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The Flash director and producer speak out on Ezra Miller controversy following drop of new trailer

Entertainment

The Flash director and producer speak out on Ezra Miller controversy following drop of new trailer

By Charlie Sawyer

Apr 26, 2023

After months of speculation and anticipation, DC finally released a full-scaled trailer for its upcoming blockbuster The Flash. And, while most fans watched with bated breath, hoping to spot their favourite superhero or villain, anguishing over the cinematic effects and celebrating when OG Batman Michael Keaton appeared on screen, others felt a twinge of internal friction and discord. Because how can we be so excited about a film which, at its very core, is platforming and promoting the very controversial and highly problematic Ezra Miller?

Now, before we dive into the most recent updates surrounding the celebrity, it’s important to briefly recap some of the most significant aspects of Miller’s dicey history. The actor has been arrested on numerous occasions and for countless different reasons, spanning from burglary and public nuisance charges to serious assault allegations—including an incident in 2020 where Miller allegedly choked a woman after an altercation at a bar.

Following this, the The Perks of Being a Wallflower actor also faced accusations of grooming and mistreating a young environmentalist named Tokata Iron Eyes. The young activist was only 12 years old when they first met Miller (who was 23 at the time) and the two struck up a friendship. Over the past few years, rumours have surfaced that Miller repeatedly gave Iron Eyes alcohol, drugs, and also kept the activist isolated from friends and family.

While people might assume that the combination of all of these behaviours would have resulted in Miller facing a swift exile from the film industry, they’d be wrong. Having first secured the role of Barry Allen / The Flash in 2014, and having featured in DC film Justice League, it was officially confirmed that the actor would indeed reprise their role in the 2023 eponymous film The Flash.

Fans have had very mixed opinions on Miller’s continuing involvement in the DC Universe. Some are far too enamoured with their portrayal of The Flash to be majorly concerned, while others have stated that they’ll be boycotting the film in protest.

The top dogs behind the upcoming movie have also now made a public statement regarding Miller. According to Entertainment Weekly, director Andy Muschietti and producer Barbara Muschietti spoke to press on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles on Monday 24 April to screen the current cut of the film in its entirety and participate in a Q&A.

When asked about Miller’s current state of mind, the two responded: “We’re all hoping that they get better… They’re taking the steps to recovery. They’re dealing with mental health issues, but they’re well. We talked to them not too long ago, and they’re very committed to getting better.”

The producer concluded: “And, I have to say, during our shoot, during principal photography, their commitment to the role was something we’ve never seen. And the discipline to the work, the willingness—physical, mental, and just wanting to go beyond the pale—is just amazing.”

Some netizens have been comparing the treatment of Miller with that of Marvel actor Jonathan Majors, who, after being charged with assault on 25 March 2023 and being faced with a myriad of abuse allegations, was dropped by his management. It’s still unknown as to whether or not Majors will be allowed to keep his current spot as villain Kang in future Marvel films, but it’s highly probable that the actor will also be dropped from those projects.

The overall consensus is that Majors has been rightfully ousted, however, some individuals are definitely keen to address the hypocrisy of Miller seemingly still welcomed and protected within DC’s arms.

The Flash is set to hit our screens on 16 June, and whichever side you sit on within this debate, it’s sure to be an interesting opening weekend.

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15 internet reactions to Warner Bros. axing ‘Batgirl’ as fans question ‘The Flash’ and ‘Morbius’

Entertainment

15 internet reactions to Warner Bros. axing Batgirl as fans question The Flash and Morbius

By Malavika Pradeep

Aug 3, 2022

In a surprising twist of events, Warner Bros. will no longer be releasing Batgirl, the DC film which had finished shooting months ago and was expected to arrive on HBO Max this year.

Starring Leslie Grace as Batgirl, Michael Keaton as Batman, JK Simmons as Commissioner Gordon and featuring Brendan Fraser’s return to Hollywood as the villain, Firefly, the much-anticipated film was in test screenings as directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah reportedly worked through its post-production phase. So why did Warner Bros. suddenly decide to scrap the movie which was nearly completed and gaining traction among fans for its star-studded cast and crew?

According to sources obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the unusual move comes after a change in leadership at Warner Bros., with new Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav “prioritising cost-cutting measures and refocusing Warners on creating theatrical films rather than projects for streaming.”

The publication went on to note how Batgirl was budgeted at around $80 million, while costs rose to nearly $90 million due to COVID-19 protocols. Though this is a huge sum, it’s significantly lower than other DC theatrical releases. Thus the film in question was claimed to not have the “spectacle” that audiences typically expect from DC fare.

The New York Post further mentioned how the test screenings were said to be so poorly received by moviegoers that the studio decided to “cut its losses and run,” for the sake of its future. “It’s a DC disaster,” the publication wrote, with a source stating: “They think an unspeakable Batgirl is going to be irredeemable.”

While Warner Bros. has also decided to axe the animated feature Scoob!: Holiday Haunt, which had a budget somewhere in the $40 million range, several DC fans have taken to Twitter and voiced their frustration with the studio. Some users equated the film’s status to the fact that DC and Sony Entertainment went ahead with Ezra Miller’s The Flash (set to be released in 2023) and Jared Leto’s Morbius (embarrassingly released twice across theatres) respectively, despite blatant evidence of problematic and predatory behaviour displayed by both the main leads. Meanwhile, others were quick to admit how the entire cast and crew of Batgirl were robbed and deserved better.

Here are 15 noteworthy internet reactions to the announcement, ultimately urging DC to #ReleaseBatgirl:

1. It’s been a rough year for DC fans

2. Write it off… the face of the Earth

3. Rightly so

4. Where is the lie?

5. Make it make sense

6. Did I mention that it was released twice?

7. Let that sink in

8. A sad reminder

9. *wink wink*

10. An unsung hero

11. Telegram, here we come!

12. The incomplete VFX will be part of its charm too

13. #ReleaseBatgirl

14. Leslie Grace deserves better

15. TWICE

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