We need to discuss the DC Extended Universe. While the Marvel Cinematic Universe's chief (and much more serious) rival has had a few wins lately, notably Matt Reeves's The Batman, the big-screen world of Superman, Wonder Woman, and co. has been largely a mess.
The DCEU's misfires include, but are certainly not limited to: Joss Whedon's takeover of Justice League (and subsequent allegations of "completely unacceptable" behavior), the Batfleck debacle, and an unfortunately underwhelming Wonder Woman sequel. And now, the DCEU's next major event, The Flash, could be in jeopardy, thanks to the recent arrests of its star, Ezra Miller, as well as new allegations of grooming and violence seemingly emerging by the week.
If you're here to understand exactly what the studio fears, what's being alleged, and what fans want—Grant Gustin, the leading man of The Flash TV show?—we have you covered. Here's everything you need to know about Miller's latest arrest, the Warner Bros. meeting, new accusations, and what it all means for the future of the DCEU.
What are the Most Recent Allegations Against Miller?
On June 23, Rolling Stone reported that Miller has been hosting a mother and her three young children at their Vermont farm, with multiple sources telling the outlet that the living conditions are unsafe. The mother, 25, told Rolling Stone that the ranch "has been a healing haven for us,” after leaving what she described as an abusive relationship with an ex. Yet the children's father, who opposes the living arrangement, said, “I got a bad feeling in my stomach. I do want to go get my kids, they mean the fucking world to me.”
Two sources told Rolling Stone that Miller's farm "is an unsafe environment for children, alleging there are unattended guns strewn around the home on Miller’s 96-acre property." A source also alleged that one child picked up a stray bullet and put it in her mouth. Reportedly, a social worker visited the home and told the children's father that they "looked good," yet there was "more work to do."
The report from Miller's farm follows a story from June 8, when TMZ was the first outlet to report that Miller had been accused of grooming Tokata Iron Eyes, now 18, since the latter was 12 years old. In court documents obtained by People, Iron Eyes's parents, Chase Iron Eyes and Sara Jumping Eagle, claimed that Miller has been manipulating their daughter for years, saying that Miller "took an immediate and apparently innocent liking" to Tokata. Even more, Case and Sara alleged that Miller gave Tokata marijuana, LSD, and alcohol as a teenager. In the court documents, they went on to claim that Miller, through the Quiet organization, offered to pay Tokata's college tuition. This past December, Tokata allegedly dropped out of school and later traveled to Vermont, New York City, Los Angeles, and Hawaii with Miller. Chase and Sara, in the complaint, added that Miller "uses violence, intimidation, threat of violence, fear, paranoia, delusions and drugs to hold sway over a young adolescent Tokata,"
In a statement posted to Instagram amidst the allegations, Tokata Iron Eyes defended Miller. Tokata's parents told People that Tokata doesn't have a phone and that they "doubt whether they wrote the statement."
What's Going on Between Ezra Miller and Warner Bros.?
On April 20, Hawaii police arrested Miller for the second time this year. According to the Hawaii Police Department, Miller was arrested for second-degree assault in the early morning, at a private residence in the district of Puna. A news release said, "During the course of their investigation, police determined that the individual, later identified as Ezra Miller, became irate after being asked to leave and reportedly threw a chair, striking a 26-year-old female on the forehead, resulting in an approximate half-inch cut."
What about the first arrest? According to the Associated Press, Miller was arrested at a Hawaii karaoke bar at the end of March. Hawaii Police Assistant Chief Kenneth Quiocho told the AP that Miller took issue with patrons singing "Shallow," from The Star is Born. As the AP report details, Miller "grabbed a mic from a singing woman and lunged at a man playing darts," before authorities charged them with disorderly conduct and harassment. There are more incidents, too. Miller has been the subject of at least police calls in Hawaii since March 7. Here's how the AP classified the incidents, via info from Quiocho:
They were “manini” incidents—a Hawaii Pidgin term that can mean minor or small—such as filming people at a gas station, refusing to leave the sidewalk area of a restaurant and arguing with people.
The same AP story detailing Miller's arrest revealed a court complaint against Miller, filed by two Hawaii residents. The complaint alleges that Miller “burst into the bedroom of the petitioner(s) and threatened” the alleged male victim by “saying ‘I will bury you and your slut wife.’” The residents filed a restraining order against them (Miller's pronouns are they/them), as well as alleged that Miller stole some of their belongings, which included a passport and wallet. Two weeks later, however, the AP followed up with the news that the two individuals dropped the restraining order against Miller. The lawyer for the two residents, William Dean, declined to comment on why they dropped the restraining order.
Even before the second arrest, this was all enough, according to an earlier story from Rolling Stone, for Warner Bros. executives to hold a meeting about Miller's future with the franchise. The Rolling Stone story alleges that Miller had "meltdowns" while filming The Flash. An insider told the outlet that while"there was no yelling or violent outbursts," they described Miller as "losing it." "Ezra would get a thought in [their] head and say, 'I don’t know what I’m doing.'" The meeting reportedly happened on March 30, with the executives deciding to pause Miller's future projects with the studio. (Miller also stars in the Fantastic Beasts franchise.)
What Does This Mean For the Future of the DCEU?
Thanks to a report from Deadline, it seems as if Miller will not remain as the DCEU's big-screen Flash for the foreseeable future. Sources told the outlet that "even if no more allegations surface, the studio won’t likely keep Miller in the Flash role in future DC films. That would mean replacing him in the future, but there is still a $200 million investment on the line with the first film and Warner Bros execs have to be cringing at each new press report."
Meanwhile, fans have been blasting social media with calls to replace the big-screen Flash (Miller) with the small-screen Flash (Gustin), so maybe that's the fan-friendly fix here. Since The Flash doesn't hit theaters until June 23, 2023, this situation is surely far from its end, whether it means Warner Bros. keeping or replacing Miller. We'll keep this story updated if further details emerge.
