Unlike Marvel and their shared media universe, DC has opted to keep the company's movie and TV universes separate, primarily so that each project isn’t hindered creatively. The downside to this approach is that there isn’t as much synergetic collaboration between the two departments, which was primarily demonstrated when DC announced their cinematic universe plans last month. Arrow star Stephen Amell has a particular issue with the movie side of things.
While he relishes being a part of the DC TV universe, Amell expressed his frustration on this week’s Arrow After Talk about how last month’s announcement of DC’s movie slate was handled, specifically that it was the day after the second Flash aired. Here were his thoughts:
“I thought that the way that Warner Bros. announced the slate of DC movies could have been handled better. And I think someone like Grant Gustin, who has just launched an iconic character like the Flash to record-breaking numbers, numbers that far-surpassed Arrow’s numbers, he should have been given a wider berth than two episodes before another actor was announced to play his character."
He also pointed out that the reaction to the second episode of a series is more important than the pilot because it indicates how many people enjoyed the debut and will be sticking around. By scheduling their movie news the day after Flash aired, it drew attention away from those crucial ratings. He says Gustin deserves better.
"All that being said, that’s because I’m protective of Grant, and that’s because I think that producing 23 episodes of superhero television is more difficult than producing a feature film, and it’s 23 episodes again, and again, and again.”
Among the big DC news that day was the casting of Ezra Miller as Flash in the titular character’s 2018 film. Gustin barely got two weeks under his belt as the Flash before he was overshadowed by the actor who would be playing the Scarlet Speedster on the big screen. By the time the movies comes out (and assuming the show is still on), The Flash will be in its fourth or fifth season, so many people will be well-acquainted with Gustin as the character by the time Miller debuts. While Gustin on the big screen is not to be, it wouldn’t have hurt Warner Bros. and DC to hold the announcement for another date, especially if they took the time to make an event out of it like Marvel did with their Phase 3 lineup.
Despite his irritation with the timing, Amell did state that he was excited with how DC will be introducing the Justice League on the big screen over five to six years, and said he’s spoke to DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns about the upcoming plans. At the end of the day, DC is a comic book company that enjoys crossing over characters from multiple universes, especially though their Crisis events, so there’s always the possibility that one day, we may see two different Flashes running side-by-side and two different Green Arrows drawing their bows.
