10 DCU Theories The Flash Makes Impossible

The multiversal and time-traveling premise of 2023’s The Flash meant that there were many theories as to how it might change the DC Extended Universe and the DC Universe. Ultimately, the film debunked 10 particular theories and, for better or worse, only raised more questions regarding the future DCU. Despite this, The Flash stands on its own as an exciting DC movie adaptation that attempted to honor decades of DC movie history within the DCEU movie timeline.

The Flash is a loose adaptation of the 2011 comic storyline Flashpoint. Like Flashpoint, The Flash sees Barry Allen, its titular hero, traveling back in time to prevent his mother’s tragic murder, only for his meddling to create a new and doomed timeline, allowing The Flash cast to take from other pre-existing superhero movies. In the case of the DCEU, though, this sees all metahumans rendered nonexistent, dead, or otherwise unable to protect the Earth from General Zod. Barry Allen is forced to restore the timeline to its original (or at least a close enough approximation) incarnation, leading to a number of theorized ways that the post-The Flash timeline might be different. Here are 10 theories that The Flash proves false.

10 The Flash Doesn’t Fully Reboot The DCEU Into The DCU

Before The Flash was released, James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios, claimed the movie would “reset” the DCEU in his announcement of the DCU’s film and TV slate. Indeed, The Flash was, for a time, intended to replace two of the DCEU’s three major superheroes but otherwise leave the universe intact. Since Flashpoint ended DC’s post-Crisis era and began the New 52 comic reboot, The Flash seemed like a natural place to end the DCEU and begin the DCU. Instead, The Flash‘s ending closed on a humorous note, with George Clooney playing Bruce Wayne and the universe appearing otherwise unchanged.

9 The DCEU Can’t Set Up The Reverse Flash For The DCU

The Flash’s nemesis, Reverse-Flash (Eobard Thawne) was strongly hypothesized to appear or at least be set up by The Flash, but this too proved incorrect. While Reverse-Flash was part of Zack Snyder’s long-term plan for the DCEU and Flash director Andy Muschietti confirms that an unseen version of Thawne is Nora Allen’s murderer (as he is in the comics), the iconic villain is nowhere to be seen in The Flash. Reverse-Flash might have appeared in a DCEU sequel to The Flash, but with the universe set to soft-reboot, it is all but confirmed that a DCEU version of Reverse-Flash will never be seen.

8 The DCU Cannot Use The Same Time Travel Sequence

The Flash features numerous sequences in which Barry Allen travels through time and the multiverse itself, with Allen nicknaming the realm between timelines the “Chronobowl.” Unfortunately, these scenes were heavily criticized for unconvincing CGI, making a future appearance basically impossible despite theories that something like this could further connect the DCEU and DCU in a variety of different ways. Should a future DCU film include time travel again, the Chronobowl is guaranteed to not return, with the film likely using the Speed Force from the comics instead.

7 Michael Keaton Will Not Become The Main DCEU/DCU Batman

Ben Affleck stepped down from the Batman role after 2017’s Justice League and during the production of his Batman solo movie. With The Flash bringing back Michael Keaton as Batman (in an altered version of his Tim Burton Batman timeline), and Keaton set to reprise the role in Batgirl (which was, ultimately, canceled and not released), it was all but confirmed that Keaton would become the DCEU’s new Batman. The Flash’s joke ending and the announcement of the DCU’s Batman reboot, The Brave and the Bold, however, prevented Keaton from returning to the Batman role.

6 The DCEU Did Not Connect To The Arrowverse

In the Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite event, Ezra Miller’s DCEU version of Barry Allen briefly encountered the Grant Gustin iteration. Considering The Flash’s multiversal premise and expected plethora of DC movie and TV cameos (a theory that proved true), it was fair to assume that Grant Gustin would have a cameo in the film to return the favor. Gustin was, unfortunately, absent from The Flash and while Teddy Sears did appear, dressed as Jay Garrick, it was not clear if this was his character from the Arrowverse (Hunter Zolomon masquerading as Jay Garrick) or a genuine version of Jay Garrick from another reality.

5 Christian Bale Did Not Cameo As Batman

Another understandable hope for The Flash was that the major role for Michael Keaton’s Batman and the minor role for Ben Affleck’s iteration would open the floodgates for a plethora of different Batman iterations to interact with each other in a manner similar to Spider-Man: No Way Home. Indeed, two other versions of Batman appeared (Adam West’s version via a CGI deepfake and George Clooney in a comedic cameo), but none of the four interacted with each other. Christian Bale’s Batman from the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight Trilogy was, however, absent from The Flash, despite these hopes.

4 Ben Affleck’s Batman Survived

Ben Affleck was seemingly happy with his performance as Batman in The Flash and described it as his final appearance as the Dark Knight before the film’s release. With Michael Keaton due to replace him as Batman at the time, it was fair to assume that Affleck’s iteration would die in The Flash, but this was not the case in the final film, as he is instead erased from the main DC movie timeline, making for a far more ambiguous and far less cathartic ending for the character.

3 Supergirl Will Not Replace Henry Cavill’s Superman

Similar to Batman, Henry Cavill’s Superman was set to be replaced, in his case, by Sasha Calle’s Supergirl. Calle may have been doomed to die in the Flashpoint universe, which was eventually erased anyway, but Barry Allen’s tampering might have rendered her the only Kryptonian hero afterward. Calle has expressed strong interest in reprising her role in the DCU, but her future is unknown for now. Cavill’s Superman, however, will be replaced by David Corenswet’s upcoming iteration in Superman: Legacy.

2 George Clooney’s Batman Appearance Is Only A Cameo

George Clooney’s Batman from Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin appeared in a brief and comedic cameo at the end of The Flash, leading to an understandable belief that he might be the new Batman of the DCU. On multiple occasions, however, James Gunn has clarified that this will not be the case, as Clooney’s scene was only intended to be a cameo. A new Batman will be introduced to the DCU in The Brave and the Bold.

1 The Flash Does Not Say Who In The DCEU Will Be Recast In The DCU

With Gunn implying that The Flash would show the transition from the DCEU to the DCU, some theorized that the film would definitively determine who would cross over from the old timeline to the new one since the DCU is only a soft reboot. The Flash, ultimately, neither confirmed nor denied anything. While rumors and anonymous reports give conflicting answers as to who from the DCEU will be recast in the DCU, thus far, James Gunn has only definitively confirmed that a few characters will be recast, with the majority of DC’s major heroes still remaining unclear.