The Flash

Probably because no-one has gone to Warner and said "I want to do a Flash movie". Flash is sort of a second-tier character, so probably isn't the priority that Superman and Batman are. The TV series, while well-done, wasn't exactly a breakout hit, either.

It's the difference in set-up between Marvel and DC. DC is pretty much an open shop, sort of a breeding ground for Warner Brothers, whereas Marvel has Avi Arad not only overseeing production, but getting out and selling movie producers on characters (and probably pointing them to Iron Man when they find out The Hulk isn't available). I honestly don't think DC has anyone on-board to reach out to the film and TV industry the way Marvel and CrossGen do.

Yah, Marvel is really storming the marketplace, now. A decade ago I was sad because there were only a couple high profile comic book movies and some horrid DTV crap and of the latter, it was Marvel all the way (Dolph, we hardly knew ye...thankfully). Today, you can't go to a movie theatre without being hit on the head with comic book movies (or comic book inspired movies like next year's hopeful hit "The Incredibles"). And Marvel is leading the way! DC had the steam with the Bat movies but could never capitalize on them, especially with the last two. Their failure doomed future DC products, it seems. DC has Paul Dini and hasn't he proposed some live action version of Batman Beyond? Doesn't look line anyone did it, though. He and Tim whasisname did what I still think is the best comic-to-screen adapations with their animated series of Batman and even some of Superman. Sheesh...lots of talent there and seemingly no respect for it. Oh well. They need their Avi Arad!

As for The Flash, he isn't nearly as compelling a character for a film. Even the comics have been mostly about his little corner of the world, the speedster only club. Kind of an inbred cult of speed that doesn't seem to have much play with the other characters as much as, say, Batman and Supes. Supes and Wonder Woman, etc. I think an adaptation of Kevin Smith's "Quiver" storyline for Green Arrow would be a good flick. Green Arrow, while "second tier" as well (no more than Marvel's Daredevil, really) is still a compelling character that could work well on the screen.

I am really confused as to why DC/Warner has been sitting out the superhero boom of late. Marvel has them still lined up (Iron Man, really? Punisher, Ghost Rider (talk about second tier), Electra, more X-Men, Spidey 2, etc.) and lesser known to the mainstream comic hits like League of Extraordinary Gents and Hellboy. I know they don't have one guy there to JUST get movies made, but you would think some suits would be able to kickstart something.


Phil

I want a Green Lantern movie.

ps-I miss the Flash show

But who? Would it be someone at DC Comics, or someone at Warner Brothers?

There's also not quite the impetus to get deals made. Marvel owns Toy Biz, and movies sell a lot of toys as well as bringing in a lot of cash themselves - they clearly stand to benefit from a hit movie. But DC wouldn't really see a big spike in earnings from a big, successful movie - the toy revenue would go to Warner Licencing, ticket sales to Warner Brothers Distribution, etc. So it's not really in their interest to persue it (strangely enough, a popular movie/TV show doesn't seem to help comic sales that much).

It might happen more if DC was owned by another studio, but they're owned by Warner Brothers, and Warner is really a star-based studio. So not only do these projects get expensive fast, but they get a ton of people attached to them that keep pushing the project in different directions. The result is that things go through development slowly, and projects get axed because they start to look like a hole nobody will ever crawl out of.

Probably the DC character with the best prognosis is Captain Marvel/Shazam!, and that's because it's over at New Line, which is probably an easier place to get stuff done. They've also hired William Goldman to write the screenplay, and it's coming together the way... Well, the way a Marvel film comes together: Hire good talent that's also a fan of the material, don't worry about getting a big star when casting (because the character itself will open the movie), etc.

Of course, if Shazam! is successful, Warner will probalby learn the wrong lesson and make sure that WB, and not New Line, gets a lot of DC movies, as opposed to trying to copy Marvel's process.

Re: The Flash

With movement on "Green Lantern" and the 'Superman' reboot, looks like WB is also (finally) prepping a big screen version of "The Flash". Read on...

And ‘The Flash’ Might Be… Neil Patrick Harris? - Screen Rant

Ready for a wild rumor? How about Neil Patrick Harris being pursued to play DC comic book superhero The Flash? The last we had heard, Ryan Reynolds was in the running (get it?) for the role, but with the upcoming Wolverine movie it seems like his superhero destiny may be tied up as Deadpool.

But this, if true, is pretty much out of left field.

The Flash has been on again, off again and now on again with the recent addition of a screenwriter. We first mentioned it back in 2004 when David Goyer was supposedly going to write the script (he went on to write a little movie you may have heard of: The Dark Knight). Then there was nothing heard for three years until the announcement that Goyer was not writing the movie, but that Shawn Levy was attached to direct, then comedy director David Dobkin. That news quietly faded away and nothing was heard until earlier this month, when word surfaced that Dan Mazeau was attached to write the screenplay.

Now comes possible “insider” news that Neil Patrick Harris and possibly Scott Porter (according to ThinkMcFlyThink.com) are being looked at to play the Scarlet Speedster. Scott played the young Rex Racer in Speed Racer and has a recurring role on Friday Night Lights.

And of course who doesn’t know who Neil Patrick Harris is? For a 35 year old guy, he seems like he’s been around forever… starting out years ago as Doogie Howser, M.D. and then appearing in Starship Troopers (yes, he was in that). After that he bounced around doing one-shot appearances in TV episodes and a lot of cartoon voiceover work including Justice League and Spider-Man.

But what brought him back into popularity was his wild character in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, which led to a leading role on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Finally, most recently he played a supervillain in the cult hit Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.

Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see if this pans out - no doubt he could pull it off if he buffed up and I think he’s got the acting chops to do it.

Again, keep in mind this is FAR from confirmed - but what do you think about the possibility of Neil Patrick Harris as The Flash?

Re: The Flash

You know I think he would fit nicely for the part. I like him.

Re: The Flash

I like NPH. But, not for the Flash.