The Flash could lead to a significant resurgence for 2013's Man of Steel. After years in development hell, The Flash is finally set to hit theaters on June 16, 2023, with DC's multiverse being a foundational element of its story. In The Flash, Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) time-travels into the past to prevent the murder of his mother, but in doing so, causes a major timeline calamity with the return of General Zod (Michael Shannon), once more on a mission to invade and terraform Earth into a new Krypton.

Inspired by the Flashpoint comic book story, reports indicate The Flash movie being incredibly well-received in both test screenings and internally at Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios. While The Flash's multiverse story is partly segueing into the upcoming new DCU plans of James Gunn and Peter Safran, the movie's venture into the past could have an unexpected side effect. With Man of Steel being a major part of the basis of The Flash, the former could see a revival of interest a decade after its release.

RELATED: Why The Flash Goes To The Michael Keaton Batman Timeline

The Flash Revisiting Man Of Steel Could Reignite Fan InterestSupergirl vs General Zod in The Flash

The Flash, of course, is not a one-to-one recreation of Man of Steel, with Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Supergirl (Sasha Calle), being the movie's Kryptonian protagonist. Additionally, the presence of Michael Keaton's older version of Batman shows how far-reaching the multiverse story of The Flash is, to say nothing of whatever DC movies or shows will also be referenced. With that said, like all of Zack Snyder's DC movies, Man of Steel has maintained a firm foothold in the cultural conversation of DC on film. The Flash is not just bringing Man of Steel back into the spotlight, but very prominently so.

With The Flash's core story seeming to be a retelling of Man of Steel through a Flashpoint-inspired story, the Scarlet Speedster's movie could potentially catalyze a new wave of Man of Steel being revisited en masse. That is especially the case if The Flash is indeed as good as it is described to be. Furthermore, The Flash's alternate reality version of Man of Steel could also inspire a renaissance for Snyder's Superman film in light of James Gunn's DCU plans.

The Flash Is The Last Chance For A Man Of Steel Farewell

general zod and superman in man of steel

Both Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice were initially subject to very divisive responses but, over time, have accumulated more widespread love, particularly in the wake of the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League in 2021. While Gunn's DCU plans could potentially carry over cast members of the original DCEU (such as Ezra Miller's Flash), Gunn will present a new take on the Man of Steel in Superman: Legacy. With The Flash being DC's multiverse event, branching into different realities is easily manageable. However, The Flash itself could be a surprisingly grandiose, if belated, companion piece to Man of Steel arriving before the beginning Gunn's DCU.

Given The Flash's early reception and planned showing at 2023's Cinema Con a full two months before the film's release, it is clear that WBD and DC Studios have tremendous confidence in the film. With The Flash's many rumored and confirmed characters from past and contemporary DC movies and TV shows, The Flash being so heavily predicated on the events of Man of Steel does far more than stress its importance to the DCEU and Superman's history. It also indicates that The Flash may cement those very attributes of Man of Steel in the public consciousness more than ever.

MORE: The Flash's Supergirl May Be Using A Major Superman Story (Not Flashpoint)

Key Release Dates