‘The Flash’ Movie Finds Barry Allen’s Father (EXCLUSIVE)
Film Reporter Justin Kroll
Film Reporter @krolljvar

SEPTEMBER 9, 2016 | 01:09PM PT
After playing Dr. Manhattan in the Warner Bros. film “Watchmen,” Billy Crudup is now looking to reunite with the studio on one of their highly anticipated comic book movies.

Sources tell Variety Crudup is in talks to play the father of Barry Allen (aka the Flash) in the upcoming Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment film, which stars Ezra Miller as the title character.

Warner Bros. had no comment.

Kiersey Clemons is also on board as Iris West with “Dope” helmer Rick Famuyiwa. Seth Grahame-Smith penned the script which is based on a treatment by Chris Miller and Phil Lord.

Production is expected to start this year with the pic set to open on March 16, 2018. Plot details are being kept under wraps but Miller has already made a cameo as the character in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and will also appear as the superhero in “Justice League” which opens next year.

Crudup has roles in the Oscar winning “Spotlight”, the Sundance darling “The Stanford Prison Experiment,” the upcoming biopic “Jackie” and “20th Century Women” starring Annette Bening.

Crudup most recently wrapped production on “Alien: Covenant.” He is repped by CAA and Lighthouse Management.

‘The Flash’ Movie Loses Director Rick Famuyiwa
Film Reporter @krolljvar
OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 02:11PM PT

Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment’s “The Flash” movie has hit another big speed bump: sources tell Variety that director Rick Famuyiwa has left the project.

Sources close to both Famuyiwa and the studio saying creative differences again forced the split. The studio is still very excited to get the project off the ground and is expected to have a director shortly.

Similar issues arose with the “Wonder Woman” project after Michelle MacLaren left and was quickly replaced by Patty Jenkins without causing any issues to the production schedule.

Warner Bros. had no comment on the news.

“When I was approached by Warner Bros and DC about the possibility of directing The Flash, I was excited about the opportunity to enter this amazing world of characters that I loved growing up, and still do to this day. I was also excited to work with Ezra Miller, who is a phenomenal young actor,” Famuyiwa said in a statement. “I pitched a version of the film in line with my voice, humor, and heart. While it’s disappointing that we couldn’t come together creatively on the project, I remain grateful for the opportunity. I will continue to look for opportunities to tell stories that speak to a fresh generational, topical, and multicultural point of view. I wish Warner Brothers, DC, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns, and Ezra Miller all the best as they continue their journey into the speed force.”

The move comes as a shock, given that pre-production for the film is already in high gear, and production was set to start in early 2017. The project was also far along in casting, most recently adding Kiersey Clemons to play Iris West and Billy Crudup to play Barry Allen’s father.

The movie was scheduled to be released on March 16, 2018. It’s currently unknown if this latest detour will force start of production and the release date to be moved.

After Grahame-Smith’s departure as director, the studio acted swiftly to replace him without any hiccups. This situation, however, is different; pre-production was in the very early stages at the time of Grahame-Smith’s exit, allowing the studio to regroup and focus on finding a new director. With pre-production so far along, change course now will be a tough hurdle to overcome, while still meeting deadlines.

Joby Harold to Do Page-One Rewrite of ‘The Flash’ Script (EXCLUSIVE)
Film Reporter Justin Kroll @krolljvar
JANUARY 25, 2017 | 04:22PM PT

While “The Flash” waits to find its new director, Warner Bros. has tapped Joby Harold to do a page-one rewrite to the script, sources tell Variety.

The pic has been on hold since losing director Rick Famuyiwa and while it waits to find his replacement, the studio has decided to take script in different direction.

WB had no comment.

Executives have been taking their time in finding his replacement. With Ezra Miller, who will play the speedy superhero, getting ready to shoot “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2,” they decided work on a new script in the meantime.

Famuyiwa had written the latest draft. Sources say the original reason for his departure had to do with executives disagreeing with where he had taken the script. Seth Grahame-Smith had also written a previous draft.

Kiersey Clemons is attached to play Iris West, and Billy Crudup will play Miller’s father.

Harold has past ties to the studio, having most recently written “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” Other projects in development include a new “Robin Hood” movie for Warner Bros., as well as a “Twilight Zone” film for the studio.

He is repped by CAA.