The Flash is coming to theaters in November of 2022 after a long development process and numerous failed versions. The film will be a hugely important entry in the ongoing DC cinematic universe, while also being built around previous DC works.
The film is set to be a loose adaptation of DC comics' Flashpoint event, which altered enormous portions of the comics canon and featured numerous crossovers between storylines. Not much is known about the overall plot of the film, but through the one sentence premise and the thus far released cast, there is some prior viewing that could be both informative and tide fans over for the long wait.
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The Flash will, at release, be the twelfth film in the DCEU, assuming the planned releases. Not every film in that overall universe is likely to have any crossover with the speedster's first solo outing. The most obvious films that fans should seek out prior to the release of The Flash are the few that feature Ezra Miller's take on the character in the DCEU.
Miller as Barry Allen made his first appearance in a cameo in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice. The character appears in this film in a couple of brief but crucial scenes. The Flash appeared in the often criticized scene wherein Wonder Woman watches a series of brief clips hacked from Lex Luthor's servers which holds proof of metahumans. Flash also appears in a deeply confusing scene which will hopefully pay off in an upcoming work where he comes to Bruce Wayne in a dream to issue a dire warning. This iteration of Bruce Wayne, portrayed by Ben Affleck is also slated to appear in the upcoming Flash film. Flash's appearances become more regular in the next team-up film.
Released in 2017, Justice League was a controversial film that endured a difficult production cycle and a highly publicized change of directors. The film was not well received, but among the few diamonds in the rough, Ezra Miller's performance and Barry Allen's dialogue as snarky comic relief were generally appreciated. Allen gets a fair share of screen time in this film and gets to show off more of his visually spectacular superpowers in the large-scale battle scenes. Allen's interplay with the other members of the League is also fun, and he sticks out as the biggest personality in the group. Fans who want to see The Flash will enjoy seeing the character's first full film performance.
Fans who want to skip the less-than-stellar experience of Justice League might prefer the generally better-received version, Zack Snyder's Justice League. The Flash takes an even more central role in the film, including a fantastic hero scene all to himself which is hailed as among the best moments in the film. The character's role in the film will likely be a great look into how he will appear in future DCEU projects. If fans need an introduction to this version of the character or are eager to see him in action before his own full film, Zack Snyder's Justice League is likely the best resource available.
Ben Affleck's modern DCEU Batman is not the only version of the character already announced as a fixture of The Flash. Michael Keaton is scheduled to return to the storied role for the first time in 30 years. This is hugely exciting, many fans still hold up Keaton as the best cinematic Batman. Keaton held the role for two films, 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. Both films are directed by beloved visionary Tim Burton, who imbues the pair with a sense of gothic whimsy. The Flash is also said to ignore the continuity of the following films such as Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, as they do not feature Michael Keaton. As The Flash will be visiting this classic superhero world and beloved performance for the first time in decades, fans could get a ton from revisiting those wonderful films.
Beyond the works that are directly connected to The Flash, are those which include characters that will appear in the film. The CW network has its own DC universe referred to as the Arrowverse, and one of its fixtures is The Flash. This TV adaptation of the character stars Grant Gustin as the titular hero and features a massive universe of characters, concepts and crossovers. Fans who wish to really get deep on the character can delve into the entire Arrowverse, as the many shows contained within crossover constantly.
The Arrowverse even has its own adaptation of Flashpoint, in the form of season 3 of The Flash. While this continuity is not the one the upcoming film will take place in, it will act as a wonderful primer for those who are excited yet uninformed. In addition, as the 2022 film is built around crossing timelines and exploring different universes, it is nearly guaranteed that The Flash will take a detour into the Arrowverse so that the two Flashes can finally meet.
There are hundreds of hours of DC content, both inside and outside of the DC extended universe. Fans can gain a deep knowledge and tide themselves over until The Flash sprints to cinemas in November 2022.
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