Ever since Warner Bros. shifted the schedules for their DCEU slate, things for The Flash starring Ezra Miller did not look good. Things got progressively worse for the film as Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies author Seth Grahame-Smith and Dope director Rick Famuyiwa left the project over creative differences. With the film unable to make its rumored January start date, the studio has been forced to do an overhaul of the script with Joby Harold doing the rewrites.

More on the story below.

Variety is reporting that Harold will be doing page one rewrites. In layman’s terms, Warner Bros. is bringing in a new writer to do an entirely new draft. Meaning Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s (The LEGO Movie, Han Solo spinoff) original draft might be scrapped. And new details are emerging as to why Famuyiwa left the film. According to reports, executives had disagreements with the direction of his script. Grahame-Smith wrote a draft as well.

This isn’t the first time that Harold has written a script for WB. The writer penned King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword, the new Robin Hood film, and a new version of The Twilight Zone.

WB provided no comments on the news, but the recent hire signifies that The Flash is a high priority for the studio. With no director at the helm, it is very unlikely that the film will make its January start date, and even less likely to make its March 2018 release.

The film also stars Kiersey Clemons (Neighbors 2, Dope) as Iris West, and Billy Crudup as Barry Allen’s father. No word yet on if the delay will have an effect on any of the cast’s schedules.

Delays for any film can be problematic, but they can also be beneficial. It gives the studio more time to figure out which director can best visualize the story and continue to expand the DCEU. The success of the Flash TV show and the fan reaction to Miller as the Scarlet Speedster proves that the hero can hold a movie on his own.

We only got a small glimpse of Flash from cameo appearances in both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. But his biggest role in the DCEU, aside from his own film, will be in the upcoming Justice League, where he will defend the earth side-by-side with fellow DC heroes Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Cyborg. No doubt, Harold will have to take a look at Justice League to see how Flash’s role in the ensemble film could have an impact on the standalone film.

It should be interesting to see what will come out of these rewrites, and how long Harold will be rewriting the script. But don’t expect him to be spending too much time on it. WB can only delay the film for so long. No word yet on if the studio will stick to their July 27, 2018 release, but with no director and a sudden script overhaul, don’t be surprised to see The Flash be pushed back to a later date.

[Source: Variety]