The multiverse seems to be a hot topic for cinematic universes. Starting with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, whose storyline has been continuing the ‘Multiverse Saga’, the DCEU introduced the concept in the recent Ezra Miller starrer The Flash. The film also starred actor Ben Affleck and Micheal Keaton as two Batmen in the multiverse storyline.
The DCEU as we know it, has ended, and the franchise will receive a soft reboot with the upcoming DCU announced by DC Studio heads James Gunn and Pete Safran. However, reports of an early ending for The Flash indicate the future of the characters played by Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill, if the DCEU still existed. Read the following with caution, as there will be spoilers for the DCEU.
Ben Affleck’s On-And-Off Relationship With The DCEU
Before Ben Affleck made his final appearance as Bruce Wayne in The Flash, he had announced his retirement from the role multiple times. Cast as the Caped Crusader in 2013, the actor received a lot of flack for the decision as he was plagued by his earlier superhero appearance in Daredevil. While his depiction in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was polarizing, he donned the cowl again in Justice League and was set to direct and star in a solo Batman film as part of the DCEU.
After the highly publicized troubled production of Justice League, Affleck had second thoughts about directing his Batman film and announced that he would be stepping down as the director. At the same time, the DCEU was also in trouble due to mismanagement and lack of a long-term vision. The shared universe was a mess, and it became apparent with its fluctuating box office success.
After the Snyder-Cut debacle as well as his own addiction issues, Affleck finally said goodbye to the role. The Batman was directed by Matt Reeves and was positioned as an ‘Elseworld’ story separate from the DCEU and starred Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne.
Ben Affleck Finally Exits The DCEU
After filming a short scene in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Ben Affleck was set to reprise the role as Batman in The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The former was also plagued by production delays, director exits, and most importantly management changes. After IT director Andy Muschetti came on board as the director, it was also announced that actor Micheal Keaton would reprise his role as Bruce Wayne from the Tim Burton series of Batman films.
Fans were excited that there would be multiple Batmen in The Flash, which would also be an adaptation of the beloved comic book ‘The Flashpoint Paradox’. After Henry Cavill’s appearance as Superman in Black Adam, fans were even more excited to see the original Justice League back together.
However, these appearances ultimately proved to be pointless as Warner Brothers Discovery announced that they would be soft-rebooting the DCEU, nominating James Gunn and Peter Safran as the heads of the newly established DC Studios. The duo revealed that many heroes would be recast in the DCU.
What Was The Alternative Ending Of The Flash?
While the ending of The Flash effectively put an end to any future appearances from Ben Affleck, and the cameo in the Aquaman sequel seems to be cut, new reports emerged on what the original plan was with the character. According to a leak from X user (formerly known as Twitter) Viewer Anon, the original ending of The Flash featured both Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill. The user reported,
“Barry returns home and all of his monitors start flashing. Affleck appears on all screens wearing the suit but no cowl. He doesn’t know if this message will find Barry but if it does they need his help. ‘You have to find us, Barry! Find us!’ Ends with Barry saying ‘Oh, fu-‘”
This ending indicated that Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen had ended up in the wrong universe after the events of The Flash, and would have set up another multiversal adventure. Reports also suggested that WB was planning on a ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ storyline. The multiverse story would not only be a direct competition to the MCU’s ‘Multiverse Saga’, but also would act as a partial reset to the DCEU while retaining actors like Affleck and Cavill for special appearances. However, the plan stands canceled after the emergence of James Gunn’s DCU.
Source: Viewer Anon
