The Flash: Rogue War (2023 Film)

The Flash: Rogue War is a 2023 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character the Flash. It is a follow-up to The Trinity (2022) and the fifth installment in the DC Multimedia Universe (DCMU). The film was directed by Edgar Wright, written by WallyGoat7, and features Lucas Till as the Flash, along with Willa Holland, Andrew Lincoln, Bruce Greenwood, Luke Goss, Evan Peters and Thomas Barbusca. The Flash: Rogue War is the first live-action film to feature the Flash in a lead role, as well as the first live-action cinematic portrayal of Jay Garrick, Wally West and the Rogue Gallery. A seasoned Flash must take down the newly formed Rogues Gallery, a collection of his former villains and some new ones. At the same time, the Flash must juggle his hero life with his life as Barry Allen. The film was developed immediately after the script of Batman: The Arkham Conspiracy was finished, despite being the fifth installment in the franchise. Originally casting Luke Mitchell in the titular role, he was replaced by Lucas Till in a last minute decision. The studio plans to use Luke Mitchell for another role, sometime down the lane.

Act I
Open on Central City, an urban metropolitan area. The Flash is running around the city, saving cats, saving balloons, stopping car accidents, stuff like that. While this goes on, Barry narrates.

Barry (Narration)

March 18th, 2006. It was three years ago today I was struck by lightning and doused in my own chemicals. I had those chemicals because of my job as a forensic scientist,

Flashback to Barry walking in on his Dad getting arrested and his mother dead on the ground.

Barry (Narration)

-which I became to prove my fathers innocence in my mother’s murder.

Little Barry is at his mother’s funeral, transition to grown Barry at his father’s funeral.

Barry (Narration)

He died before I ever could. Now I work to prevent that from happening to anybody else.

Back to the city, Flash is still doing heroics.

Barry (Narration)

But back to what I was saying, that accident gave me extraordinary powers. Miracles to use for the greater good of all. Life’s been looking up lately, I’m a hero in my city,

Flashback to Barry being celebrated in the police precinct

Barry (Narration)

I’m a hero to the police department,

Flashback to Iris hugging Barry

Barry (Narration)

And I even managed to snag the girl of my dreams, Iris West, a couple months back. I’m actually on my way to see her now. But first, I have some stops to make.

Barry rounds up criminals, tying them with a rope and leaving them for the police.

Barry (Narration)

My name is Barry Allen, and I’m the fastest man alive.

Bird’s eye view of the city, as he runs he creates lightning bolt symbol with his streaks. This merges into the movie title card: The Flash: Rogue War

Barry arrives at Iris’s apartment and rings the doorbell, fixes his hair and knows he forgot something. Flowers, he runs back to get them before Iris can open her door.

Barry

Iris! Sorry I’m late, but I brought these for you.

Barry hands her the flowers.

Iris

That’s sweet Barry, but what is it you’re doing that makes you 30 minutes late all the time?

Barry

Oh God, Iris you know how my sleep schedule can get. Then you have all this traffic in the city, and on my way some guy-

Iris

Okay, Jesus I get it. Jitter’s?

Barry

Ha, yeah sounds good. After you.

Barry opens the door wider for Iris, and the two walk through the apartment hallway.

Iris

Barry Allen, the fastest talker alive.

At CC Jitter’s, Barry and Iris talk about life.

Iris

-and so, she walks in the studio all mad, “if you don’t get this in by the deadline you’re fired!”

Barry chuckles

Barry

Yeah, and then what happened next?

Iris

Well I got it in by the deadline.

Barr sarcastically slow claps.

Barry

What a story! Central City’s very own Iris West ladies and gentlemen!

Iris

Oh shut up, you talk about your job if you’re so good

Barry

Well, you know how it is, Iris. Bad people getting caught doing bad things.

Iris

You ever wonder what happens to them? You know, like after prison?

Barry

Well, I’d like to believe they see and understand the fault in their actions, you know? Understand that what they did was wrong, and never return to that sorta life again. Doesn’t always pan out though.

Barry sips his coffee, and a waiter nearby trips. Before she can even process that she’s falling, Barry seemingly slows down time, stabilizes her on the ground, removes the rock from her path, and sits back down. Time returns and she balances herself.

Barry

Careful ma’am! Almost tripped there.

Waiter

Jeez, yeah. Somebody’s gotta clean up here.

The waiter moves on with her day. Iris hadn’t noticed Barry helping the waiter, he was going too fast for anybody to notice.

Iris

You feel that gust of wind just then?

Barry

Huh, yeah. Probably just a draft, you know how it gets here.

Iris

So anyways, Wally’s coming over to Central to stay with his auntie Iris for a week. You remember how you set that interview up with me and the Flash?

Barry

Yeah.. why?

Iris

Okay, hear me out. Wally is a gigantic fan of the Flash, I mean he adores the guy. He has his posters, his bedsheets, his pajamas-

Barry

Iris, c’mon. I mean he’s a busy guy! I mean, it’s been like three years since you did the interview I don’t even know if he-

Iris

Barry, please! Last favor I ask, I swear.

Barry takes a deep breath and sighs.

Barry

Fine, I can set up a meeting or something. Your place or mine?

Iris

Why not just outside jitter’s? Sorry, I know he’s a hero and everything, I just don’t really trust somebody like that knowing where I live. Or even where you live, for that matter.

Barry

Like a meta?

Iris

Yeah, you know? Like what if he just decided to snap one day? Wouldn’t be a thing I could do about it.

Barry

Huh. I guess not.

Iris

Anyways, thank you so much Barry. Just text me whenever the Flash can make it and we’ll be there.

Iris gets a buzz on her phone.

Iris

Shit, his bus came early. I gotta run Barry.

Barry

Yeah, have fun with that babe.

Iris kisses him on the cheek, and she drives off towards the bus stop.

Barry gets a text from Captain Singh, he needs him at the scene of a crime immediately.

Barry

Great. Now I’m late for work too.

Barry leaves a tip on the table, walks outside and runs to the crime scene.

Director Singh

Late again?

Barry

Sorry, sir, you know how traffic is. Plus on the way I had to-

Director Singh

Yeah, all right, all right.

Barry

Sorry. What have we got.

Director Singh motions to the shattered glass surrounded by crime tape.

Singh

You tell me Allen.

Barry enters the crime scene and kneels down, examining the glass.

Barry

It’s bent out of shape. Like it was heated up. When did this happen?

Singh

Last night. Store owner said she was held at gunpoint by a man in a mask, and she pissed him off, so he exploded his glass window in a.. Fit of rage or something like that I dunno.

Barry

You think this is who I think it is?

Singh

There’s alot of fire-themed villains out there, but I called the warden anyways just to make sure. He said Rory was still there.

Barry

Huh.

Barry notices something glimmer in the sun, frost.

Barry

Take a look at this Singh. It’s ice.

Singh takes a look, and is horrified by the prospect of Cold and Heatwave being out again.

Barry

Have the guys take a sample.

Barry walks away from the crime scene, into another alley.

Singh

Allen! Where are you going!

Barry

My work is done here, you guys can take it from here! Besides, I have somewhere I need to be.

In the alley, hidden from onlookers, Barry activates his speed and zooms through the city. He stops by his apartment, and speeds inside to get his suit, leaving the closet door open on an empty suit rack. He races to Iron Heights in Keystone City, and enters the prison complex. He stops at the entrance of the main prison, to two security guards.

The Flash

I need to speak with the Warden.

Guard #1

Hold on, you can’t get in without proper verification.

The Flash

Trust me, if I wanted to, I’d be in already.

The guards are silent. Guard #2 clicks his earpiece headset.

Guard #2

Warden Morice, you have a visitor here for you, copy.

Warden (Through Headset)

Who is it?

The Flash

The Flash. Open up.

The Flash and the Warden are touring through Iron Heights.

Warden Morice

I assure you Flash, everything is up to code.

The Flash

Is that so? Then what were Snart and Rory doing robbing banks.

Warden Morice

Snart and Rory are in their cells.

The Flash

Really? Then show me them.

Warden Morice

Well you see, this is classified information. I can’t possibly justify a costumed vigilante walking into my prison and-

The Flash walks right past Morice. He enters the designated metahuman pipeline, and find three cells that were busted through.

The Flash

Who else escaped?

The Warden sighs, defeated.

Warden Morice

Sam Scudder and Roscoe Dillon.

The Flash

Mirror Master and the Top! And you didn’t think to tell anybody?

Warden Morice

Three separate supervillains escaped! How do you think that’s gonna look on my record?

The Flash

Worse now then it would’ve been had you contacted the authorities.

Warden Morice

But you’ve fought them before right! You can round them up and bring em back here, cant you?

The Flash sighs.

The Flash

I don’t have time for this conversation, I hope you’re better in whatever your next job is.

Barry runs back to Central City, and uses his police radio to listen for the next breakout. In his apartment, he gets a call from Iris. The scene switches to an apartment with the escaped convicts strategizing. Music is playing as they celebrate a successful heist.

Captain Cold

Listen, listen, enough celebrating. We’re not done yet.

Trickster

Bro, we just got off with like $200k easy, each.

Captain Cold

And that’s good enough for you? Who else in the room is that good enough for, show of hands.

Nobody raises their hands.

Captain Cold

And that rookie, is what separates us from the two-bit crooks you’re used to dealing with. We, we’re the real thing. We don’t settle for $200k, we’re not gonna settle for $400k, we’re not gonna settle for $600k, hell, we’re not even gonna stop at a million.

Captain Boomerang

Shit, I might.

The room laughs.

Captain Cold

Hilarious, but we need to have our sights on something bigger. THE score, then we all bounce. Leave the entire country type deal. See, when our guardian angel busted me, Rory, Roscoe and Scudder out, he didn’t stop at our freedom.

Captain Cold opens a bag, full of upgraded tools for the gang to use.

Captain Cold

He left some goodies too. For Mick, an upgraded heat gun and a flame retardant suit. No more accidental third degree burns.

Heatwave

A shame.

Captain Cold

For Scudder, upgraded mirror guns with improved range, I mean, these are basically portals at this point. Boomerang, sharper boomerangs and more trick ones, go figure.

Captain Boomerang

Aye, don’t disrespect the boomerang mate. Get you out of a scuffle, this one will.

Captain Cold

Roscoe, these toy tops are explosive. Mini explosion tornadoes. For the rookie- now this was some futuristic ass tech. I’m a little jealous, maybe I should just use these myself..

Trickster

Wait! Wait, stop! I can still-

Captain Cold

Jesus relax, I’m joking. But these boots practically allow you to walk on air, they’re anti-gravity. And for my dear sister-

Lisa

No. No, I told you I wan’t no part of this life with you Lenny, I mean you’re lucky I’m even letting you use my apartment to do this!

Captain Cold

Lisa, please! You have to know what this means to me, how many times he’s put me away!

Lisa

No, Lenny. I mean it.

Captain Cold

At least let me show what I have for you. You’re an ice skater, right?

Lisa is interested, and peeks her head to the bag.

Captain Cold

Look at this, ice skates that glide through the air. Paired with that, scarves that can literally extend and grab whatever you want.

Snart hands the items to Lisa, and she reluctantly agrees.

Lisa

Just this once, Lenny. Then you leave, all of you.

Captain Cold

Of course, when have I steered my baby sister wrong?

Captain Boomerang

This is a beautiful reunion, really, but who the hell gave you these?

Mirror Master

We don’t know. He blew the walls and left the bag with Heatwave, and wasn’t seen by anybody. He might be nuts, but he doesn’t lie.

Heatwave

Heh. Scudder, you can suck my-

Top

Okay, wait. How do we even know these work?

Captain Cold

I tested them myself. Which is the 30,000th reason we need to cut the questioning, I put my neck on the line for you guys. What me, Rory and Scudder say is final. Any questions?

Silence through the room

Captain Cold

Excellent. Here’s what we’re gonna do.

The scene switches to Wally and Iris in her car. She calls Barry.

Barry

Hey Iris, what’s up.

Iris

Hey Bar, just picked up Wally from the bus station and now we’re headed home. You were right about the traffic.

Barry

Yeah, it’s a nightmare. Constant black holes of… well slow-paced driving.

Iris

Right? Like the universe is hell bent on not letting you through a freeway. Anyways, I wanted to check up on the TatusSay on the LashFay. (Pig Latin: Status on the Flash).

Barry

Iris, you know how I feel about pig language. It’s a-

Iris

Made up language meant to keep kids out of the loop I know, I know. But you get my point.

Barry

Yeah, actually I reached him pretty easily. He says he’ll do it whenever you guys want, I’ll just shoot him the text and he’ll show up.

Iris

Really? Isn’t he like busy?

Barry

Eh, pretty slow day for him.

Iris

Okay, ummm, I’m not too far from Jitter’s, how about now?

Barry

Should be fine with him.

Iris

Great! And what about you? I’d love for you to meet Wall.

Barry

Sorry, no can do. Working on a really important case right now.

Iris

Huh, bummer. Well he’s here for the whole week, so stop by sometime.

Barry

Yeah, will do Iris. Gotta go.

Iris

Alright, bye.

Iris hangs up and continues to drive.

Wally

Wait, so Barry really knows the Flash?

Iris

You can understand pig latin?

Wally

Everyone over the age of 10 can understand pig latin, so we’re meeting Flash like now? Outside of a coffee shop?

Iris

It was meant to be a surprise, but yes. We are.

Wally

Sweet! Still kinda crazy how he knows the Flash though. Always took Barry for a dweeb.

Iris

Don’t call my boyfriend a dweeb!

Wally

What, is he not?

Iris

Shut up. We’re here anyways.

They park outside of CC Jitters and get out of the car.

Wally

Could you imagine if Barry was the Flash. Pssh. As if.

Iris contemplates Wally’s remark for a second, but thinks nothing of it. They approach the front of CC Jitter’s.

Wally

So, when’s he getting-

Barry zooms through the street and gets there, he’s immediately swarmed by fans with just Wally, Iris and him in the center. He vibrates his vocal chords to distort his voice.

Wally

The Flash!

Flash

Hey Wally, nice to meet you.

Flash extends his hand and shakes Wally’s fan.

Flash

Your auntie told me you were a big fan.

Wally

Oh my God, like you wouldn’t believe. I mean I have your video games, comics, TV shows, posters, I mean your pajamas! I’m even the president of your fan club back home!

Flash

Really? And what’s that like?

Wally

Well, I mean not much really. Kinda just my friends gathered around my backyard eating cookies- but anyways enough about me, how did you get so fast?

Flash

Well, you see-

Suddenly a car crashes, and the crowd around Iris and Wally scatter.

Flash

Stay back, I’ve got this.

Flash looks up to find the Top, a villain who can create tornadoes with his body, creating a cyclone right now.

Flash

Dillon! What are you doing?

Top

More bad questions, Flash. What you should be asking, is who’s covering your funeral costs?

Top throws an explosive top at Barry, he catches it, and it explodes in his hand. Barry is blasted away.

Top

What are you, invincible too?

Flash

My friction kept my hand from exploding into pieces. Killing isn’t usually your M.O, Roscoe, what’s the deal?

Top

Things change, Flash.

Suddenly, a rock is thrown at the Top’s head. It’s Wally. Iris is shocked, she hadn’t even noticed Wally disappearing.

Iris

Wally! Get back here!

Top

Ptsh, Kids.

The Top uses his power to direct a car in Wally’s direction, and Barry saves Wally from the crash and inadvertently electrocutes Wally, he gets back to the fight.

Flash

Flash Fact Roscoe,

Barry starts running in the opposite direction of his tornado.

Flash

Criminal activity in front of the Flash? Not a good idea. But throwing an entire car at a kid? That’s attempted manslaughter, and that’s at least 15 years in jail.

The Flash successfully depletes the Tornado, and uses an inhibitor collar to stop the Top from continued spinning. He also handcuffs him.

Flash

And where you’re going? Might as well be a life sentence. The police will be here soon, don’t go anywhere.

Flash speeds over to where Wally was, seeing him unconscious on the ground.

Flash

Oh God,

Flash zooms over to Iris with Wally’s sleeping body.

Flash

Ma’am, we need to get to a hospital.

Flash carries both Iris and Wally to the nearest hospital ASAP.

Flash

We need a doctor! Doctor!

Nurses swarm the Flash and Iris, and take Wally to a hospital room. In the room, Flash waits by Wally’s side and Iris on the other. The nurses hook him up to an IV and leave the room.

Iris

What the hell happened to him? Why won’t he wake up?

Flash

Iris..

Flash unmasks himself, revealing himself to Iris. A tear runs down his face.

Barry

I’m so sorry.

Cast

 * Lucas Till as The Flash/Barry Allen

Three years ago, Barry Allen was gifted the ability to move at incredible speeds. As the fastest man alive, he spends his day solving crimes as a Central City forensic scientist and as the Flash. During this time, the Scarlet Speedster has put many dangerous men away, and most of those foes decide to band together as the Rogue Gallery. It's up to the Flash to stop them from pulling the greatest heist in Central City history.


 * Willa Holland as Iris West

The love interest of Barry Allen, Iris West is an investigative journalist for Central City News. Born and raised blocks away from where Barry lived, Iris became a journalist because the tragic story of Barry's parents fascinated her. She began dating Barry a couple months prior to the events of the film, and has brought her nephew into town to meet the Flash.


 * Thomas Barbusca as Wally West

Wally West is a well-meaning kid, even though he's a trouble-maker. The nephew of Iris West, Wally visits Central City to meet his hero, the Flash, and is induced into a coma after a terrible accident.


 * Bruce Greenwood as Jay Garrick/The Flash

The original Flash, Jay Garrick has since retired from the metal hat and lives out his days with his wife, Joan Garrick. After seeing that Barry needs help, Jay Garrick dons the suit once more and saves Barry Allen's life.


 * Andrew Lincoln as Captain Cold/Leonard Snart

The first villain that the Flash has ever faced, Leonard Snart is a bank robber and mastermind thief, with an affinity for the cold. Coming from a troubled home, Snart had been a successful bank robber with his prototype cold gun, and that all changed once the Flash came onto the scene.


 * Luke Goss as Heatwave/Mick Rory

Snart's childhood best friend, Mick Rory terrorizes the streets and robs banks as Heatwave, usually paired with his friend. The fire to Snart's ice, Rory has always had an unhealthy obsession with fire.


 * Jamie Bell as Mirror Master/Sam Scudder

A young former chemist, Sam Scudder learned how to tap into the Mirror dimension through the use of his portal gun. Since then, he's decided to use his powers for thievery, often crossing paths with the Scarlet Speedster.


 * Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang/Digger Harkness
 * Evan Peters as the Trickster/Axel Walker
 * Teresa Palmer as Golden Glider/Lisa Snart
 * Sam Witwer as The Top/Roscoe Dillon
 * Anthony Starr as the Reverse Flash
 * Sendhil Ramamurthy as Director David Singh