In the midst of this summer’s flurry of exciting blockbusters, a few films were inevitably overshadowed or underperformed at the box office. Among them, The Flash stood out as a bomb. However, there’s a glimmer of hope for the Andy Muschietti-directed DC film as it recently raced onto digital platforms, granting it a second chance. This release has allowed dedicated fans to meticulously scrutinize every frame of the movie, especially the multitude of captivating DC cameos. One such cameo involved Jay Garrick, the alternate version of Flash. While the actor behind the character remained a mystery, it has now been unveiled that the film’s editor, Jason Ballantine, lent his face to portray the original Scarlet Speedster.
During an interview with Frame.io Insider, Ballantine delved into the “Chrono Bowl” sequence teeming with DC cameos and disclosed the use of his own visage for the Golden Age Flash. He shared, “There was a moment with (Muschietti) figuring out the Chrono Bowls and the revisiting to the different time periods, etc., and the Jay Garrick character, the black and white Flash, and Andy’s conceptualizing that.” Ballantine further explained:
“He wanted that character to appear prominently on screen, and our visual effects supervisor, DJ, suggested, ‘Well, if we’re going to have such a digitally rendered character on a large scale, it would be better to have a real face to enhance the shot’s authenticity.’ So, I volunteered and seized the opportunity to have my face transposed onto the original Flash.”
A Multitude of DC Cameos
And thus, the enigma of Jay Garrick’s portrayal in The Flash was finally solved. Initially, it was believed that Teddy Sears, who strikingly resembled the CGI rendition of Golden Age Flash, played the character. This notion made sense, considering Sears had a significant role as the villainous Zoom in The Flash TV series, where he masqueraded as Jay Garrick to deceive Barry Allen’s Flash. However, Sears swiftly refuted his involvement in the film during an interview with TVLine. The answer was hidden in plain sight, as Ballantine’s interview was published shortly after The Flash hit theaters in mid-June, pointing DC fans toward the truth.
The Flash’s Chrono Bowl dazzled viewers with an array of DC cameos, featuring Adam West’s Batman, Helen Slater’s Supergirl, and three distinct interpretations of the Man of Steel, including Christopher Reeve, George Reeves, and the fabled Nicolas Cage Superman that never materialized. It is worth noting that the film’s decision to employ a more generic design for Jay Garrick, rather than casting John Wesley Shipp, who had previously portrayed Jay in the CW series and also played Barry Allen’s Flash in the character’s short-lived 90s show, seemed somewhat peculiar. Nevertheless, given Ballantine’s extensive collaboration with Muschietti as the longtime editor on the IT films, it is gratifying to know that they opted to utilize someone’s likeness instead of crafting a completely CGI creation from scratch. Moreover, it appears that Ballantine thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the character’s realization.
The Legacy of The Flash
Despite The Flash’s tumultuous decade-long development process, embroiled in controversies and marred by box office disappointment, it is a commendable film that deserves a fair chance. The movie showcases an exuberantly comedic style, creative action sequences, and a host of iconic DC characters, not least of which is the show-stealing return of Michael Keaton’s Batman. You can now watch The Flash, with Ballantine’s portrayal of Jay Garrick, on digital platforms. Check out the film’s trailer below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about The Flash movie
Who played Jay Garrick in ‘The Flash’ movie?
The character of Jay Garrick in ‘The Flash’ movie was portrayed by Jason Ballantine, who served as the film’s editor. His face was used to represent the Golden Age Flash in the movie.
Why was there confusion about who played Jay Garrick in ‘The Flash’?
Initially, there was confusion regarding the actor who played Jay Garrick because the CGI render of the character bore a resemblance to Teddy Sears, who had previously played the villain Zoom in ‘The Flash’ TV series. However, it was later revealed that Jason Ballantine, the film’s editor, provided his likeness for the character.
Which other DC characters made cameo appearances in ‘The Flash’?
‘The Flash’ movie featured numerous cameo appearances by popular DC characters. Some notable cameos included Adam West’s Batman, Helen Slater’s Supergirl, and different versions of Superman, such as Christopher Reeve, George Reeves, and the unreleased Nicolas Cage Superman.
How was the portrayal of Jay Garrick different in ‘The Flash’ compared to the CW series?
In ‘The Flash’ movie, the portrayal of Jay Garrick had a more generic design and did not feature actor John Wesley Shipp, who had previously played the character in the CW series. Instead, the film used Jason Ballantine’s likeness for the Golden Age Flash.
Is ‘The Flash’ movie worth watching despite its troubled development and box office performance?
Yes, ‘The Flash’ movie offers a unique and energetic comedic style, creative action sequences, and a lineup of iconic DC characters. Notably, Michael Keaton’s return as Batman in the film has garnered praise. Despite its troubled development and box office performance, the movie deserves a chance and has its own merits.
More about The Flash movie
- The Flash movie
- Teddy Sears denies involvement in The Flash movie
- Frame.io Insider interview with Jason Ballantine
- DC Comics
3 comments
omg so we finally know who played jay garrick in the flash movie! i was so curious and it turns out it was the editor jason ballantine?! that’s so cool! i love how they used his face for the golden age flash, it adds a personal touch, you know? i can’t wait to watch the movie again and see all those dc cameos, like adam west’s batman and helen slater’s supergirl! it’s gonna be epic!
Wow, the flash movie had a lot of ups and downs, huh? development issues, box office struggles, controversy. but you know what? i think it deserves a chance. from what i’ve heard, it’s actually a good film with a fun and energetic style. and with jason ballantine as jay garrick, it adds a personal touch to the character. i can’t wait to watch it and see all those iconic dc characters popping up. let’s give the flash a shot!
Wait, so teddy sears didn’t play jay garrick in the flash movie? i thought he did because the cgi flash looked so much like him! but now they’re saying it was jason ballantine, the editor? that’s wild! i guess they wanted a real face for the character, and ballantine volunteered. gotta say, that’s pretty awesome. i’m excited to see all those dc characters making cameos too, especially michael keaton as batman. the flash movie sounds like a blast!