"Flash Director Admits Failure Due to Lack of Character Interest"

Director Andy Muschietti has openly discussed the reasons behind the underwhelming box office performance of his DC Extended Universe film, "The Flash." In a revealing interview with Radio Tu, translated by Variety, Muschietti pointed to a lack of broad appeal as a significant factor in the film's failure. He specifically noted that "a lot of people just don’t care about the Flash as a character," which he believes contributed to the movie's inability to attract "the four quadrants" — a crucial demographic spread that includes males and females, both under and over 25 years old.

Muschietti explained, "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 underscored the importance of wide appeal, especially when the film's budget reached $200 million. "When you spend $200 million making a movie, [Warner Bros.] wants to bring even your grandmother to the theaters," he added, highlighting the studio's expectations for the film to draw in diverse audiences.

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In more personal reflections, Muschietti shared that through private conversations, he discovered a particular disinterest in The Flash among the female quadrants. "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," he stated, emphasizing the challenges in appealing to a broad audience.

The four quadrants, as defined by Hollywood, are essential for a film's success, encompassing males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25. Muschietti's mention of "all the other reasons" The Flash failed likely refers to its poor critical reception, the controversy surrounding its use of CGI, especially to recreate deceased actors without family consultation, and its timing near the end of the now-defunct DC Extended Universe.

Despite these setbacks, DC Studios has not distanced itself from Muschietti. In fact, he is reportedly set to direct "The Brave and the Bold," marking the first Batman film in the new DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. This move indicates confidence in Muschietti's ability to helm major projects despite the challenges faced with "The Flash."