Previous Directorial Duo Share Why They Left The Flash Film

In a recent Variety interview, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein — both former directors for The Flash — shared why they parted ways from the production. Citing creative differences during the time they spent in development, both directors felt the film’s star, Ezra Miller, and the studio wanted to take the project in a different direction with a different tone. You can read some highlights from both Daley and Goldstein on the subject below.

Daley on the pair’s original concept behind the film: “We pitched this idea of a ground-level superhero where it isn’t entirely end-of-the-world stakes. He’s just learning his powers and is also somewhat dysfunctional with his life. The more imperfect we can make a superhero, the better, because that’s the inherent challenge: How do you give imperfection to someone that is, you know, physically perfect?”

Goldstein on Miller’s impact on the production: “They were intense and very bright. Later, it became clear that they didn’t want to quite do the same thing as we did.”

Goldstein on what convinced them to leave the project: “If we feel like the powers-that-be aren’t excited about making the same movie as we are, we’re not going to win that battle. And so it’s better to cut your losses and get out of there.”

Goldstein on how he views the final product: “They took what we had started and really ran with it and made it a very fun and emotional movie. We’re really happy with how it all turned out.”