The Flash’s extensive cameos notably didn’t include Grant Gustin’s Arrowverse iteration of Barry Allen – which makes one cameo controversy way worse.

One cameo in The Flash makes the decision to not include an appearance from Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen even worse. DC’s newest movie has a somewhat complicated reputation among audiences, to say the least. The Flash has simultaneously been lauded by many critics, and yet also has received a considerable amount of criticism, which is largely based around the way it adapted the Flashpoint comic, the somewhat jarring VFX used throughout the plot, and the questionable cameo decisions made in the final act of the movie.

The Flash includes a wide range of cameos within its multiversal plot, so the decision to not include Grant Gustin’s Flash drew confusion from audiences acquainted with the Arrowverse iteration of the hero. This was partially because leaving one of the most recognizable Flash actors for the past decade out felt like a snub to many, but also because instead of Gustin’s Barry, The Flash cameos included a “generic Golden Age Flash“, which felt odd when every other cameo features actors who were previously associated with a superhero role. The decision to use a generic Flash also accidentally served to make one movie controversy all the more potent.

The Flash’s “Generic” Jay Garrick Cameo Makes Its Controversial Cameos Worse

The Flash featuring cameos from Christopher Reeves and George Reeves using deepfake technology and CGI is all the more controversial when the decision to include a “generic” Jay Garrick makes it clear this avenue could have also been used instead of digitally recreating deceased actors. This is especially true given the respective circumstances of both individuals, as Christopher Reeves stated in interview that he wouldn’t wish to reprise his role as Superman unless he personally believed in a project, and George Reeves’ career as Superman has been speculated to have played a role in his death by suicide due to the difficulty he faced getting other roles after playing the superhero.

While the Superman cameos were likely picked for their historical significance, picking cameo recreations of actors who evidence suggests may not have wanted to appear in the movie were they able to choose so was always set to alienate the very fans who loved both Superman roles. Instead, The Flash could have used Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen as their big cameo appearance, as this would’ve avoided the controversy while also appealing to the not inconsiderable Arrowverse fanbase.

Why The Flash Didn’t Include A Cameo From Another Franchise’s Flash

Notably, the explanation for Gran Gustin not appearing in The Flash was later revealed to be because the studio “had to pick” from a selection of possible cameos, and Gustin’s Barry Allen didn’t make the cut. Indeed, despite Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse showing how possible and potent multimedia multiverse cameos can be, The Flash doesn’t include cameos from any other franchise’s version of the Scarlet Speedster, including the selection of animated iterations of the Flash also available.

This decision does make sense, as it allows the movie to more intently focus on the two versions of Barry Allen who star in The Flash. However, it also limits the ability of the plot to show how important the superhero truly is, as the big multiverse reveal scenes instead show a range of versions of Superman and Batman, with the use of one generic alternate version of Flash almost suggesting the movie’s titular hero isn’t as important. As such, The Flash would’ve benefited from including Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen into the mix, if only to show the real world history and potency of this particular superhero role.

Source: screenrant.com