In a rarity for the trendy movie period, DC followers have been left genuinely surprised with a shock cameo on the finish of “The Flash,” however that wasn’t the studio’s first thought for tips on how to finish the tentpole fllm — and even their second!

“The Flash” has had a protracted gestation from idea to lastly making it to screens this previous weekend, and never with out its controversies (principally associated to star Ezra Miller’s problematic habits final yr). However the movie additionally pulled off a uncommon feat.

With social media and the digital age, the real film shock has change into a uncommon creature nearly by no means seen. And but, one of the vital anticipated movies of the previous a number of years managed to drag off one of many largest surprises of the superhero period.

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If you cannot inform by now, there are going to be spoilers for “The Flash,” and significantly for the ending of “The Flash,” so if you have not seen “The Flash” and you are going to be mad if the ending of “The Flash” is spoiled for you … why are you continue to studying this?!

**HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!!**

What’s additionally attention-grabbing about this movie is that the ending followers bought wasn’t the unique plan for tips on how to finish Barry Allen’s multi-versal adventures. There was at all times a deliberate sucker-punch on the finish, however the precise nature of that punch has been tweaked not as soon as, however twice.

It is all to do with the tumult and chaos at Warner Bros. Discovery because the movie was first put collectively, delayed, underwent management change(s), delayed some extra, after which lastly launched to followers in 2023 with an unsure future forward of them. Does “The Flash” make clear that path? Not within the slightest — however it’s nonetheless enjoyable!

At first, then-boss Walter Hamada was “The Flash” as a reset of types for the DC Prolonged Universe, as damaged down by The Hollywood Reporter. A lot of the movie was produced below his management, with Toby Emmerich on the helm of Warner Bros.

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The thought was to pivot away from Zach Snyder’s “Man of Metal” universe as a lot as attainable after the poorly-received — and extremely altered by Joss Whedon — “Justice League” movie. Hamada envisioned his twist ending resulting in a “Flash” sequel after which an entire “Disaster on Infinite Earths” adaptation.

And in his twist ending, Barry would nonetheless wind up on the courthouse steps, however he can be flanked by Sasha Calle’s Supergirl and Michael Keaton’s Batman. In different phrases, his try to make proper all that he’d disrupted would have failed, organising the final word “Disaster” throughout a number of timelines.

However then, Discovery and Warner Bros. turned their present behemoth and each Hamada and Emmerich have been on the curb, together with their imaginative and prescient for the DCEU going ahead. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav put in Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy as Warner Bros. Photos Group chairperson and CEO, with oversight of DC.

With “The Flash” nonetheless seen as a possibility to shift the present DC line of movies, this new management conceived a brand new ending, which they filmed in September. Their plan was to nearly shift issues again to what was acquainted and well-received. Again on the courthouse steps, Flash and Supergirl can be joined by Henry Cavill’s Superman and Gal Gadot’s Marvel Lady. In addition they stored Keaton instead of Ben Affleck as Batman.

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This route was arrange by having Cavill’s shock look on the finish of “Black Adam,” hinting at his eventual return because the Man of Metal and a brand new movie, whereas director Patty Jenkins was teed up for a 3rd Marvel Lady movie. In addition they needed to maintain Calle’s Supergirl accessible and honor Affleck’s needs to depart the function of Batman. This stored issues in keeping with the older, extra mature DC.

However this imaginative and prescient wasn’t to final, both. James Gunn and Peter Safran have been propped as much as head DC Studios in November and with them got here yet one more wholly new imaginative and prescient for the DC Universe, which was an excellent more durable reset than any of their predecessors. And so, “The Flash” ending was checked out as soon as once more.

As the brand new bosses noticed it, bringing again Cavill — which had already occurred in “Black Adam” — and Gadot would set an expectation they weren’t certain that they had any intention of following by way of on. In truth, they have been fairly certain that they had no plans to return to the so-called Snyderverse. And so, this second ending was scrapped, as properly.

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In January, Miller was referred to as to yet one more shoot to place collectively a 3rd ending for the movie. They appreciated the thought of showing that Flash had not reset the universe in addition to he’d hoped, however needed to go together with one thing much more sudden.

And so, they reached out to maybe probably the most unlikely former DC star of all time, displaying him a lower of the movie. He agreed to it and signed on for a half-day of filming. And so, for the primary time in 26 years, George Clooney was again as Bruce Wayne … a task he is publicly trashed for nearly as lengthy.

In Clooney’s protection, “Batman & Robin” was trashed by just about everybody upon its launch and was such a catastrophe, it successfully killed Batman as a franchise for almost a decade, till “Batman Begins” hit theaters in 2005.

It is fairly unlikely that Clooney has any curiosity in persevering with because the Caped Crusader, however something is feasible. A number of it depends upon how “The Flash” does on the field workplace, with preliminary reviews that the Andy Muschietti-directed movie is underperforming on the field workplace.

Preliminary projections have been a $70M-$75M opening weekend domestically, however the $200M movie is as an alternative seeking to land at round $60M for the three-day weekend, per Deadline. The studio is hoping the Juneteenth vacation will add sufficient to nonetheless hit their mark for a four-day weekend.

In accordance with the outlet, one of many components that might have harm the movie was the very fact the continued WGA strike impacted the solid’s skill to do any press for the movie. Actually, the absence of most late-night and a few daytime, discuss exhibits has reduce on their alternatives.

After which there’s the Miller issue. Not solely was the movie’s star not meaning to do a lot press anyway, due to their controversial habits in 2022 together with alleged assault and housebreaking, there could also be some backlash to the very fact the movie was nonetheless launched in any respect.

“The Flash” is in theaters now.