James Gunn Responds to Stephen King’s Review of The Flash, Following His Early Advanced Screening of the Upcoming Film

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Image: Warner Bros.

James Gunn responded to an overwhelmingly positive review on social media from famed author Stephen King. The Flash has had a very bumpy road to its forthcoming June 16 release with delays related to the pandemic, dramas with its lead actor Ezra Miller, and not to mention a hefty shakeup at DC/Warner Bros. after David Zaslav took over, who recently made James Gunn the CEO of DC Studios. There were times when fans wondered if the film, which has regularly had rumors of many cameos of past DC characters, would still see the light of day. It appears that all is well with it and it is enjoying a swath of positive reviews from those lucky enough to get an advanced screening.

Screen Rant reports that other celebrities have been giving the film praise as well, including, none other than Tom Cruise (via THR). While finding time between Top Gun: Maverick and the next Mission Impossible movie, the star had so much interest in the film following a meeting with David Zaslav, who had also been hailing the movie as being great, that he was said to ask for his own private screening. Mr. Zaslav was all too happy to oblige and sent an employee with a copy to Mr. Cruise’s Beverly Hills home and stayed while the star watched it and then returned it to the studio. Afterward, Mr. Cruise reportedly called up the film’s director, Andy Muschietti, to give him praise.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

“Cruise was so taken by what he saw that soon after, he reached out to Muschietti. It was a call out of the blue for the director. Cruise is said to have raved about the movie, saying something to the effect that Flash is “everything you want in a movie” and “this is the kind of movie we need now,” according to insiders.”

James Gunn has also previously had good things to say about The Flash. Towards the beginning of 2023, he stated that it will reset everything for DCU.

Description (via official site):

Warner Bros. Pictures presents “The Flash,” directed by Andy Muschietti (the “IT” films, “Mama”). Ezra Miller reprises their role as Barry Allen in the DC Super Hero’s first-ever standalone feature film.

Worlds collide in “The Flash” when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

“The Flash” ensemble also includes rising star Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon (“Bullet Train,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”), Ron Livingston (“Loudermilk,” “The Conjuring”), Maribel Verdú (“Elite,” “Y tu mamá también”), Kiersey Clemons (“Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” “Sweetheart”), Antje Traue (“King of Ravens,” “Man of Steel”) and Michael Keaton (“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Batman”).

“The Flash” is produced by Barbara Muschietti (the “IT” films, “Mama”) and Michael Disco (“Rampage,” “San Andreas”). The screenplay is by Christina Hodson (“Birds of Prey,” “Bumblebee”), with a screen story by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming”) and Joby Harold (“Transformers:Rise of the Beasts,” “Army of the Dead”), based on characters from DC. The executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Marianne Jenkins.

Joining director Muschietti behind the camera are director of photography Henry Braham (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “The Suicide Squad”), production designer Paul Denham Austerberry (“IT Chapter Two,” “The Shape of Water”), editors Jason Ballantine (the “IT” films, “The Great Gatsby”) and Paul Machliss (“The Gentlemen,” “Baby Driver”), and costume designer Alexandra Byrne (“Doctor Strange,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”); the score is by Benjamin Wallfisch (“The Invisible Man,” the “IT” films).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Double Dream/a Disco Factory production of an Andy Muschietti film, “The Flash.” It will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to open in theaters in North America on June 16, 2023 and internationally beginning 14 June 2023.

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Peter Brosdahl
As a child of the 70’s I was part of the many who became enthralled by the video arcade invasion of the 1980’s. Saving money from various odd jobs I purchased my first computer from a friend of my dad, a used Atari 400, around 1982. Eventually it would end up being a lifelong passion of upgrading and modifying equipment that, of course, led into a career in IT support.

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