Andy Muschietti: 'The Flash Failed Due to Lack of Interest in the Character'

Director Andy Muschietti of "The Flash" in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has openly discussed the film's box office failure, attributing it to a lack of broad appeal. Speaking to Radio Tu, as reported by Variety, Muschietti pointed out that the superhero movie did not capture the interest of "the four quadrants" - a term used in the film industry to refer to different demographic groups - which was critical given its $200 million budget.

"The Flash failed, among all the other reasons, because it wasn’t a movie that appealed to all four quadrants. It failed at that," Muschietti explained. He emphasized the studio's expectation to attract a wide audience, including older demographics such as grandmothers, when investing such a large sum in a film.

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In private discussions, Muschietti discovered that many people, especially in the female demographics, did not connect with The Flash as a character. He noted, "I’ve found in private conversations that a lot of people just don’t care about the Flash as a character. Particularly the two female quadrants. All of that is just the wind going against the film I’ve learned."

The "four quadrants" in Hollywood are categorized as males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25. Muschietti's reference to "all the other reasons" for the film's failure likely includes its negative reviews, backlash over its use of CGI to recreate deceased actors without family consent, and its timing near the end of the now-discontinued DCEU.

Despite the setback with "The Flash," DC Studios continues to trust Muschietti, as he is set to helm "The Brave and the Bold," the inaugural Batman film in the newly envisioned DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. This move indicates DC's ongoing commitment to Muschietti's directorial vision within their evolving cinematic landscape.