The trailer for DC’s next blockbuster, The Flash, aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday night, but it was received with criticism online.
The film stars Ezra Miller, who has been at the centre of several legal difficulties in recent months, most notably pleading guilty to a trespassing charge in Vermont.
Unhappy that 30-year-old Miller’s alleged conduct had no bearing on their involvement in the multimillion-dollar production, several social media users have called for an outright boycott of the picture.
Following the release of the trailer, one user took to Twitter and stated, ‘Boycott the Flash. Don’t give Ezra Miller your money or attention; instead, use the hashtag #BoycottTheFlash.’
‘No,’ said a second individual. ‘I HOPE it does sooo awful #BoycottTheFlash,’ one social media user said, while another added, ‘It doesn’t matter if the movie is excellent, bad, or even the finest DCEU picture ever, I WILL NOT see it because of Ezra Miller.’
‘This #Flash movie will be out on my birthday, and I will do anything but support it,’ said another. Ezra Miller should have been sacked,’ as well as ‘Bruh. Ezra Miller basically did everything possible to get dismissed from his job.’
In recent weeks, some have questioned whether the actor, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, should continue to be the franchise’s face.
After apologising for drawing unfavourable attention to the film and confirming that they had sought therapy for ‘complicated mental health concerns,’ Peter Safran and James Gunn discussed their future in the role.
According to Deadline, Safran said: ‘Ezra is completely committed to their recovery. We’re fully supportive of that journey that they’re on right now.
‘When the time is right, when they feel they are ready to have the discussion, we’ll all figure out what the best way forward is.
‘But right now, they are completely focused on their recovery.
‘And in our conversations with them over the last couple of months, it feels like they’re making enormous progress.’
Miller was charged with trespassing during an alleged burglary in Vermont and agreed to a plea agreement in the hopes that other charges in the same case would be dismissed.
They also made news after being jailed twice in Hawaii on second-degree assault and disorderly conduct charges in a karaoke club.
They were accused in June of housing a woman and her three small children on their property in a ‘unsafe environment’ for the young family.
Amid the allegations, many have asked whether they will still be appearing as the titular role in The Flash, which is due to be released in summer.
‘Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,’ Miller said.
‘I want to apologise to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behaviour.’
‘I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.’
The film will be released in theatres on June 16, and the recently released teaser features appearances by Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton, both of whom have previously played Batman.
