The Flash features a returning icon with Michael Keaton’s Batman being a central character in the plot, but fans can expect some exciting cameos in The Flash. The Speed Force is a mysterious and dangerous thing, and as Barry Allen travels through time, exploring the Speed Force, audiences might spot a familiar face or two.
The Flash is a celebration of DC and its cinematic history. The Flash brings in elements from the past, leaving room for the future. Although the cameos in The Flash aren’t integral to the movie, they are a nice addition to the movie that binds DC’s cinematic journeys through TV and film.
This article contains major spoilers for The Flash
11 George Clooney Returns As Bruce Wayne
To the surprise of Barry Allen and the audience, Bruce Wayne steps out of his fancy car at the end of The Flash, ready to greet Barry after the court hearing of his father’s freedom. However, the man that steps out of the car isn’t the face Barry expects, and it turns out that although everything seems right with this new DC timeline, Bruce Wayne is no longer Ben Affleck, but instead, George Clooney.
It’s a fun surprise to see arguably the most controversial Batman return for The Flash, as not many people love Batman & Robin, especially George Clooney’s portrayal. Yet, he returns in replacement of Ben Affleck, proving that Barry Allen didn’t exactly fix everything.
10 Temuera Morrison’s Thomas Curry
As Barry Allen frantically attempts to discover signs of meta-humans and superheroes across the new Earth that he created by changing time, he finds the phone number of Thomas Curry, a lighthouse keeper, and the father of Arthur Curry, who Barry knows as his friend, Aquaman.
Barry Allen calls Thomas Curry, and Temuera Morrison’s version of the character picks up the phone. This character was last seen in Aquaman, and it’s great to see him appear again, even if he has some vulgar words to say to Barry Allen, as this version of Thomas doesn’t have a son, nor an Atlantean Queen wife.
9 Jason Momoa Is Aquaman
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When Barry Allen undoes his mess to return to the original timeline, many things are altered. Not only does Bruce Wayne wear a different face, but the fate of the Justice League is left unclear; other than Arthur Curry, the Aquaman, whom Barry always seemed to have a close friendship with from Justice League and Peacemaker.
The two characters featured in The Flash post-credits scene, where they share a few too many drinks. Arthur Curry is completely drunk, whereas Barry’s metabolism doesn’t allow for him to even get a buzz. It’s great to see Momoa as Aquaman, and his potential last appearance could well be Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
8 Christopher Reeve’s Superman
The most iconic portrayal of Superman comes from the brilliant Christopher Reeve, who brought the character to life and helped audiences around the world believe a man can fly thanks to Superman: the Movie. Christopher Reeve paved the way for the future of Superman’s portrayals, thanks to his charm, compassion, and large heart.
Christopher Reeve’s Superman features in The Flash in a brief Speed Force cameo, alongside Helen Slater’s Supergirl. The two look at the dimensional tear in the sky, and audiences get to hear the iconic Superman theme once more.
7 George Reeves’ Superman
The very first live-action portrayal of Superman comes from George Reeves, who played the character for years, starting with Adventures of Superman. George Reeves was the first, and it’s nice to see The Flash pay their respects to the actor and his iteration of the character.
The Flash features George Reeves’ Superman in a black-and-white world showing that the Multiverse doesn’t always have color. Even if George Reeves doesn’t feature much in The Flash, his appearance is a respectful one.
6 Nicolas Cage’s Superman
Perhaps the most bizarre and surprising cameo in The Flash was seeing Nicolas Cage’s Superman. Nick Cage was supposed to play Superman in Tim Burton’s canceled Superman film: Superman Lives. Nicolas Cage can be seen using his heat vision to fight a giant spider, much like the concept art seen in Superman Lives.
To finally see Nicolas Cage as Superman after so many years of wanting, is a great reward to DC fans. Nicolas Cage’s Superman has long hair, a shiny suit, and a vibrant red cape that fans remember from the costume-fitting test for Superman Lives.
5 Helen Slater’s Supergirl
In 1984, the DC character Supergirl received a movie. Although Christopher Reeve does not appear in the Supergirl movie, he does feature in some photos, as well as his franchise’s version of Jimmy Olsen, Marc McClure, featuring in the film.
Although Helen Slater’s Supergirl movie didn’t do well both critically and financially, she is still a part of Christopher Reeve’s Superman world, so it’s nice to see the two together in The Flash, the last cousins of Krypton watching over Earth together.
4 Teddy Sears’ Jay Garrick
Alongside George Reeves, Teddy Sears appears in the same black-and-white superhero world as Jay Garrick. Jay Garrick is the original Flash and is noted for his iconic helmet. It’s nice to see Jay Garrick, and the two Flash characters share a moment as they look at each other, both traveling through time in their respective universes.
What’s most interesting, is that this Jay Garrick is played by Teddy Sears. Teddy Sears played a fake version of Jay Garrick in CW’s The Flash show and revealed himself to be Zoom, and later, Black Flash. Perhaps this version of Jay Garrick is the real thing or just the beginning of Hunter Zolomon’s façade.
3 Adam West’s Batman
Another Batman enters the multiverse thanks to The Flash. Adam West’s Batman cameo in The Flash is short but sweet, and audiences don’t get the closest look at the character as they do with other Speed Force cameos, but he is there, and doing what he does best: hitting evil-doers and making them go POW!
Adam West has a wonderful legacy, and he is a strong part of Batman’s history. It’s nice to see him, even briefly, alongside Cesar Romero’s Joker laugh, showing that even after all these years, Batman ’66 still has it.
2 Andy Muschietti
Although Andy Muschietti may not wear a cape or a secret identity to fight crime, he still wields the director’s chair. Andy Muschietti directed The Flash and brought many of these cameos to life. It’s nice to see Andy Muschietti in The Flash, even if he is a victim of one of the Flash’s crimes.
The Flash steals Andy Muschietti’s hot dog! Although this crime may not be as bad as terraforming the world, or even killing a guy, to steal a hotdog off of a hungry director is diabolical. It’s a fun easter egg and cameo to make The Flash somewhat full circle.
1 Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Perhaps the most bizarre cameo in The Flash isn’t a returning superhero from the past of DC Comics’ cinematic endeavors but from the famous actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau of Game of Thrones fame. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau played Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, yet, in The Flash, he plays a scruffy guy eating pepperoni pizza.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau doesn’t wear a cape or have a villain monologue from his DCEU debut, but what he does have is a nice slice of pizza. It’s odd to see Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and it’s a “blink and miss it” moment.
The Flash is in theaters now.