Director Andy Muschietti has openly discussed the reasons behind the box office failure of his DC Extended Universe film, "The Flash." In an interview with Radio Tu, translated by Variety, Muschietti pointed out that a significant factor was the lack of broad appeal for the character of The Flash. He noted, "a lot of people just don’t care about the Flash as a character," particularly highlighting a disconnect with the two female quadrants of the audience.
Muschietti further explained that "The Flash" did not successfully appeal to "the four quadrants" — a term used in the movie industry to describe a film's ability to attract all demographic groups: males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25. He stated, "The Flash failed, among all the other reasons, because it wasn’t a movie that appealed to all four quadrants. It failed at that." He emphasized the high stakes involved, saying, "When you spend $200 million making a movie, [Warner Bros.] wants to bring even your grandmother to the theaters."
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In private conversations, Muschietti has learned that the lack of interest in The Flash as a character was a significant headwind for the film. He mentioned "all the other reasons" contributing to the film's failure, which likely include its poor critical reception, the heavy reliance on CGI, including the controversial use of CGI to recreate deceased actors without family consultation, and its timing at the end of the now-defunct DCEU.
Despite the setback with "The Flash," DC Studios has not lost faith in Muschietti. He is reportedly set to direct "The Brave and the Bold," the first Batman film in the new DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. This move suggests that DC sees potential in Muschietti's vision for their evolving cinematic universe.
