10 DCU Theories The Flash Makes Impossible

Summary

• The Flash does not fully reboot the DCEU into the DCU, as the universe remains largely unchanged despite the film's time-traveling premise.
• The DCU cannot set up the Reverse Flash for future films, as the iconic villain does not appear in The Flash and it is unlikely that a DCEU version will ever be seen.
• The Flash's time-travel sequences, criticized for unconvincing CGI, will not return in future DCU films, with the Speed Force from the comics likely being used instead.

The multiversal and time-traveling premise of 2023’s The Flash meant that there were many theories as to how it might change the DC Extended Universe and the DC Universe. Ultimately, the film debunked 10 particular theories and, for better or worse, only raised more questions regarding the future DCU. Despite this, The Flash stands on its own as an exciting DC movie adaptation that attempted to honor decades of DC movie history within the DCEU movie timeline.
The Flash is a loose adaptation of the 2011 comic storyline Flashpoint. Like Flashpoint, The Flash sees Barry Allen, its titular hero, traveling back in time to prevent his mother’s tragic murder, only for his meddling to create a new and doomed timeline, allowing The Flash cast to take from other pre-existing superhero movies. In the case of the DCEU, though, this sees all metahumans rendered nonexistent, dead, or otherwise unable to protect the Earth from General Zod. Barry Allen is forced to restore the timeline to its original (or at least a close enough approximation) incarnation, leading to a number of theorized ways that the post-The Flash timeline might be different. Here are 10 theories that The Flash proves false.