The Flash (2024 film)
| The Flash | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jackson Miller |
| Written by |
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| Based on | Deadpool by |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Music by | Andrew Scott Bell |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 149 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $250 million |
| Box office | $752 million |
The Flash is a 2024 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name from DC Comics. Produced by Mob Productions and Freddie Goodwin, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the second film in the Mob Cinematic Universe (MCU). It was directed by Jackson Miller and written by Sara Caseand Patrick Reid. It stars Grant Gustin as Barry Allen, with cast members Candice Patton, Jesse L. Martin, Dev Patel, Idris Elba, Timothée Chalamet, and Zendaya. The plot follows Allen as he battles his arch-nemesis the Reverse-Flash as he keeps Central City from danger.
Development on a film based on The Flash began in 2018 with Goodwin hiring Sara Case to write the script. Patrick Reid joined in 2021 and rewrote the script. Jackson Miller joined to direct and filming began in March 2023 and concluded in July that year.
During production on Deadpool 2 (2018), a reboot for the MCU was being planned by Mob Productions with Goodwin attached to write the screenplay. In June 2021, Reynolds was confirmed to be reprising his role as Wade Wilson/Deadpool in the film.
The Flash premiered in Westwood, Los Angeles, on July 1, 2024, and was released in the United States on February 8, as the first film in Phase One of the MCU. The film received postive reviews from critics. The film grossed $752 million and was a box-office success. A sequel, The Flash and the Multiverse of the Speed Force, is scheduled to be released on November 18, 2025.
Plot
In Central City, forensic scientist Barry Allen's life transforms after a particle accelerator explosion at S.T.A.R. Labs. Struck by lightning and in a coma for nine months, Barry awakens with superhuman speed. Under the mentorship of Dr. Harrison Wells, the head of S.T.A.R. Labs, and with the help of scientists Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon, Barry becomes "The Flash," protecting the city from metahuman threats.
The Flash's first major challenge is Clyde Mardon, who can control the weather. Barry's swift intervention prevents a tornado from destroying the city. Meanwhile, Barry reconnects with his childhood friend and crush, Iris West, and her father, Detective Joe West, who helped raise Barry after his mother's mysterious murder and his father's wrongful imprisonment for the crime.
As Barry adapts to his new abilities, he encounters various metahumans, like Multiplex, who can clone himself, and The Mist, who kills with toxic gas. Barry's crusade against these threats is driven by his desire to uncover the truth about his mother's death, which he believes was caused by a mysterious figure in yellow lightning, similar to his own speed.
The arrival of Captain Cold, a criminal mastermind wielding a cold gun, poses a new challenge. Cold's intelligence and strategic planning make him a formidable foe, leading to multiple encounters throughout the season. Barry also faces personal challenges, grappling with his unrequited love for Iris and his complex relationship with his adoptive brother, Detective Eddie Thawne, Iris's boyfriend.
Barry's journey also leads him to discover other individuals with powers, like Firestorm. He uncovers the truth about Firestorm's identity, a fusion of Dr. Martin Stein and Iris's colleague, Ronnie Raymond, Caitlin's presumed-dead fiancé. This revelation brings complexities to the team's dynamics, as they navigate personal relationships and their mission to protect the city.
A pivotal moment occurs when Barry travels back in time, accidentally altering events. This experience teaches him the responsibilities and dangers of time travel. His actions have unforeseen consequences, affecting those around him, including the timeline of his battle against metahumans.
The Flash's battles are not only physical but also moral. He faces ethical dilemmas, such as when he confronts the Pied Piper, who reveals unsettling truths about Dr. Wells and S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry's trust in his mentor is tested, leading him to question the motivations behind his guidance.
As the season progresses, the mystery surrounding Dr. Wells deepens. Barry and his team uncover startling revelations about his true identity and his connection to the night of Barry's mother's death. These discoveries lead to a climactic confrontation between The Flash and his greatest adversary, the Reverse-Flash, the true persona of Dr. Wells. Barry faces the ultimate choice: to travel back in time to save his mother, risking the present, or to let history remain as it is. This decision is fraught with emotional and moral complexities, highlighting Barry's growth as a hero.
Cast
- Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson/Deadpool
- Hugh Jackman as James Howlett/Logan/Wolverine
- Morena Baccarin as Vanessa Carlysle
- Stefan Kapičić as Piotr Rasputin/Colossus
- Rob Delaney as Peter W.
- Brianna Hildebrand as Eloise Phimister/Negasonic Teenage Warhead
- Josh Brolin as Cable
- Zazie Beetz as Domino
Production
Development
During production on Deadpool 2 (2018), a reboot for the MCU was being planned by Mob Productions with Freddie Goodwin attached to write the screenplay. In June 2021, Ryan Reynolds was confirmed to be reprising his role as Wade Wilson/Deadpool in the film.
Development on the first film was mixed with a potential second film as confirmed in June 2022. By then, Goodwin announced he has worked on every project in the MCU and will focus entirely on the future of the franchise.
In December 2019, after the release of Fox's Deadpool 2, Freddie Goodwin began work on a new Deadpool franchise to have Ryan Reynolds star in which will reboot the films. In February 2020, Reynolds agreed to do the film, as long as he produced it alongside Goodwin.
Pre-production
Goodwin and Sara Case began working on the script in December 2019. They considered making the story be set in the same timeline as the original two Deadpool films, though didn't want to the film to be the third film in that universe, or the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In March 2020, development was put on hold, though Goodwin and Case worked together during the lockdowns to write the script. They ended up rewriting the script more than twelve times. Goodwin wanted to include Barry Allen/Flash from DC Comics in the film, though chose to exclude him because he has a film the month following this film.
Initially they thought this film would be a one off type of film, with no sequels planned. However, in June 2021, Goodwin confirmed this film is being developed alongside a second Deadpool film that is coming in the far future. Goodwin planned to revisit past moments from the first two films that were released by Fox.
By the end of 2019, filming was expected to begin in mid-2020. In April 2020, Sony rescheduled No Way Home's release to November 5, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Filming
Second unit filming occurred from October 14 to 16, 2020, in New York City, under the working title Red in Dead, to capture visual effects plates and establishing shots. Filming occurred in the Astoria, Sunnyside, and Long Island City neighborhoods in Queens. On October 23, filming occurred in Greenwich Village in Manhattan.
Music
In November 2023, composer Tyler Bates was confirmed to be returning for Deadpool.
Marketing
A trailer was released on December 17, 2023 and confirmed the release date of February 8, 2024.
Release
Deadpool was released on February 8, 2024, as part of Phase One of the MCU.
Reception
Sequel
In June 2023, it was announced that a sequel to the first film in the MCU was in development.