The Flash Broke James Gunn’s Gratuitous Cameos Rule, But Not The Way You Think

James Gunn recently shared his disdain for unnecessary cameos in superhero films that add nothing to the story, and The Flash breakd Gunn’s rule. In a series of responses on Threads, the DC Studios co-chairman and co-CEO shared his thoughts on short cameos in superhero movies, calling them “one of the worst elements of recent superhero films.” He admits he doesn’t mind cameos if they are “a glimpse or a moment, an Easter egg,” but he hates when they “mangle an elegant story by shoehorning characters in.”

Going by those standards, many superhero films are guilty of having these kinds of cameos. They get the audience excited, but they don’t do much to push the plot forward. The Flash has loads of cool cameos and Easter eggs in it, but most of them serve the story well and pay tribute to past characters. However, there are a few appearances that exemplify what Gunn is referring to.

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The Flash’s Multiverse Cameos Were Not Gratuitous

In The Flash‘s climactic ending, the three alternate versions of Barry Allen witness the impending collapse of the multiverse. As Barry gazes on, he sees several multiverses that contain alternate versions of classic DC heroes. This included George Reeves’ Superman, Adam West’s Batman, Helen Slater’s Supergirl, Christopher Reeves’ Superman, and Nicolas Cage’s Superman. These actors all appeared as these characters in various films and TV shows, with Cage’s cameo being wish fulfillment after his Superman film was scrapped.

While all these cameos may seem like little more than fan service, they actually do serve the story. All of these variants are looking back at Barry, seeing their worlds collide. Seeing all these universes on the brink of destruction inspires Barry to make the ultimate sacrifice by letting his mother die so all these worlds can survive. While the CGI on some of these characters is questionable, it’s a great way to pay tribute to these actors while furthering Barry’s motivations.

George Clooney & Aquaman’s Flash Cameos Broke Gunn’s Cameo Rule

While the multiverse cameos propel the story, the same can’t be said for George Clooney and Jason Momoa’s appearances. Clooney makes a surprise return as Bruce Wayne, suggesting that something is amiss in the universe after Barry supposedly fixed it. It’s the first time Up in the Air actor has appeared as the character since Batman & Robin, but the cameo does little to serve the plot, especially since this will most likely never be addressed once the DCEU ends and the DCU begins.

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The same can be said about Momoa, who appears briefly as Aquaman in a post-credits scene where he is drunk and stumbling alongside Barry. This does nothing but provide a humorous moment where Arthur Curry is trying to understand the concept of the multiverse. It doesn’t tease Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and it does little to build their relationship since the two characters won’t interact with each other again after The Flash. It’s always great to see these two actors, but it’s meaningless cameos that are only there for audiences to point at the screen in excitement.