After several delays and production issues, The Flash is finally releasing in June 2023, but the controversies are continuing with many cameos from other prominent DC actors that have been cut or rejected from the upcoming film. DC Studios has recently been through some major changes following the ascension of James Gunn and Peter Safran into the role of co-CEOs of the company. January 2023 saw Gunn reveal a massive new plan for the future of the DC Universe, confirming some huge (and divisive) changes to the franchise that all start with the release of Andy Muschietti’s The Flash.
Loosely adapted from DC Comics’ 2011 Flashpoint crossover event, The Flash will follow Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen as he uses his powers to travel back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. Changing the past will bring unintended consequences to the timeline, significantly changing the landscape of the DC Universe while also bringing Barry in contact with a variety of other superheroes from his and alternate realities. While this includes Sasha Calle’s Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Supergirl, and two versions of Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, portrayed by Ben Affleck and the returning Michael Keaton, several characters who were initially expected to cameo will no longer be a part of The Flash.
Henry Cavill’s Superman
After debuting in 2013’s Man of Steel, Henry Cavill’s version of the Man of Steel quickly became one of the most popular iterations of Superman in cinema history. However, despite initially being expected to appear in The Flash to bid farewell to the current DCEU, Cavill’s cameo in the upcoming film was cut following his exit from the franchise. Cavill most recently appeared in the post-credits scene of Black Adam, teasing his future as Superman and a potential Man of Steel 2, though these plans fell through in December 2022 when Gunn and Safran confirmed Cavill wouldn’t be reprising the role in the new DC Universe.
Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman
Along with Henry Cavill’s cameo for The Flash, Gal Gadot was also revealed to have been trimmed from the upcoming film, despite being a fan-favorite actor in the DCEU following her introduction as Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. After the cancelation of Patty Jenkins’ sequel to Wonder Woman 1984, Gadot’s future in the DC Universe was left unclear, as no Wonder Woman project was confirmed by Gunn during the announcement of the DCU’s Chapter 1, titled Gods and Monsters. Even so, Batman actor Ben Affleck revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he had filmed scenes with Gadot for The Flash.
Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam
During a period of turmoil at DC Studios, Dwayne Johnson expected Black Adam to solve a multitude of problems and rekindle the DCEU. However, this didn’t quite come to fruition, as Black Adam was met with a negative critical and commercial response, leading to Johnson turning down the opportunities to cameo in both Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash. Recent controversies surrounding Johnson’s meddling with the production for Fury of the Gods have left his future in the franchise unclear, but unlikely – especially after the poor reception to Fury of the Gods itself.
Grant Gustin’s The Flash
Grant Gustin portrayed Barry Allen, a.k.a. the Flash, for a decade in The CW’s “Arrowverse,” introducing the character during 2013’s Arrow season 2 before starring in his own series, The Flash, which ran for nine seasons between 2014 and 2023. Since 2023’s The Flash is expected to reset the DC Universe while paying homage to all the adventures that came before, it was thought that this would be the perfect place to celebrate Gustin’s portrayal of the Scarlet Speedster. Unfortunately, Muschietti revealed to Nerdist that there simply wasn’t room for Grant Gustin in The Flash, so he will retire the role in 2023’s series finale of The CW’s The Flash.
Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman
Between 1975 and 1979, Lynda Carter portrayed Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, in Wonder Woman, a TV series originally airing on ABC before moving to CBS for its second and third seasons as The New Adventures of Wonder Woman. Carter’s performance as Wonder Woman was ground-breaking, even changing aspects of the character in DC Comics – such as the inclusion of the spinning transformations, which was Carter’s idea. Carter was considered to have cameo appearances in The CW’s Arrowverse crossover event, “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” and in 2023’s The Flash, but both were left on the cutting room floor.
Marlon Brando’s Jor-El
Hollywood legend Marlon Brando appeared in 1978’s Superman following a brief hiatus from acting, assuming the role of Superman’s father, Jor-El. Brando was paid $3.7 million for two weeks of work on Superman and only agreed to the role per a list of demands, including that he need not see the script beforehand and that his lines would be displayed somewhere off-camera. After his death in 2004, unused footage featuring Brando as Jor-El was used in the 2006 recut of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut and in Superman Returns, and was almost used in 2023’s The Flash too, though this idea was eventually abandoned.
Burgess Meredith’s Penguin
Burgess Meredith appeared as the Penguin in the Batman TV series between 1966 and 1968, which saw Adam West in the titular role of Bruce Wayne. Meredith’s portrayal of the iconic Batman villain was incredibly well-received, leading to him making 21 appearances in the series over two years, and appearing in 1966’s Batman film, based on the TV series. Meredith passed away in 1997, suggesting that his cameo in 2023’s The Flash would have been created through archive footage. However, this idea was abandoned as it didn’t fit in with the rest of the film.
Cesar Romero’s Joker
Alongside Burgess Meredith in the 1960’s Batman series was Cesar Romero, who portrayed Batman’s most recognizable villain, the Joker. Romero appeared in the series between 1966 and 1968 and starred in the 1966 film based on the show, bringing the Clown Prince of Crime to life opposite Adam West’s Batman. Romero refused to shave his mustache for the role, so it was simply covered in the Joker’s white makeup, creating the now-hilarious look. Romero passed away in 1994, so much like Brando and Meredith, his cameo in The Flash would have likely been in archive footage, though this has been confirmed to have been cut.
