The Flash Director Andy Muschietti Says It Failed Because 'A Lot of People Just Don’t Care About the Flash as a Character'

Director Andy Muschietti attributes the box office failure of his DC Extended Universe film, "The Flash," to a lack of broad appeal. Speaking to Radio Tu, and as reported by Variety, Muschietti stated the film didn't sufficiently attract "the four quadrants" – a term referring to the key demographic groups in the film industry (males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25). He emphasized that a $200 million budget necessitates widespread audience engagement, a goal "The Flash" failed to achieve.

"The Flash failed, among other reasons, because it didn't appeal to all four quadrants," Muschietti explained. "When you spend $200 million, Warner Bros. wants to fill theaters with everyone, including your grandmother." He further revealed that conversations indicated a significant portion of the audience, particularly women, lacked interest in the Flash character. This, he suggests, created significant headwinds for the film.

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Muschietti acknowledged other contributing factors to the film's underperformance, including negative critical reception, controversy surrounding its CGI, particularly the recreation of deceased actors, and its release within a now-dismantled cinematic universe.

Despite "The Flash's" commercial struggles, Muschietti remains a key figure in DC's plans. He's reportedly slated to direct "The Brave and the Bold," the inaugural Batman film within James Gunn and Peter Safran's revamped DC Universe.