The Flash Cameo You Likely Forgot About In Suicide Squad
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe began to ramp up, printing billions in revenue, Warner Bros. and DC began their efforts to launch a cinematic universe as well. After "Man of Steel" debuted in 2013 to mixed reception, the studio went all-in on the superhero genre, commissioning a wide variety of projects, including "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Suicide Squad." While the former set up the Justice League as a team waiting to be united, the latter focused on the villains of the universe.
Directed by David Ayer, "Suicide Squad" saw government agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) rounding up some of the DC universe's most nefarious villains to participate in a task force in exchange for shorter jail sentences. She recruits Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), and a variety of other bad guys to take on the nefarious Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) on what is, ostensibly, a suicide mission.
Despite promising trailers and a stacked, A-list cast, the film failed to make an impression on critics who panned the film for its editing and script (via Rotten Tomatoes). Regardless of all its faults, the film was integral to the DC Extended Universe's world-building as it helped set up a key member of the Justice League through a brief cameo that most fans seem to have forgotten.
The Flash thwarted Captain Boomerang's plan
Ezra Miller made his debut as Barry Allen in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," where he appeared in Bruce Wayne's (Ben Affleck) dreams as The Flash. Wayne would later request Allen to join the Justice League in the 2017 film of the same name. Before he was part of DC's most powerful team, The Flash operated solo, stopping villains throughout the DC universe.
In "Suicide Squad," Amanda Waller can be seen assembling Task Force X's various members. While detailing Captain Boomerang's (Courtney) history with law enforcement in his native Australia and America, we see a flashback of the Aussie criminal robbing a bank. As he's about to make his way out with the loot, The Flash arrives just in time to put the robber away. Though Miller's cameo as The Flash is brief, the scene served as the perfect way to reintroduce audiences to the speedster after his cameo in "Batman v Superman."
Miller recently returned in a cameo as The Flash for James Gunn's "Peacemaker" series on HBO Max, which served as a spin-off of "The Suicide Squad," a reboot/sequel of the original film. After appearing as a supporting character in various DCEU projects, Miller will finally headline a solo Flash film later next year alongside Michael Keaton, who will make a much-anticipated return to his role as Batman.