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

Andy Muschietti, the director behind "The Flash" in the DC Extended Universe, has openly discussed the film's disappointing box office performance. In a candid interview with Radio Tu, translated by Variety, Muschietti attributed the movie's failure to its inability to captivate "the four quadrants" of the movie-going audience—a term used in the film industry to describe appeal across all demographics. He noted, "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 further emphasized the challenge of justifying the film's hefty $200 million budget, suggesting that Warner Bros. aimed to attract a broad audience, including older viewers like "your grandmother."

Muschietti also revealed insights from private conversations, indicating that a significant portion of the audience, particularly women across both younger and older age groups, lacked interest in the Flash as a character. He stated, "I’ve found in private conversations that a lot of people just don’t care about the Flash as a character. Particularly the two female quadrants. All of that is just the wind going against the film I’ve learned."

The four quadrants, as defined by Hollywood, include males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25. Muschietti's reference to "all the other reasons" for the film's failure likely encompasses its negative critical reception, backlash over the use of CGI to recreate deceased actors without family consultation, and its release near the end of the now-defunct DCEU.

Despite "The Flash's" commercial and critical struggles, DC Studios seems to maintain confidence in Muschietti. Reports indicate that he is set to helm "The Brave and the Bold," marking the first Batman film in the new DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran.

DCEU Movie Teases That Were Never Paid Off

13 Images