‘The Flash’ to Screen for the First Time at CinemaCon 2023 (EXCLUSIVE)
“The Flash” is set to blaze through CinemaCon 2023, where Warner Bros. Pictures will screen the superhero blockbuster during the annual convention for movie theater owners in April.
Showing the film in this capacity is yet another sign of Warner Bros.’ passionate support of the project, one that has been saddled with controversy due to trouble surrounding star Ezra Miller. It’ll be the first full screening of “The Flash,” which opens in theaters on June 16.
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CinemaCon Las Vegas will take place from April 24th through April 27th. Major studios typically bring sizzle reels, first-look trailers and trot out celebrities at the yearly gathering, which is designed to get exhibitors pumped about the movies they’ll put on their screens in the coming year.
This crowd is full of theater managers and cineplex honchos looking to get to know Hollywood insiders. Last year, Paramount devoted its hours-long presentation to the first full showing of Tom Cruise’s blockbuster sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” which played like gangbusters to the room of cinema owners before becoming a box office sensation.
Warner Bros. is expected to still bring a formal presentation to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, so “The Flash” is scheduled to play in the late afternoon on April 25 after the studio teases its upcoming film slate.
Warner Bros. didn’t respond to Variety’s Request for Comment
“The Flash” is a remnant of a former DC Films regime, but internal reception is apparently so strong that it has the full-throated support of new studio leaders James Gunn and Peter Safran. Gunn recently referred to the film as “one of the greatest superhero movies ever made,” noting Miller’s path forward as the Scarlet Speedster would be based entirely on their recovery from ongoing emotional issues.
“Ezra is completely committed to their recovery,” Safran said It was at that time. “And we are fully supportive of that journey that they’re on right now.”
Miller has been accused of exhibiting troubling behavior in recent years. This has resulted in legal problems and accusations of assault and abuse. The actor pleaded guilty in mid-January to unlawful trespassing during a Vermont burglary case. They could face up to one year’s probation and must pay a $500 fine. Miller was also caught on camera engaging in aggressive acts against Hawaii police officers. He appeared to choke a Icelandic fan in a bar in 2020.
Miller, who is non-binary and uses the they/them pronouns has described mental health problems and addressed concerns regarding their behavior.
“Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” Miller said over the summer. “I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.”
Andy Muschietti directed “The Flash,” which also stars Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton (both returning as their respective Batmans), Kiersey Clemmons, and Michael Shannon.
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