Flash Film Fumbled? No, Just Old News.

Producer Charles Roven tells IGN that he’s off the long-delayed Flash movie…but we knew that already. Sites such as G4, Screen Rant, Mania, First Showing and MTV seem to think this means Warner Bros. has halted development…but I’ve been following news on this movie since it was announced 5 years ago, and I don’t think that’s the case.

Let’s look at Roven told IGN:

“I was involved at one point with The Flash,” said Roven. “And Warner Bros. came to me and said, ‘The work that you’ve been doing hasn’t yet resulted in something that any of us, including the filmmaking team, feel could be greenlit as a movie. We’re trying to accomplish something that takes into account the entire, rich DC character world, and we’d like to pull it back. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to be a part of it. We just want to take a different kind of approach. Do you mind if we try that?’ If we had something that was really working…”

He doesn’t say when the project was pulled back from him, or at least IGN doesn’t tell us.

And we knew a month ago that Roven had been taken off the project, when Warner Bros. announced the formation of DC Entertainment. Jeff Robinov, the architect behind last year’s Waner Bros/DC movie summit, was the one who “called [it] back” — and it was as a result of that summit that Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison and Marv Wolfman were brought in to help Warner Bros. develop DC characters for film.

I think we’re just finally hearing Charles Roven’s side of a change that happened months ago and paved the way for the Geoff Johns version of the film that DC announced in July.

Update: Screenwriter Dan Mazeau contacted IGN with a status update:

The Flash has not been hobbled. Everything is moving forward as planned….I’m still writing the script. Geoff Johns is still consulting. Flash fans have no cause for concern, and — IMO — lots to be excited about.

So, yeah, nothing new here.

Incredible Black Flash Custom Figure


Black Flash, originally uploaded by JD Hancock.

I found this incredible custom action figure of the Black Flash on Flickr. Photographer JD Hancock describes it like this:

This custom action figure stands about five inches high and was created by my wife many years ago based on the artwork of Pop Mhan. She modified an existing figure (the Tarantula), wrapped it like a mummy, and then painted and decorated it. My contribution was its teeth, made out of tiny bits of white paper clips.

Long Beach Comic-Con Report – 2009

My full write-up of Long Beach Comic Con is done! I looked at lots of art, caught some panels, got stuff signed by both Mark Waid and Geoff Johns, bought some books and prints, saw people in costumes, and did some sightseeing.

Here’s the coverage breakdown:

I had a great time at the con on Saturday, and will definitely go next year if they hold it again.

Tweeting Long Beach Comic-Con 2009

  • First view of the Long Beach convention center. I haven’t been here in ages.
    LBCC-View
  • Last time I was here, I don’t think there was a mall across the street!
    LBCC-Mall
  • Realized I’ve walked by the gold Boba Fett 4 or 5 times w/o stopping to take a photo. I am so jaded.
  • Flash news from DC Nation panel (in other post)
  • Mark Waid: if DC did an animated Flash feature, he would want Will Wheaton to voice Wally West.
  • Waid on appeal of superheroes: Nobody knows what it’s like to have super-speed, but everyone knows what it’s like to wish you were faster.
  • Waid on writing: find the method that works for you and embrace it. Don’t beat yourself up over what doesn’t.
  • Taking a break from the con to wander outside. Will head back for the Mark Waid signing at 2:30.
  • Primary goals achieved! Panels & signings by Mark Waid & Geoff Johns. Now an iced mocha, then back to the floor.

Update: Full write-up and photos are now online!

Wally West Gets Co-Feature – Flash News from Long Beach

I just got out of the DC nation panel at Long Beach Comic-Con. At the start, Geoff Johns announced that the new Barry Allen Flash series will be a 30-page book with a Wally West Flash co-feature (backup story) by Geoff Johns & Scott Kolins!

YES!!!

Other Flash news from the Question & Answer segment:

No current plans to reissue trades from Geoff Johns’ Wally run.

Both Captain Boomerangs will appear in Blackest Night. As will Rainbow Raider – or rather the “Black and White Raider.” And he’s “really upset about it.”

Wally will have his new costume in Blackest Night & the new backup stories.

The new speedster Geoff mentioned in San Diego will be female. I’m thinking maybe Iris’ link to the speed force kicks in?

Update: Newsarama’s and CBR’s articles are up, both of which include a bit I’d missed posting: One fan asked whether, with Flash and Kid Flash, Wally was going to be “medium Flash.” Geoff Johns pointed out that Jay Garrick is still called Flash…

Update 2: My full write-up and photos from the con are now online!

Back on Track and off to Long Beach!

Long Beach Comic ConThanks, everyone, for sticking around for reruns while I dealt with a busy month! I’m still busy, but things are a bit more under control, so I can get back to bringing you more new content!

I’ve got a few more flashback posts in reserve for the next time real life gets in the way of writing. Or I might start a “Flashback Fridays” or “Monday Memories” series.

Tomorrow I’m going to the first-ever Long Beach Comic Con. Among other things, I plan on attending the DC Nation panel, though I don’t expect there to be any big Flash news unless they’ve picked an artist for Kid Flash in the last week. Update: DC is planning to announce something big. I doubt it’ll be Flash-related, but who knows?

Keep an eye on this blog, on @SpeedForceOrg on Twitter, and my Flickr stream for reports and photos from the event!