DC Films Are Going To Have Flashbacks and Flashforwards
By Jenn Reid
DC is adding multiple timelines to its movie universe, with flashbacks and flashforwards in The Flash and Aquaman solo films.
The DCEU is continuing its streak of strong decision making with this latest announcement: future solo films will have flashbacks and flashforwards.
Producer Charles Roven explained the idea to ComicbookMovie.com
"“For example, the Justice League movie will take place in a universe that’s post-Batman v Superman, just like Batman v Superman takes place in a universe that’s post-Man of Steel. When we’re dealing with either The Flash or Aquaman, since they will take place in a universe that has happened after Justice League, the characters and the world will be informed by the movies that preceded them, except that there’s flashbacks or whatever within those particular movies, [and] flashforwards within those particular movies.”"
Wonder Woman is essentially going to be one giant flashback, with Diana’s WW1 activities being bookended by scenes of her post-Batman v Superman and pre-Justice League. The Flash and Aquaman, which are both coming after 2018’s Justice League, will use flashbacks to fill in the character’s history.
"“When we talk about who Arthur Curry is, and we talk about the universe when that movie starts in terms of him and where he is, obviously Atlantis exists and has existed before the timeline of his movie, but both [Justice League director] Zack [Snyder] and [Aquaman director] James [Wan] collaborate on what the look of both movies will be.”"
The use of flashforwards is interesting as well, as it’s not clear yet exactly how they will be used. We got a glimpse of flashforwards in Batman v Superman when Batman dreamt of a Mad Max-style future. The sequence was possibly an alternate version future which The Flash was warning Batman about, which might come into play again in The Flash’s standalone film. This might be DC’s way of introducing the multi-verse, with The Flash seeing alternate futures and timelines.
Using flashbacks and flashforwards is a tricky story-telling device. It’s a way to include information that the audience needs to know or withhold information until the ideal moment. DCTV’s Arrow uses flashbacks regularly and the formula quickly started to wear thin on audiences.
Next: 15 Changes the DCEU Needs To Make For Its Upcoming Movies
The DCEU might manage to juggle multiple timelines in their films, but it’s hard to be confident when they’ve struggled so much just maintaining the one.