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. In an interview with Radio Tu, reported by Variety, Muschietti stated the film didn't resonate with all four audience quadrants (males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25), a crucial factor given its $200 million budget. He highlighted that many, particularly female audiences, simply lacked interest in the Flash character.

"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 everyone, even your grandmother, in the theaters." He further elaborated that this lack of widespread interest created significant headwinds for the film's success.

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Muschietti acknowledged other contributing factors to the film's underperformance, including negative critical reviews, CGI concerns (particularly the recreation of deceased actors), and its release within a collapsing film universe. Despite this, DC Studios has retained Muschietti to direct "The Brave and the Bold," the inaugural Batman film in James Gunn and Peter Safran's revamped DC Universe.