After five years of critical and financial success from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC launched its own live-action set of stories in 2013 with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. The director was originally slated to helm a multi-film Justice League story, although an unfortunate series of events led to Snyder's departure from the superhero world.
Since the controversial Justice League debacle, Warner Bros. has struggled to replicate the connectivity the MCU is known for. The studio will release its biggest team-up since 2017's Justice League this year with The Flash featuring Ezra Miller's Scarlet Speedster, Sasha Calle's Supergirl, and both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck's versions of Batman.
With the Multiversal blockbuster slated to adapt the famous "Flashpoint" comic arc, the speedster epic will be critical to setting the course of the DC franchise moving forward. Although, based on recent reports, it seems that may also mean saying goodbye to the Snyderverse forever.
The Flash Rumored to Decanonize the Snyderverse
In a recent Tweet, popular insider MyTimeToShineHello revealed The Flash will decanonize Zack Snyder's DC movies - including Man of Steel, Batman V Superman, and Justice League - by erasing them from the continuity.
The insider went on to claim both Ben Affleck's Batman and Henry Cavill's Superman are leaving the DCEU as Sasha Calle's Supergirl and Leslie Grace's Batgirl fill in their heroic roles.
MyTimeToShineHello's claims were corroborated by reputable source KC Walsh from The GWW, adding further credence to the report.
Is Restore the SnyderVerse Dead?
After Warner Bros. finally pulled the trigger and released Zack Snyder's Justice League on HBO Max, many hoped the director would soon be returning to the DCEU to continue his vision in the long term. However, the recent leak seems to mark the end of the "Restore the Snyderverse" movement that recently attracted viral attention.
With The Flash taking inspiration from the "Flashpoint" comic arc - which rebooted the DC universe and kickstarted the New 52 era - it isn't surprising to hear the Multiversal blockbuster will do the same for the live-action franchise.
Zack Snyder's corner of the DC universe has proven to be a controversial topic among fans ever since it began with Man of Steel. But with the director's newly-released cut of Justice League ending on such a dramatic cliffhanger, it's certainly a shame to hear the story will never be resolved.
Additionally, many will be disappointed to hear Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill are almost certainly departing their roles as Batman and Superman. As Affleck will be making an appearance in The Flash, it appears the speedster-centric outing will also serve as his swansong to the role.
Using Supergirl and Batgirl as replacements for the World's Finest duo almost certainly won't go down well with all fans as the franchise abandons its most iconic characters. Thankfully, the fandom will still get its fill of both on the big-screen as Robert Pattinson's The Batman and J.J Abrams' Superman project introduce new versions of the Justice League heroes in alternate universes.
The Flash hits theaters on November 4, 2022.
