Ezra Miller has already appeared twice on the big screen as The Flash in cameos for both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. But the indie darling turned cinematic superhero will finally have a major role in Justice League this November, but as comics-heavy the DC Extended Universe may be, one major component of Flash lore will be absent: Barry Allen’s spring-loaded costume ring.
What Happened:
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ezra Miller revealed that Barry Allen’s “costume ring,” a relic from the Silver Age of comic books, is not yet in the DCEU nor in Justice League. “I can confirm, spoiler alert, his suit does not pop out of his ring,” Miller said, who explained it’s due to the fact Barry is still early in his superhero career. “Things have to progress, you know? Original Barry Allen was clearly an incredibly, incredibly clever scientist. We acknowledge and respect that.”
“We want to apologize to the fans who are mad about the ring thing,” he added.
What It Means:
The DCEU isn’t very casual viewer-friendly when it comes to incorporating the eccentricities of comic books to the big screen. Parademons popped out of nowhere in Dawn of Justice, anyone who skipped Dawn of Justice were absolutely lost for Suicide Squad, and the trailer for Justice League contains an actual Green Lantern reference. So it’s odd that of all things, it’s Barry’s ring that isn’t in the film continuity. At least not yet.
In the comic books, the Fastest Man Alive needs no phone booths or cave poles. Instead, Barry Allen keeps his superhero costume hidden in a ring on his left hand. When danger strikes, Barry presses the engraved lightning bolt, and out comes his Flash costume via spring which he uses his super speed to quickly change. It’s a kooky comic book thing that’s survived as part of Flash’s legacy, and while even the TV shows haven’t introduced the ring (although Flash’s nemesis Eobard Thawne has a ring in the CW’s The Flash), it’s an important part of the character’s mythology.
What’s Next:
The ring isn’t in the DCEU yet, Miller is careful to clarify. With the Flash guaranteed to make yet another appearance in the Flashpoint movie, other aspects of Flash lore will show up eventually. “I know the ring is the coolest thing about the DC universe,” he said in the interview. “It was a little hard for us to sell in this version of this universe right now. Bear with us! There’s gonna be other cool things.”
Justice League will be released on November 17.
