The Flash: Producer Barbara Muschietti confirms the film was never at risk of being canceled

The Flash producer Barbara Muschietti says the film was never in danger of being canceled despite Ezra Miller’s troubling behavior.

The Flash, Barbara Muschietti, Ezra Miller

Before Warner Bros. started pumping out promotional materials for The Flash faster than Barry Allen could circle the globe, there was talk about the film getting canceled because of drastic budget cuts and ongoing concerns about the film’s star, Ezra Miller. According to a new report from Entertainment Weekly, despite Miller’s rash of criminal activity and allegations related to the actor’s off-screen antics, The Flash was never on the chopping block.

Producer Barbara Muschietti told EW as much during a paired interview with her brother Andy. Asking if there was ever a legit fear of the film getting shelved, Barbara said, “Not at all. No. That was never real.”

This statement could shock some, as rumors loomed that The Flash could get canceled alongside projects like Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah’s Batgirl and Wonder Woman 3.

When asked about Miller’s recovery, Andy said he and Barbara are keeping in touch and feel optimistic about the actor’s recovery, saying, “We have a lot of empathy in general for people who need help, especially in mental health issues. That’s why they are taking the necessary steps to deal with their recovery, and we support them in that.”

In August, Miller, who uses they/them pronouns, said ongoing treatment is a part of the plan. Miller was arrested multiple times in Hawaii for various public disturbances and the grooming of a minor. Miller was also served a temporary restraining order for allegedly harassing a minor and accusations of exposing three children and their mother to guns in a Vermont farmhouse. Miller recently pleaded not guilty to felony burglary charges but pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful trespass. Miller is also wanted for questioning in the alleged choking of a woman in a bar in Iceland. The Iceland incident was caught on video.

“Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” Miller said. “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”

Are you surprised that The Flash was never in danger of getting shelved by WB despite Miller’s laundry list of crimes? Do you think Miller’s performance will make people forget about the actor’s transgressions? Does Miller’s behavior affect your enthusiasm for The Flash in any way? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.