Barry Allen will upgrade his costume in The Flash, something that was teased in Crisis On Infinite Earths. The latest trailer for The Flash, which premiered at 2021’s DC FanDome, showcases Michael Keaton’s long-awaited return to his role as Batman, new Flashpoint-inspired story details, and Barry Allen sporting a new superhero costume. Barry canonically met another version of himself in the Arrowverse’s crossover event, Crisis On Infinite Earths, and this brief scene may have significant ramifications for the DCEU version of the Scarlet Speedster.
Thus far, the DCEU version of The Flash has only had one costume. The suit closely resembles Barry’s comic outfit, though it’s a more armored variation of it. As described by Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne, who will also appear in the upcoming The Flash movie, Barry’s DCEU suit is made of a similar material to space shuttles, preventing them from burning up upon reentry. This makes sense, given the intense friction that Barry creates when moving at astounding speeds. In addition to protecting him, Barry’s suit also hides his identity and features the iconic lightning bolt chest logo, which Barry likely added due to inspiration from heroes like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman.
The DCEU’s Barry Allen meets his Arrowverse counterpart in a quick, comedic moment in Crisis On Infinite Earths. In their brief conversation, the two exchange compliments towards each other’s costumes, with the DCEU suit being commended for its protectiveness and the Arrowverse suit having its sleek look and comfiness noted. As Barry’s superhero career continues, he likely creates a new suit with a more flexible and streamlined material, and his encounter with the Arrowverse’s Barry Allen likely influenced his new design.
The DCEU’s Barry Allen may have combined elements of his original suit and the Arrowverse version, crafting a costume that’s the best of both worlds, literally. With his cold and friction-proof armor on a sleeker and more maneuverable suit, Barry may have an additional edge in combat, being able to attack and dodge more efficiently while remaining protected from extreme temperatures. Visually, Barry’s new suit is much closer to those worn by Grant Gustin in The Flash.
Barry also gained more than new suit ideas; he also received his superhero name. Barry was never referred to as “The Flash” at any point in the DCEU so far, and he reacts to the moniker with confusion when meeting the Arrowverse’s Barry. While the new suit is likely inspired by his brief time in the Arrowverse, Barry may also start referring to himself as The Flash in his upcoming solo film. Wonder Woman, similarly, was never referred to by this name in the DCEU until Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and the origin behind this may be told in a future installment.
Barry’s new suit is most likely inspired by the Arrowverse within continuity, but in the real world, it seems more like a way to bring him closer to his comic roots. Barry Allen’s new suit strongly resembles The Flash’s costume in the New 52 comics, with glowing yellow lines being prominent on both outfits. Barry’s lighting, previously blue in the DCEU, is now yellow. While this may seem to be an innocuous detail to casual fans, the color of Barry’s lightning is an important detail. In the comics, yellow lightning represents the Speedforce, a cosmic force that gives Barry his fantastic abilities. His nemesis, the Reverse-Flash, conjures red lightning, which represents the negative Speedforce. Thanks to his Crisis On Infinite Earths cameo, the DCEU’s Barry Allen will have a more comic-accurate costume and his iconic name in The Flash.
