warner Bros. confirmed through its production notes that “Production designer Paul Denham Austerberry was charged with creating a cohesive and contemporary visual language that bridges the two worlds that collide… the Anton Furst designs from Tim Burton’s BATMAN and Patrick Tatopoulos’ work from Zack Snyder’s JUSTICE LEAGUE." Patrick Tatopoulos, who was present during the Snyderverse Full Circle event, also worked with Snyder onBatman v Superman, where he designed various elements likethe Batcave and Batmobile.
The theatrical cut ofJustice Leaguefeatured countless changes that Snyder never approved, and the DCEU films that came after did not dive into or reference the overarching story Snyder established, unlike the previous DCEU films likeSuicide Squad,Wonder Woman, andAquaman. However, because Barry Allen was already introduced inJustice League, Andy Muschietti had to adapt Joss Whedon’s or Snyder’s version. After watchingZack Snyder’s Justice League, the choice appears to have been Snyder’s version, confirmed by Andy Muschietti’s own words. Thiscan also be seen inThe Flashtrailersthrough various references that were only in the Snyder Cut, such as Barry Allen and Iris West meeting, Bruce Wayne acknowledging that Flash can time travel, the same Batcave asZack Snyder’s Justice League, and Batman’s flying fox vehicle still being in action.
As a result, several elements separateThe Flashfrom the theatrical cut ofJustice League, not just in the characterization of Barry Allen but also in aesthetic choices deeply rooted in the Snyderverse. A few Snyderverse fans who were fortunate enough to watchThe Flashhave all claimed that the movie respectsSnyder’s characterization of the DCEU. So, for fans of those aspects of the DCEU who may be on the fence, it seems like there’s that much more of a reason to be excited, asThe Flashcould be the last DCEU film before the DCU reboot that pays homage to the Snyderverse.
