Warner Bros. has changed the release date of The Flash amid many other delays, but here's why Ezra Miller's solo film is coming out earlier instead of later - and why it has to do with Captain Marvel 2. Now directed by IT's Andy Muschietti, the studio has been attempting to get a standalone Flash movie off the ground for years. After all this time, it appears that The Flash is finally making significant progress, with WB and DC setting a 2022 release date last year and had plans to begin filming in 2021.

However, the fate of The Flash and most other Hollywood productions have become uncertain as the world adjusts to the growing coronavirus pandemic. Thanks to productions around the world shutting down, studios have had to adjust their release slates for not only 2020, but for years to come. Warner Bros. is no exception, as they recently announced the delays of multiple films all the way through 2022. This specifically impacted DC with The Batman and Shazam 2 pushed back several months, while maintaining their 2021 and 2022 release years, respectively. However, these announcements also impacted The Flash, just not in the way many anticipated.

Related: Why Ezra Miller's Flash Movie Is Taking So Long

Instead of hitting theaters on the previously announced July 1, 2022 date, WB moved The Flash up to June 3, 2022. Although a one month shift isn't that drastic in the grand scheme of things, it is quite shocking to see The Flash be the one movie to not get delayed. So, what makes the solo film for the Scarlet Speedster any different? It would appear that the reason for The Flash moving up instead of back is directly related to the new-look Phase 4 Marvel Cinematic Universe slate - specifically, avoiding a clash with Captain Marvel 2.

Just like Warner Bros., Disney had to change the release dates of multiple films due to coronavirus delays, and the MCU was impacted drastically. The new Phase 4 slate saw Black Widow take Eternals' date, Eternals take Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' date, and so on. But, Disney and Marvel Studios also used this as an opportunity to announce a release date for Captain Marvel 2. The Brie-Larson led sequel was scheduled for July 8, 2022 - just one week after The Flash's prior release date. A week of separation is not enough for two major comic book movies, so it would appear that WB and DC moved The Flash up to avoid a near head-to-head battle with the MCU.

It is ironic that The Flash is the one film to now receive an earlier release date during this massive movie slate reshuffling. The film was originally supposed to come out in 2018 and was delayed multiple times as directors joined and exited the project. It has been an incredibly difficult movie to get moving (and that was before the controversy over a recent Ezra Miller viral video). Now, an unprecedented shakeup to the Hollywood landscape and another MCU movie are responsible for The Flash receiving a slightly earlier release date.

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