The Flashmay not be a Marvel movie, but since it is a significant entry into the DC superhero universe, you better believe there is a scene at the end of the credits. Yes, there is indeed a scene at the end of the credits, and we’ve known that for quite a while. When the film first premiered at Cinemacon 2023 (to thunderous applause, we might add), the version of directorAndy Muschietti’s film that screenedreportedly cut both the film’s ending and the end-credits scene. This was likely a measure to avoid any leaks following the early premiere.
Now that the film is streaming, we can confirm that the end-credits scene is intact. Of course, we wouldn’t dare spoil for you what the end-credits sequence entails, but we can tell you where the scene is in the credits, whether it’s essential, and how it sets up the new DCU under the helm of co-CEOsJames GunnandPeter Safran’s vision of the DC Universe. We’ll also tell you if that ending differs from the earlier screened cuts without any major spoilers.
Barry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.
Is the End-Credits Scene of ‘The Flash’ a Mid-Credits Scene or a Post-Credits Scene?
It’s become commonplace in the industry,especially for superhero films, to have both a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene. In the case ofThe Flash,the film features both a pre-credits and a post-credits scene. This means you’ll need to stick around until all the credits roll to see the final surprise that theEzra Millertime-traveling adventure has in store — and you should! That being said, the film’s pre-credits ending is still an incredible reveal for DC fans.
At first glance, the post-credits sequence ofThe Flashdoesn’t seem like something that is a must-see for audiences. Still, upon closer examination,the scene implies a few characters' futures in Gunn and Safran’snew “Gods and Monsters” phaseof DC adaptations and storytelling. It may not be a direct franchise-rebooting sequence, despite what the entire film has been built up to, but, the scene subtlyreveals whether certain characters and actors from the DCEU will be stayingunder Gunn and Safran’s new DCU.
The DCU Needs To Keep This Character
“Nobody is like me.”
To compare it to other end-credits sequences in the DCEU before,The Flash’spost-credits sequencecertainly isn’t a jaw-dropping reveal as we saw inBlack Adam. That was, of course, when we sawHenry Cavillagain appear as the Man of Steel himself. Alas, while one shouldn’t ever say “never,” when it comes to Hollywood or superhero movies, this reveal ended up being poorly timed as Cavill won’t be reprising the role of Clark Kentin the new franchise plan mapped out by Peter Safran and James Gunn.
Tonally and functionally, the sequence is much more similar tothe end-credits sequence seen at the end ofShazam!: Fury of the Gods. There, we saw Billy Batson (Zachary Levi) meet with a few Team Peacemaker members, asking if the young hero would like to join the Justice Society. This appeared after James Gunn and Peter Safran were named the head honchos of DC Studios, so we can only assume Zachary Levi will return as the fun-loving hero in the distant future.
What Does the Future of DC Film and Television Look Like?
2023 truly marks the final year of the DC Extended Universe as we know it. Following the release ofThe FlashandAquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the reign of James Gunn and Peter Safran is officially on the way. Regarding movies, the first film is a doozy withSuperman: Legacy, an all-new reboot of the Superman character written and directed by James Gunn himself, making it his first feature filmsince concluding hisGuardians of the Galaxytrilogy. The rest of the Gods and Monsters phase so far also includes the anti-hero team-up film ofThe Authority, the Batman reimagining ofThe Brave and The Bold, the gritty survival reimagining ofSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, andJames Mangold’s hybrid horror film ofSwamp Thing.
In addition to the theatrical feature films,many exciting Max-exclusive shows are taking place in the new DCU. These includethe adult animated comedyCreature Commandos, theViola Davis-starring spin-offWaller, the meta misfit commentaryBooster Gold, the intergalactic buddy cop seriesLanterns, and theGame of Thrones-inspired Wonder Woman showParadise Lost. James Gunn has promised that those are all only some of the projects that DC Studios has in development, and Gunn has also teased that we may even get video game projects set in the new DCU.
The Ending of ‘The Flash’ is an End-Credits Scene Without the Credits
It’s doubtful that you’ll want to leave your seat before the credits roll on the incredibly fun and exciting film. We seriouslycannot stress enough how jaw-dropping the final pre-credits scene is. It’s a spin no one sees coming and certainly adds to the multiversal adventure. Again, no spoilers, butboth the pre- and post-credits scenes are worth sticking around for.Whether you’ve been a fan of them up to this point, it’s hard to argue that the combination of the two closes theDCEU cinematic chapternicely as a chasm-esque deep cut for hardcore DC fans. In turn, it also raises more than a few exciting questions about the future of the DCU, and its story arcs and maybe even teases who may be cast as a major character in the timeline.
The Flashis currently streaming on Max in the U.S.
Stream on Max
