The Flash's Ezra Miller reportedly received important advice from industry veteran George Clooney.
Via The Hollywood Reporter, fans learned that DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran reached out to Clooney to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne in The Flash. While on set, Clooney and Miller reportedly spent time together, where Clooney shared advice about handling the pressures of fame and how to conduct oneself in public.
Miller was described as being in "top form" that day, behavior which some fans may point to as still present when Miller took to the red carpet for The Flash's premiere. Fans previously were told by sources close to Miller that "Ezra wants the movie to open and the conversation to be about the movie and not about Ezra," citing this as Miller's reason for doing limited press. They added that the actor is "focused on their mental health and don't want it to be transactional."
At the premiere, Miller stayed for pictures but, in a show of love for director Andy Muschietti, said, "I love you, maestro. I think you're amazing, and I think your work is monumental." They also thanked Gunn and Safran for their "grace, discernment, and care in the context of [his] life" and for "bringing this moment to fruition."
During The Flash's promotional run, parties related to DC Studios shared messages attempting to move the conversation away from Miller's controversies and highlight the actor's qualities. Academy Award-winning and The Flash production designer Paul Austerberry shared that Miller's performance would make people forget about the negatives, highlighting some of the actor's pressures. Despite Miller's controversies, Muschietti and his production partner Barbara Muschietti also shared that Miller's position was never under threat.
Ezra Miller Was Never Going to Be Replaced as the Flash
"No, it would have been absolutely impossible," Muschietti said. "When we started reading in the news that Ezra would be replaced, we laughed, because we didn’t know where it came from. That rumor definitely didn’t come from us or the studio."
Miller's continued casting as Barry Allen/The Flash was cited by many industry critics as a major reason for The Flash's underperformance at the box office. Opening to around $55 million over its first three days, The Flash's second opening week failed to inspire signs of a rebound, with box office takings dropping over 70%. A sequel to The Flash has not yet been greenlit.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter