Well, that was fast. Six months after Seth Grahame-Smith signed on to direct "The Flash" for Warner Bros., he has exited the comic book movie due to "creative differences," an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.
Grahame-Smith was poised to make his feature directorial debut with the superhero film, which will star Ezra Miller as speedster Barry Allen. Warner Bros. is said to be pleased with Grahame-Smith's script, but ultimately wanted a more experienced filmmaker guiding the production.
Warner Bros. isn't eager to take a big risk in the wake of fan backlash to Zack Snyder's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." Many comic book fans have called for Snyder to be replaced on WB's two "Justice League" movies, but with production already under way, that isn't happening.
Instead, it's Grahame-Smith with whom the studio is parting ways. The author of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" is a key creative on the studio lot, having written "The Lego Batman Movie" and executive produced "The Lego Ninjago Movie." He's also co-writing and producing "Beetlejuice 2" and is involved with Stephen King's "It" and WB's "Gremlins" reboot, so it's not like he's being kicked to the curb in Burbank.
The Flash was introduced in "Batman v Superman," and the filmmakers had been testing leading ladies opposite Miller for the past several weeks. Charles Roven is producing the film, while Snyder is an executive producer.
Grahame-Smith's resume as a director includes two episodes of the MTV comedy series "The Hard Times of RJ Berger," which he also co-created.
Until Warner Bros. says otherwise, "The Flash" remains slated to hit theaters on March 16, 2018.
Michael Keaton Is Batman and the Vulture: 27 More Stars in Both Marvel and DC Movies (Photos)
The animosity between Marvel and DC goes back decades in the comics world, but it's still burgeoning in Hollywood. It turns out a bunch of actors have switched sides in that corporate war over the years -- and some are making that move even now.
Ben Affleck Marvel: "Daredevil" (2003)
DC: "Batman v Superman," future DC Extended Universe movies
Ryan Reynolds Marvel: "X-Men: The Last Stand," "Deadpool," "Blade: Trinity"
DC: "Green Lantern"
Chris Evans Marvel: Human Torch in "Fantastic Four" (2004) and its sequel, "Rise of the Silver Surfer"; Captain America in Marvel Cinematic Universe
DC: "The Losers"
Willem Defoe Marvel: "Spider-Man"
DC: Just signed on for upcoming "Justice League" film
Tommy Lee Jones Marvel: "Captain America: The First Avenger"
DC: "Batman Forever"
Idris Elba Marvel: "Thor," "Thor: The Dark World" "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance"
DC: "The Losers"
JK Simmons Marvel: "Spider-Man" (2002-2007)
DC: "Justice League" (future)
Tao Okamoto Marvel: "The Wolverine"
DC: "Batman v Superman"
Djimon Hounsou Marvel: "Guardians of the Galaxy"
DC: "Constantine"
Laurence Fishburne Marvel: "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"
DC: "Man of Steel," "Batman v Superman"
James Marsden Marvel: "X-Men" films
DC: "Superman Returns"
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Marvel: "Thor: The Dark World"
DC: "Suicide Squad"
Natalie Portman Marvel: "Thor," Thor: The Dark World"
DC: "V for Vendetta"
Hugo Weaving
Marvel: "Captain America: The First Avenger"
DC: "V for Vendetta"
Josh Brolin Marvel: Various Marvel Cinematic Universe films
DC: "Jonah Hex"
Michael Fassbender Marvel: "X-Men" prequels
DC: "Jonah Hex"
Michael Clarke Duncan Marvel: "Daredevil"
DC: "Green Lantern"
Halle Berry Marvel: "X-Men" trilogy
DC: "Catwoman"
Tim Robbins Marvel: "Howard the Duck"
DC: "Green Lantern"
Zoe Saldana Marvel: "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"
DC: "The Losers"
Chin Han Marvel: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
DC: "The Dark Knight"
Callan Mulvey Marvel: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
DC: "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice"
David Dustmalchian Marvel: "Ant-Man"
DC: "The Dark Knight Rises"
Parker Posey Marvel: "Blade: Trinity"
DC: "Superman Returns"
Terence Stamp Marvel: "Elektra"
DC: "Superman" (1978), "Superman II" (1980)
Angela Bassett Marvel: "Black Panther"
DC: "Green Lantern"
Jon Favreau Marvel: "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "Iron Man," "Iron Man 2," "Iron Man 3"
DC: "Batman Forever"
Michael Keaton Marvel: "Spider-Man: Homecoming"
DC: "Batman" (1989)
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Despite the seemingly eternal rivalry between the two largest comic book brands, some big actors have been in films from both sides
The animosity between Marvel and DC goes back decades in the comics world, but it's still burgeoning in Hollywood. It turns out a bunch of actors have switched sides in that corporate war over the years -- and some are making that move even now.
