The current changes in the DCU are also affecting the upcoming movie The Flash, as some cameos were cut, while others were rejected months ago.

After several delays and production issues, The Flash finally released on June 16, 2023, but the movie’s controversies are continuing, with many cameos from other prominent DC actors being cut or rejected from the theatrical release. DC Studios has recently been through some major changes following the ascension of James Gunn and Peter Safran into the role of co-CEOs of the company. January 2023 saw Gunn reveal a massive new plan for the future of the DC Universe, confirming some huge (and divisive) changes to the franchise that all start with the soft-reboot of the franchise after Andy Muschietti’s The Flash.

Loosely adapted from DC Comics’ 2011 Flashpoint crossover event, The Flash followed Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen as he uses his powers to travel back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. Changing the past brought with it unintended consequences, significantly changing the landscape of the DC Universe while also bringing Barry in contact with a variety of other superheroes from his and alternate realities. While this includes Sasha Calle’s Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Supergirl, and two versions of Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, portrayed by Ben Affleck and the returning Michael Keaton, several characters who were initially expected to cameo weren’t featured as a part of The Flash.

Henry Cavill’s Superman

After debuting in 2013’s Man of Steel, Henry Cavill’s version of the Man of Steel quickly became one of the most popular iterations of Superman in cinema history. However, despite initially being expected to appear in The Flash to bid farewell to the current DCEU, Cavill’s cameo was ultimately cut, though he did appear in full CGI as Barry witnessed moments from 2017’s Justice League. Cavill most recently appeared in the post-credits scene of Black Adam, teasing his DC future in a potential Man of Steel 2, though these plans fell through in December 2022 when Gunn and Safran confirmed Cavill wouldn’t be reprising the role in the new DC Universe.

Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman

Along with Cavill’s cameo, Gal Gadot was also revealed to have been trimmed from The Flash, despite being a fan-favorite in the DCEU following her introduction as Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. After the cancelation of Patty Jenkins’ sequel to Wonder Woman 1984, Gadot’s DC future was unclear, as no Wonder Woman project was confirmed by Gunn during his announcement of the new DC Universe. Gadot did appear in The Flash’s opening moments, but she was set to appear in the final scene of the film also alongside Superman, though both cameos were eventually cut and replaced with an appearance of George Clooney’s Bruce Wayne.

Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam

During a period of turmoil at DC Studios, Dwayne Johnson expected Black Adam to solve a multitude of problems and rekindle the DCEU. However, this didn’t quite come to fruition, as Black Adam was met with a negative critical and commercial response, leading to Johnson turning down the opportunities to cameo in both Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash. Recent controversies surrounding Johnson’s meddling with the production for Fury of the Gods have left his future in the franchise unclear, but unlikely – especially after the poor reception to both Black Adam and Fury of the Gods themselves.

Grant Gustin’s The Flash

Grant Gustin portrayed Barry Allen, a.k.a. the Flash, for a decade in The CW’s “Arrowverse,” introducing the character during 2013’s Arrow season 2 before starring in his own series, The Flash, which ran for nine seasons between 2014 and 2023. Since 2023’s The Flash reset the DC Universe while paying homage to everything that came before, this would have been the perfect place to celebrate Gustin’s portrayal of the Scarlet Speedster. Unfortunately, Muschietti revealed to Nerdist that there wasn’t room for Grant Gustin in The Flash, and he retired the role in May 2023’s finale of The CW’s The Flash, not receiving as much as a mention in the film.

Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman

Between 1975 and 1979, Lynda Carter portrayed Diana Prince, a.k.a. Wonder Woman, in Wonder Woman, a TV series originally airing on ABC before moving to CBS for its second and third seasons as The New Adventures of Wonder Woman. Carter’s performance as Wonder Woman was ground-breaking, even changing aspects of the character in DC Comics – such as the inclusion of the spinning transformations, which was Carter’s idea. Carter was set to appear towards the end of The Flash, as several universes begin to collide, but since Muschietti had a great number of past actors to choose from, Carter’s appearance was left on the cutting room floor.

Marlon Brando’s Jor-El

Hollywood legend Marlon Brando appeared in 1978’s Superman following a brief hiatus from acting, assuming the role of Superman’s father, Jor-El. Brando was paid $3.7 million for two weeks of work on Superman and only agreed to the role per a list of demands, including that he need not see the script beforehand and that his lines would be displayed somewhere off-camera. After his death in 2004, unused footage featuring Brando as Jor-El was used in the 2006 recut of Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut and in Superman Returns, and was almost used in 2023’s The Flash too, though this idea was eventually abandoned.

Burgess Meredith’s Penguin

Burgess Meredith appeared as the Penguin in the Batman TV series between 1966 and 1968, which saw Adam West in the titular role of Bruce Wayne. Meredith’s portrayal of the iconic Batman villain was incredibly well-received, leading to him making 21 appearances in the series over two years, and appearing in 1966’s Batman film, based on the TV series. Meredith passed away in 1997, suggesting that his cameo in 2023’s The Flash would have been created through archive footage or CGI like several other “returning” actors. However, this idea was abandoned as it didn’t fit in with the rest of the film.

Cesar Romero’s Joker

Alongside Burgess Meredith in the 1960s’ Batman series was Cesar Romero, who portrayed Batman’s most recognizable villain, the Joker. Romero appeared in the series between 1966 and 1968 and starred in the 1966 film based on the show, bringing the Clown Prince of Crime to life opposite Adam West’s Batman. Romero refused to shave his mustache for the role, so it was simply covered in the Joker’s white makeup, creating the now-hilarious look. Romero passed away in 1994, but while Adam West had a cameo in The Flash, only Romero’s iconic laugh as the Joker could be heard, without him actually making an appearance.

Michael Keaton & Sasha Calle

Michael Keaton returned as Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, in The Flash, and Sasha Calle debuted as a new version of Kara Zor-El, a.k.a. Supergirl, with both being gifted major roles in the 2023 adventure. However, the pair also filmed cameo appearances as alternate versions of their characters for The Flash’s original ending scene. This would have seen them greet Barry on the steps of the courthouse, suggesting he didn’t restore the universe in the way he thought. Keaton and Calle’s appearance at the end of The Flash was later replaced by an appearance of Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot, before DC Studios landed on shocking audiences with George Clooney’s return.