The Flash, Warner Bros.'s highly anticipated movie, marked the end of the DCEU and initiated the rebirth of the universe into the DCU. The movie follows Barry Allen as he travels back in time to prevent his mother's tragic murder, but in doing so, he inadvertently disrupts the timeline. The Flash served as fan service to DC fans, including appearances and cameos from past Superman and Batman actors with the earliest dating back to the 1950s.
All the cameos appearing in The Flash were CGI models, which became a meme on social media over how bad they looked. The Flash received mixed reactions from the fans due to the movie's plot and many fans were disappointed at how the movie turned out to be after initial reviews stated it to be one of the best comic book movies ever. However, the movie's bad, uninteresting plot and often cringe-worthy dialogue wasn't even its worst part; most fans were enraged over the Superman cameo, considering it disrespectful to the late actor.
Every Superman Cameo In The Flash
Early in the movie, Henry Cavill's Superman appears to help direct molten lava erupting from a volcano in Guatemala, but his face wasn't shown since the actor no longer plays Superman. The Flash's plot was mainly focused on Sasha Calle's Supergirl, and in the alternate timeline, Clark Kent's Superman didn't exist. However, as Flash travels through the past, several Supermen played by different actors are witnessed.
The first cameo in the multiverse is once again Henry Cavill's Superman, depicted as a CGI version of the Man of Steel from 2017's Justice League, shown throwing a punch after being brought back to life. While this wasn't the proper appearance of the character and just a CGI model, it marks the character's last appearance in the DC movies ever since his introduction a decade ago in Man of Steel.
The late Christopher Reeve's Superman is also shown, often regarded as the best actor to have played Superman in live-action movies. He is the only actor to have played Superman in four different solo movies. The '80s star is shown alongside Hellen Slater's Supergirl, who also appeared in the shot.
In addition to these actors, Nicholas Cage's Superman also makes a short appearance towards the end of the movie, shown fighting a monster spider. While Nicholas Cage hasn't technically played Superman in a movie, the actor was cast as Superman, but unfortunately, his film didn't see the light of day due to several production problems. Even if his appearance is CGI, this technically fulfills the actor's dream of being cast as Superman.
The last and most controversial cameo is that of George Reeves. While newer audiences may not be familiar with the actor, George Reeves' Superman was the second actor ever to play the superhero in the early 1950s TV show, Adventures of Superman, which lasted for 6 seasons, with the first 2 seasons shot in black and white due to technology limitations in that era. His cameo in The Flash is also shown in a black-and-white sequence, matching the TV Show. While the movie intended to pay homage to the late actor by including a cameo, it did backfire as many fans saw it as disrespectful to the late actor, and the actor himself may not have wanted this.
Who Was George Reeves And Why Was His Cameo So Controversial?
While Superman had already been portrayed by another actor on the big screens in the late 1940s, namely Kirk Alyn, it wasn't until George Reeves that the Man of Steel's popularity soared in live-action cinema. Reeves' Superman is often regarded as the Golden Age Superman, and many consider him the greatest actor to have ever played the character. He laid the foundation for future Superman actors and became one of the top pop figures of his time. Reeves displayed immense dedication to the role, even quitting smoking for it.
During the 1950s, superhero cinema didn't pay as well as other genres of film and television compared to today, and though George Reeves' exact salary is unknown, it is speculated that it was modest, leaving him financially strained. Despite the success of his portrayal, the show, Adventures of Superman, unfortunately, had to end after six seasons, with his departure being a mutual decision between Reeves and the show's writers. This led to difficulties for him in finding other acting opportunities, as he became typecast solely as Superman, which affected his career negatively.
What followed was a life marked by financial difficulties and an inability to find further roles due to being strongly associated with the character of Superman. Tragically, George Reeves passed away at the age of 45 on June 16, 1959. While the true reason for his death remains unknown, many speculate that he took his own life due to feeling trapped as Superman, being unable to secure other roles, and experiencing a decline in his mental health at that point.
Bringing the late actor back to life via a CGI shot was a bad move by Warner Bros. since all his life George Reeves tried to escape the role of Superman. The late actor himself may not have wanted this. Additionally, The Flash was released on the same day as George Reeves' death which many fans were enraged over. The late actor didn't leave behind any descendants from which Warner Bros. could ask before including his cameo. Despite his tragic ending, Warner Bros. decided to bring him back intending to pay homage to the character which still isn't a good moral decision.
Apart from George Reeves, the late Adam West's Batman was also shown in a CGI cameo, which also faced controversy. Many complained that instead of using deepfakes to resurrect older actors, Warner Bros. could have used other actors in the cameo, such as Brandon Routh, who played Superman in Superman Return since they had free decisions over whom to include in the movie.
Teddy Sears, who appeared in CW's Flash, was also in the movie, but the actor stated that he doesn't remember shooting for DC, suggesting that Warner Bros. didn't even ask for consent before including the character's CGI cameo. Many fans are complaining about The Flash just being a movie to bait viewers over fan service but in reality, it's just another cash grab move by Warner Bros.
The Flash Is Now Available To Stream Digitally