"The Flash Director Admits Failure Due to Lack of Character Interest"

Andy Muschietti, the director behind "The Flash," has openly discussed the reasons behind the film's underwhelming box office performance. Speaking to Radio Tu, with translations provided by Variety, Muschietti pointed out that a significant factor in the movie's failure was the lack of broad appeal, particularly towards "the four quadrants" of the movie-going audience. These quadrants, a common industry term, represent males under 25, males over 25, females under 25, and females over 25. Muschietti stated, "The Flash failed, among all the other reasons, because it wasn’t a movie that appealed to all four quadrants. It failed at that." He emphasized the financial stakes involved, noting, "When you spend $200 million making a movie, [Warner Bros.] wants to bring even your grandmother to the theaters."

Muschietti also revealed insights from personal discussions, suggesting that "a lot of people just don’t care about the Flash as a character," with particular disinterest among the female quadrants. This lack of connection with the character added to the film's challenges at the box office.

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In addition to the lack of appeal across demographics, Muschietti's reference to "all the other reasons" for "The Flash's" failure likely encompasses its negative critical reception, backlash against its heavy use of CGI to digitally recreate deceased actors without family consent, and its unfortunate timing near the end of the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

Despite these setbacks, DC seems to retain confidence in Muschietti, as he is slated to direct "The Brave and the Bold," marking the first Batman film in the newly rebooted DC Universe under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran.