After nearly a year of wild and troubling headlines, The Flash feature film star Ezra Miller says they are choosing to find treatment.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor said, “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. I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.” As previously reported, Miller has been arrested twice in Hawaii for various charges, accused of grooming a person since they were twelve-years-old (although the person in question, now an adult, denies this), and faces a burglary charge in Vermont. And all of that is after a video surfaced of the actor appearing to attack a fan.
The escalating headlines reportedly forced Warner Bros. Pictures (and their new corporate parent Warner Bros. Discovery) to consider drastic action in regard to Miller and the long-in-development Flash feature, originally slated for release in 2018. One option included Miller seeking help and offering contrition ahead of the film’s release next summer. The ultimate sanction, scrapping the $200 million+ feature, was also considered as a last resort should the actor’s behavior continue to escalate.
At the moment, it appears Miller agreed to the studio’s preferred option — treatment and apologies — which will allow the actor to participate in publicity activities leading up to The Flash‘s June 23rd, 2023 release. But more importantly, it seems they are also in a clearer state of mind and ready to attempt some sort of healing. The stories surrounding Miller spoke to an on-going mental health problem as much as something more malicious. Although, we imagine answering charges and dealing with their various legal troubles will also be part of Miller’s “necessary work” going forward.
Warner’s dedication to the film received plenty of criticism in light of WBD’s decision to shelve the nearly-completed Batgirl HBO Max feature. Apparently, The Flash tested well with audiences and more closely aligns with the WBD corporate strategy for the DC Comics characters. Nevertheless, cancelling a film featuring a women of color (star Leslie Grace) and a prominent trans character (Ivory Aquino as Alysia Yeoh) while defending the work of an alleged abuser and burglar leaves behind muddy optics that no amount of apologies will ever clear up completely. Despite Warner’s plan for Miller, we imagine The Flash press tour will still be focused on the ugliness surrounding the film than any potential quality work within the movie itself.
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