‘The Flash’ Director Won’t Recast Ezra Miller in a Potential Sequel: No One ‘Can Play That Character as Well as They Did’

Ezra Miller will continue being the Flash as long as director Andy Muschietti is involved in the Warner Bros. superhero franchise. During an interview on The Discourse podcast, Muschietti said he has no plans to recast Miller despite the actors history of legal troubles and alleged abuse.

If [a sequel] happens, yes, Muschietti said about having Miller back as the Flash. I dont think theres anyone that can play that character as well as they did. The other depictions of the character are great, but this particular vision of the character, they just excelled in doing it. And, as you said, the two Barrys it feels like a character that was made for them.

The Flash producer Barbara Muschietti added, In principal photography, Ezra was brilliant and the most committed and the most professional [actor]. Ezra gave everything for this role physically, creatively, emotionally. They were absolutely supreme.

Miller was cited in Vermontwith felony burglarylast year. In 2020, the actor made headlines after a recording surfaced in which they appeared to bechoking a womanoutside of a bar in Iceland. No charges were filed. The actor was also arrested twice in Hawaii in 2022, once for disorderly conduct and harassment. In the Hawaii incidents, Miller pled no contest to a single count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and paid a $500 fine and $30 in court costs. The harassment charge was dismissed.

Varietyexclusively reported last Augustthat Miller was seeking treatment for complex mental health issues after going through a time of intense crisis.

I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior, Miller said in a statement at the time. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.

Given that Muschiettis The Flash was developed and filmed under the previous leadership at DC Studios, its unclear whether or not the Miller-starring tentpole will get a sequel or not (surely big box office grosses will help). James Gunn and Peter Safran are now in charge of DC Studios, but their first slate announcement did not include any word on a second go-around for Millers the Flash. Gunn has alreadyhyped the filmby calling it one of the greatest superhero movies ever made, while Safran has said that Millers future as the Flash depends on their continued recovery.

Ezra is completely committed to their recovery, Safran said in January. And we are fully supportive of that journey that theyre on right now. When the time is right, when they feel like theyre ready to have the discussion, well all figure out what the best path forward is. But right now, they are completely focused on their recovery. And in our conversations with them over the last couple of months, it feels like theyre making enormous progress.

Warner Bros. unveiled The Flash in its entirety at CinemaCon in April. The tentpole earnedstrong first reactionsfrom journalists in attendance. Andy Muschietti told press at the event, Ezra is well now. Were all hoping that they get betterTheyre taking the steps to recovery. Theyre dealing with mental health issues, but theyre well. We talked to them not too long ago, and theyre very committed to getting better.

The Flash production designer Paul Austerberrysaid earlier this month that most moviegoers would forget Millers history by the time the movie opened, thus it wouldnt be a concern for the movies opening.

The Flash opens in theaters nationwide June 16 from Warner Bros.