Summary

• The Flash movie features a unique and diverse cast, including multiple versions of Batman portrayed by Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, and George Clooney.
• The return of Michael Keaton's Batman was highly anticipated, but his character meets a tragic end, emphasizing the inability to save everyone.
• Gal Gadot's appearance as Wonder Woman is one of her final portrayals in the DCEU, as the franchise moves away from the Justice League.

the overall DCEU timeline, to say the least, its status also makes aspects like its cast all the more noteworthy.

The Flash's cast is perhaps the most unique aspect of the film, as its multiversal plot means it's able to do things like have three different versions of Batman in one installment. Indeed, the movie is essentially a love letter to the superhero universe as it formerly was known, featuring final performances from big actors like Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot. However, some casting decisions were regarded with less excitement and more scorn, especially as the movie made the controversial decision to posthumously recreate some big DC actors from history, generating conversations about the moral implications such a move had.

Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen/The Flash

Barry Allen (the titular Flash) is the focal point of the movie, and The Flash brings in two versions of the character, both played by Ezra Miller. When the main Barry Allen goes back in time to alter history to save his mother - who was murdered when he was a child - he ends up distorting the timeline and then accidentally meeting a younger version of himself, who he promptly recruits to help to get to the bottom of things. That said, the younger Barry doesn't have the same mindset as his older counterpart due to their differing upbringings, placing them into some considerable conflict in the film.

Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne/Batman

One of the consequences of Barry’s time travel is the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman — and this version of Bruce Wayne was inarguably one of the most anticipated DC characters in The Flash movie, with his movie ending lamented by those who hoped he could be becoming the DCU Dark Knight. As it stands, Keaton's Wayne had put down the cape for many years when the two versions of Barry Allen meet him, and comes out of retirement to help his unusual allies. Sadly, this doesn't end well for the character, as his death is then used to explain to the main Flash that he can't save everyone.

Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne/Batman

While Keaton's return was a key talking point surrounding The Flash movie cast, he's not the only Batman in the film, as Ben Affleck’s Batman returns for what appears to be the last time. Affleck's Batman is shown first in a high-speed chase he recruits Barry to help with, but then takes on a more emotional role as he warns Barry against messing with the timeline, with his monologue about his past and how he wouldn't change it receiving much praise despite being a relatively small part of the overall movie.

George Clooney's Bruce Wayne/Batman

There were a lot of theories about how The Flash's ending would conclude, but few guessed it would close out with Barry Allen's attempts to right the multiverse meaning that George Clooney would exist in the universe as Batman instead of Michael Keaton or Ben Affleck. In fact, Clooney's Batman ending was one of three possible endings considered throughout the movie's production process, eventually being chosen as the definitive option. While the moment certainly proves both surprising and amusing, it's also one that generated some considerable confusion in audiences, as it initially suggested Clooney might be the future DCU Batman - though this was later reported to not be the case.

Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman

Gal Gadot appears as Wonder Woman towards the start of The Flash, in what now appears to be her final performance in the role given the DCU will reportedly contain no hero castings from Justice League. After Affleck's Batman and the Flash chase down a criminal, Wonder Woman comes in to save the day, establishing the general dynamic among the superhero team when not having to face off against imaginably powerful enemies. As such, it's quite a casual appearance, providing one final look at the hero before the DCEU concludes.

Henry Cavill's Superman

Perhaps the most surprising cameo was one that technically didn't even fully happen, as Henry Cavill's Superman is recreated twice in The Flash. Initially, the back of Superman can be seen on a report showing him protecting the world - justifying his absence from the hero trio team up at the start of the movie. Later, Superman is shown in Speed Force scenes, which recreate Cavill's likeness to a questionable degree, raising some criticisms about the special effects in the film.

Jason Momoa's Aquaman

The final Justice League hero appearance comes in The Flash's post-credits, and see Barry Allen desperately attempting to explain his adventures to an intoxicated Aquaman, who instead chooses to lie down to sleep in a puddle. This sequence suggested Momoa might be continuing as Aquaman in the future of the franchise, but this has since been challenged, with it instead appearing the actor may play Lobo in the DCU going forward.

Temuera Morrison's Thomas Curry

Aquaman's father also reprises his role in The Flash. When Barry Allen is trying to find other heroes who still exist in the altered universe, he calls up Thomas Curry to try and find his son. The elder Curry reveals there is still an Arthur Curry in this universe, but it's not his son, and instead the name he gave his dog, providing some suitable levity to balance the fact that it's slowly revealed all of DC's movie heroes have ceased to exist in this new world.

Jeremy Irons' Alfred Pennyworth

Jeremy Iron also reprises his role as the iconic Alfred Pennyworth in The Flash, assisting Batman in fighting crime and providing a final glimpse of the character before the franchise reset. Given this is Affleck's last appearance as the Dark Knight, it's also fitting that Irons' Pennyworth appears alongside him, cementing the bond between the hero and his most trusted ally.

Ron Livingston's Henry Allen

Ron Livingston plays Barry's father, Henry Allen, and replaced Billy Crudup, who had to depart due to scheduling conflicts. Crudup was cast as Barry’s remaining parent figure, framed for the murder of his wife. He had been in prison for years. Crudup first appeared in 2017's Justice League. Despite it being given that he’d appear in The Flash movie, it was reported the actor was in negotiations to reprise the role before he had to drop out altogether. While Crudup had to leave, Livingston remains a solid choice to take his place, and provides the emotional core of the movie as he attempts to take care of his son despite being incarcerated.