As Warner Bros. gears up for the release ofThe Flash, one question remains: where is Ezra Miller? With just 11 days to go for its theatrical premiere, the studio has opted for an unusual rollout for a film of such caliber. With a minimal press tour and little-to-no promotion from Miller, Warner Bros. is actively trying to move the conversation away from the actor’s troubled past and focus the media’s attention on the movie itself.
Since April 2022, Miller has been involved in multiple controversies and legal troubles, including unlawful trespassing, being arrested in Hawaii for public disturbances, and being served a restraining order for harassing a minor. In response to these incidents, and the subsequent public discourse surrounding them, the actor (who uses they/them pronouns) have cited their mental health struggles as the primary reason for these events. Since then, questions about the future ofThe Flashhave risen. Rumors about a potential recasting of the titular role for sequels and other DC Universe films recently gained strength. However,director Andy Muschietti denied themand even discussed how he does not think “anyone else can play the character as well as [Miller] did.”
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Now, as the premiere date forThe Flashapproaches, Miller’s absence has been notorious. A film with a $220 million budget can typically expect an extensive press tour across different forms of media. But so far, the actor has made no public appearances to promote the upcoming film and is only scheduled to make a low-profile appearance at the Los Angeles premiere on June 12, only posing for photos rather than engaging in interviews with multiple reporters and news outlets, as is customary. “Ezra wants the movie to open and the conversation to be about the movie and not about Ezra,” a source close to Miller explained toVariety. “They are focused on their mental health and don’t want it to be transactional.” Similarly, Miller’s co-stars, Ben Affleck, Sascha Calle, andMichael Shannon will hit the red carpetbut skip the press portion of the upcoming Los Angeles premiere. Warners Bros. will also host furtherThe Flashscreenings, without Miller, in key cities like London, Miami, and Toronto.
Despite the connection betweenThe Flash’s unusual release and the actor’s past, sources familiar with the feature’s history believe that the rollout has little to do with Miller and is more closely related to the studio trying to keep the ending under wraps. This is because the version screened during CinemaCon this past April ended abruptly, with large chunks of the final scenes omitted. Likewise, this week’s screening at Burbank lot showed the film’s final scene intact but with key elements being blurred out. The studio has also been trying to make up for the lack of press from its actors byshowcasingThe Flashtrailer in a heavy rotationduring the NBA and NHL playoffs.
The question is whether the studios' attempts at downplaying its protagonist’s actions will be enough to secure a top position at the box office. It is estimated thatThe Flashwill hit the $70 million markon its opening weekend, higher than 2018’sAquaman, which eventually earned $1.5 billion worldwide.
