Director Behind Major DC Flop is Still “Proud” of the Panned Superhero Movie

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Despite all the difficulties during its production, director Andy Muschietti remains proud of *The Flash*. The film faced a lot of problems, including changes in directors and release dates, and was further complicated by negative publicity surrounding its star. By the time it was released on June 16, 2023, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) was already being replaced by James Gunn’s new DC Universe. Ultimately, *The Flash* performed poorly in theaters and, despite receiving mixed reviews, became a target of criticism from both superhero fans and moviegoers, with many considering it a low point for the genre.

In a recent interview with *The Playlist* about the upcoming *It: Welcome to Derry* series, director Andy Muschietti discussed his work on *The Flash*. He expressed continued pride in the DC film, stating that despite its difficult reception, he and the team remained positive. “We just moved on,” Muschietti explained, “understanding that sometimes projects face challenges, but we’re very proud of the work we did and I think it’s a good movie.”

Muschietti acknowledged that while some dismissed the film without watching it, he understood why, considering the public issues surrounding Ezra Miller. He rarely discussed Miller after the movie came out, making this one of his few comments on the matter.

Many people missed what happened, but that’s typical now – everyone’s quick to criticize and join the popular opinion without knowing the facts. A lot of the anger seems to be about other issues entirely. We definitely had a public relations problem with Ezra Miller, and I acknowledge that.

We absolutely loved the movie and highly recommend it. Despite some publicity challenges, the studio was incredibly supportive, even when they could have pulled back. Everyone involved really committed to it, and we poured our hearts and souls into making it the best it could be. I recently rewatched it and enjoyed it just as much as the first time.

The Fallout of ‘The Flash’


Warner Bros.

Even though *The Flash* faced numerous challenges, Warner Bros. and DC Studios invested heavily in it. Before its release, key figures like David Zaslav, James Gunn, and even Tom Cruise publicly praised the film. While reviews weren’t overwhelmingly positive, *The Flash* received a 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which was better than several other DC movies including *Black Adam*, *Suicide Squad*, *Shazam! Fury of the Gods*, and *Batman v. Superman*. Unfortunately, despite a reported $220 million production budget, the film only earned $271.4 million worldwide, making it a bigger box office failure than 2011’s *Green Lantern*.

When *The Flash* came out, it received a lot of criticism, mainly for its weak computer-generated imagery (CGI). The third act of the film, which included digitally recreated appearances of actors who had passed away – like George Reeves, Christopher Reeve, and Adam West – was especially criticized. Many viewers felt these cameos were a disrespectful attempt to create emotional moments. Despite the negative feedback, some people enjoyed the film, praising Sasha Calle’s performance as Supergirl, and were disappointed when it was announced she wouldn’t be continuing in the new DC Universe.

Despite the disappointing box office performance of *The Flash*, director Andy Muschietti’s career hasn’t suffered. In fact, successfully completing the challenging *Flash* movie likely helped him land the job of directing *The Brave and the Bold*, the new Batman film for the DC Universe. Muschietti has already proven he can deliver exciting Batman action sequences, having worked with both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck. However, don’t expect to see the Flash speeding into the new DCU anytime soon. James Gunn has stated that both The Flash and Aquaman won’t be part of the main DC franchise for several years. When The Flash does eventually appear, Gunn is leaning towards using a different version of the character than Barry Allen, possibly Wally West.

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2025-10-16 14:51