Rick Famuyiwa

After exiting the long-in-development Flash movie for Warner Bros., Dope director Rick Famuyiwa has been searching around fir his next project. And it looks like he’s finally found it, as he’s entered negotiations direct an adaptation of modern-day kung fu graphic novel Son of Shaolin.

If the D.C. Cinematic Universe has been chugging towards its Justice League centerpiece like a well-oiled machine, then The Flash solo movie is the one janky mechanism that keeps coming out of joint and necessitating repairs. Warner Bros. executives have been unable to pin down a creative team for the fastest man on the planet’s moment in the spotlight, having already lost original director Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) as well as replacement director Rick Famuyiwa (Dope) just this past Halloween. As the search continues for a director who won’t end up with ‘creative differences’ like the others — that’s movie slang for “refused to bend to the will of the studio” — Warner Bros. is ensuring that no trace of Famuyiwa will be left in the finished product.

When the first trailer for Justice League premiered, we all knew Barry Allen was going to be our favorite right off the bat. A couple of funny quips, and we were sold. Which made the prospect of a solo Flash movie more exciting than it had been — this Flash is a far cry from the dour tones of something like Batman v. Superman. But with the movie shedding directors every few months, most recently with Dope helmer Rick Famuyiwa’s exit, hopes for the film began to wane. Luckily, we have the Flash himself, Ezra Miller, to provide a calming and sensible take on the whole business.

Superhero movies are having a tough time lately. First it was Tim Miller’s shocking exit from Deadpool 2 over creative differences, and then composer Junkie XL’s subsequent departure from the movie in solidarity. Then, it was Rick Famuyiwa who dropped out of The Flash movie, and while there’s no confirmed reason as to why, he made it clear that this was probably another creative differences situation as well. We were all pretty bummed, as he seemed so excited when he talked about drafting the script. The actors who have signed on to the film are no less disappointed, including Kiersey Clemons, who said that she found his departure “very upsetting.”

Things are not looking good for Warner Bros.’ The Flash solo movie. The DC Film already lost its director this past April, and now his replacement has dropped out.

The DC cinematic universe at this point is its own Gordian Knot of rumors and threads of rumors that are rarely legit and usually peter out and go nowhere. On the other hand, Rick Famuyiwa just confirmed one of these rumors on his Twitter, where he posted a photo yesterday of the latest draft of The Flash script. In the photo, you can see the feet of two Funko Pop figures: the Flash, naturally, as well as those of Cyborg.

The fastest man alive and the, uh, robotiest man alive? (Sorry, I don’t know Cyborg’s tagline. Does he have one? I don’t think he’s ever gotten one. The robotiest man alive works, I think.)

Earlier this month, Warner Bros. was reportedly eyeing a few actresses for the female lead in The Flash solo movie from director Rick Famuyiwa. The shortlist included pop star Rita Ora, Sing Street breakout Lucy Boynton and, perhaps most interesting of all, Kiersey Clemons — who previously appeared in Famuyiwa’s indie hit Dope. It looks like Clemons and Famuyiwa will work together again, as the actress has officially taken the lead opposite Ezra Miller in the Scarlet Speedster’s new film.

Following his acclaimed feature debut, Dope director Rick Famuyiwa — like many of his fellow indie filmmakers — is making the leap to big budget blockbusters, having recently replaced Seth Grahame-Smith on The Flash solo film over at Warner Bros. Since Famuyiwa joined the WB / DC family, we’d been wondering if any of his Dope stars might be joining him, and the answer is…maybe!

The Flash’s big screen debut finally has a director.