'The Flash' Might Be Cancelled Due To Growing Ezra Miller Controversy
The future of Warner Bros. franchise The Flash is uncertain as Ezra Miller faces charges of disorderly conduct and burglary.
Warner Bros Pictures is contemplating The Flash's future after recent arrests of actor Ezra Miller. According to PEOPLE, on Monday (August 8), the 29-year-old was charged with burglary after allegedly stealing alcohol from a Vermont home on May 1. On Wednesday (August 10),Rolling Stone reported that Vermont's child services department is attempting to locate a 25-year-old mother and her three children who are allegedly staying at the actor's home.
Miller, who uses they/them pronouns, portrays Barry Allen/The Flash in the Warner Bros. franchise, the titular film scheduled to release on June 23, 2023. Now, per The Hollywood Reporter, the film company is considering several potential options to avoid shelving the $200 million production.
According to a source, Warner Bros., now housed by parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, Miller could seek professional help, ultimately going on an apology tour to explain their recent volatile behavior. Secondly, if Miller doesn't receive expert care, their role in The Flash marketing and publicity would cease. Although The Flash would still be released in this scenario, Miller's role would be recast.
In April, Miller was arrested in Hawaii on the suspicion of second-degree assault at a residence on Pāhoa on the Big Island, when they “became irate after being asked to leave and reportedly threw a chair, striking a 26-year-old female on the forehead.” The arrest came one month after Miller was arrested for harassment and disorderly conduct at a karaoke bar in Hilo, Hawaii.
If Miller continues on their erratic streak, the company's final option would be scrapping the film outright instead of filming with a different actor. Miller joined the DC Films franchise as The Flash in 2014, making cameos in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad before having a main role in Justice League in 2016.
Last week, Warner Bros. announced that $90 million film Batgirl and $40 million Scoob! sequel Scoob!: Holiday Hauntwere shelved.