When news broke earlier this month that Warner Bros. would shelve the near-completed “Batgirl” instead of releasing it as planned on HBO Max, prompted an immediate question: What would happen to “The Flash”? While both DC superhero movies have been highly anticipated, the future of the latter has seemed more in doubt at times given that it stars Ezra Miller, the 29-year-old actor who has faced multiple criminal charges — in addition to allegations of molestation and assault — for the latter months. Two weeks ago, when the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said on a quarterly earnings call that he was “very excited” about DC’s upcoming titles, including “The Flash,” which is still due out in 2023. On Monday, Miller announced that they are facing ” their complex mental health issues”. “Having recently gone through a period of intense crisis, I now understand that I suffer from complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment,” Miller said in a statement shared with the Washington Post. “I want to apologize to everyone that I have worried and upset with my previous behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to return to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.” The statement came after months of silence from Miller regarding the allegations against them and amid discussions at Warner Bros. on how to handle the $200 million film, which is expected to play a key role in the DC Extended Universe. According to Evan Nierman, a crisis management expert who serves as managing director of PR firm Red Banyan, this was a logical next step for Warner Bros. because it “repeats the burden on Miller.” “It takes a situation where someone could be considered a criminal or a villain and turns that into someone who deserves some grace and understanding,” Nirman said. “I suspect Warner Bros. was very happy to go that route. I don’t know who pays [treatment]but even if the studio paid for it, that seems like a pretty worthwhile investment considering what’s already been poured into the film itself.” Asked for comment on Miller’s statement, Warner Bros. representatives referred the Washington Post to a Miller publicist, who had no further comment. Miller was arrested twice this year in Hawaii — once in March for disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar and again in April for allegedly throwing a chair that hit a woman in the face at a private residence. Miller pleaded no contest to the disorderly conduct charge and paid a fine. the harassment charge was dismissed. A temporary restraining order filed by a couple who claimed the actor threatened them was also lifted in April. Last week, Miller was charged with felony burglary in Vermont, where they live, for an incident in May in which bottles of alcohol were allegedly stolen from a home whose occupants were not present. Assault charges against Miller date back to April 2020, when a video went viral in which the actor appeared to choke a woman in Iceland. no charges were filed. Miller has also faced multiple allegations of abuse and grooming, some of which have led to requests for protective orders. In June, according to Rolling Stone, the parents of an 18-year-old sought a restraining order against Miller on behalf of their child, who they said Miller had groomed for several years after visiting North Dakota’s Standing Rock Reservation. Later that month, the Daily Beast reported that a Massachusetts mother and her 12-year-old child were granted a temporary restraining order against Miller for allegedly being inappropriate towards the child. It is unclear whether Miller will participate in future projects as the Flash. According to Nierman, Warner Bros. executives they have their work cut out between now and the current film’s June 2023 release date. “The key will be, can Ezra Miller stay out of trouble until the premiere?” said the crisis management expert. “I would have to think that Warner Bros. would do everything in their power to increase the chances of that happening.” This post has been updated.
