ROTTEN TOMATOES: Goyer Out, Levy In as "Flash" Director

Goyer Out, Levy In as "Flash" Director

by Scott Weinberg | February 05, 2007

Joss Whedon wasn't the only popular filmmaker to "step away" from a big superhero project over the weekend. Seems that writer/director David S. Goyer and Warner Bros. have parted ways on their adaptation of DC's "Flash" character. Stepping in to helm the flick will be Shawn Levy.

Based on what The Hollywood Reporter tells us, it certainly looks like WB wants to go a little lighter on this particular flick. And since Mr. Goyer is best known for moody screenplays like "Blade" and "Batman Begins," he's now moving on to other (inevitably comic book-related) projects.

Mr. Levy, for his part, steps into "The Flash" having directed comedies like "Just Married," "The Pink Panther," and the recent hit "Night at the Museum." Apparently Goyer's screenplay will be used in the early re-writing stages, but we can probably expect a much sunnier "Flash" than previously anticipated.

But hey, if this project keeps "The Pink Panther 2" on the back burner for a few more years, that's fine with me.

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(1-18 of 18 posts) | Reply

GreenBastard writes:
on Feb 05 2007 05:04 AM

Oh well, there goes that one.

(Reply to this)

HUGEfan84 writes:
on Feb 05 2007 05:31 AM

agreed - I dont even want this to be made anymore. Levy needs to give it up.

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Vitamin M writes:
on Feb 05 2007 06:45 AM

Levy might be horrible but his films make bank. so at the very least it should have a decent budget...

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arpeggio191 writes:
on Feb 05 2007 06:59 AM

as long as they get ryan renholds to play barry allen, i don't care...

(Reply to this)

lrm8 writes:
on Feb 05 2007 07:13 AM

every movie levy has ever made sucked. goyer only wrote and directed blade (which varies in its quality throughout the triology, but i find extremely watchable) and was a major cog in batman begins, the best comic book movie of all time in my opinion (sorry supes,spidey). what is Warners thinking?!

this suddenly becomes a DC version of the fantastic four. (although i am very pumped for rise of the silver surfer, FF was a little... underwhelming to me.)

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unbreakable_samurai writes:
on Feb 05 2007 07:38 AM

This is to bad, a sunnier Levy film is going to blow. I think a darker version would have been sweet, plus Levy has never done anything worth braging about.

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Shatter24 writes:
on Feb 05 2007 08:26 AM

[b]Flash isn't particularly dark[/b]
Ryan Reynolds is a funny guy, and can play serious and funny. The flash character is supposed to be a smart-aleck, wise-guy, one of the lighter characters in the DC universe. Goyer writes good, dark screenplays, but his directing skills are still unproven (Blade Trinity was ok, not great). Levy has had some not so good films, but Night at the Museum proved he can make a decent product as well. No need to fear yet, the movie still can be good.

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lrm8 writes:
on Feb 05 2007 09:39 AM

sorry shatter, i just dont share your optimism. levy is a man who made cheaper by the dozen and the pink panther remakes. surely flash deserves better than this. levy is not even an action guy (i dont consider talking monkeys and AWOL T-Rexes in the same league as Flash). or a serious movie guy. he's a bad comedy remake guy. all i can say is.... ugh. no amount of casting (even reynolds) can hide my disgust for this piece of news.

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the_don_of_yreka writes:
on Feb 05 2007 11:27 AM

DC and Warner Bros should rethink how they play cards right. if they sign levy, i have lost all respect for them. i would like to see a director who is willing keep Goyer screenplay and make lilttle changes to it. give it the director who made V for Vendetta. i would like him to do this moive.

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buddablz writes:
on Feb 05 2007 01:46 PM

In reply to this comment (#854791)
Do u mean the wachowski brothers? I dont think they would.

As long as they keep Goyer's story and give it an appropriately lighter tone for the character...it should be okay. I hope Ryan Reynolds is still attached. I can see him being good as the Flash.

They better hurry and start this project, Batman and Superman sequels will be out before this.

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arcadefire325 writes:
on Feb 05 2007 03:10 PM

[b]the flash[/b]
the wachowski brothers did not direct v for vendetta, by the way. they produced the movie. it was james mcteigue. my spelling is terrible. ryan reynolds is a horrible actor.

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dylan21484nj writes:
on Feb 05 2007 06:42 PM

i see The Flash going the way of Fantastic Four. they get a hack director known for doing comedies to do a "lighter" superhero film and we end up with wasted potential and disappointment.

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Praz writes:
on Feb 06 2007 07:57 AM

I can't tell the difference between Ryan Reynolds, and Dane Cook; well, I guess Reynolds is funnier but that's really it.

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bigbrother writes:
on Feb 06 2007 01:20 PM

In reply to this comment (#854795)
The difference is Van Wilder was the shit and Employee of the Month was just crap. The difference is very subtle but important.

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toniokruger writes:
on Feb 07 2007 03:46 AM

Flash needs a big budget to stand out among the other superheroes. And studios are not dumb. They'll check the box-office tally of every potential director, before agreeing... (Look at Nolan. Prior to Batman Begins, he made 200+ mil global for Insomnia). So that's why they choose Levy over Goyer

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High School With Money writes:
on Feb 07 2007 11:44 AM

[b]From the director of a movie you guys made a "hit"[/b]
I'd rather that Eugene Levy direct this than Shawn, Commodore of Remakes.

Did Kathryn Bigelow up and die recently? Why isn't she getting juicy assignments like this? Or Stephen Hopkins? Hell, I'd even take Joe Johnston at this point.

Oh well. Better than Pitof or McG. Yay Warners.

(Reply to this)

Matanuki writes:
on Feb 24 2007 05:26 AM

I"m all for darkness. But Flash is not dark. No point in misrepresenting. A dark Flash film will be about as ridiculous as a sunny Batman film.

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RexLaboro writes:
on May 14 2007 10:14 PM

The Flash is going to be a clown. DC doesnt have much going far as franchise characters to build a roster from and they are going to kill Flash by continuing with the campy cheese he's already attached to with other visual incarnations of the hero. After Wonder Woman there will be nothing left, and JLA is too big to tackle and I doubt theyre going to do Teen Titans because the writers are too busy making cartoon versions.

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