10 Ways Grant Gustin Could Return As Barry Allen After The Flash Ends

Grant Gustin could return as Barry Allen after The Flash‘s series finale, with the actor having a number of possible options to return to his most famous role in the future, and Ezra Miller’s upcoming The Flash movie would not impact most of them. Gustin first played Barry Allen for a two-episode arc during Arrow season 2 in 2013. The reception to the character was overwhelmingly positive, with Gustin starring in his own spinoff series — The Flash — the very next year. The actor would go on to have a very successful time as DC’s most famous speedster.

Gustin is now getting ready to finish his run as the character. The Flash is set to end with season 9. The Flash gets the chance to give the Arrowverse a proper ending, with the shared DC TV universe concluding with the last episode of Gustin’s series, as most Arrowverse shows were canceled as part of a new strategy for DC and internal changes at The CW. Gustin’s time as Barry in The Flash might be coming to an end, but the series’ ending does not have to be the end of the road for Gustin as the hero. Gustin could return as The Flash in a few different ways.

10 Grant Gustin Could Replace Ezra Miller As The Flash

The Flash movie’s ending has long been rumored to feature a shocking moment, and nothing would be more staggering than seeing Gustin’s Barry replace Miller’s — following the movie actor’s real-life controversies — when the character returns to the main DC Universe after The Flash‘s multiverse story plays out. The only problem with this possibility is that The Flash‘s director, Andy Muschietti, has gone on record saying that Gustin was not called for the movie due to the long list of possible cameos that were discussed. Gustin himself has claimed he is not in The Flash, although the actor’s words, and the director’s, could be covering up a big reveal.

9 James Gunn’s DC Universe Could Cast Grant Gustin As The Flash

With the upcoming DC Universe reboot, DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran could escape having to recast Miller in the actor’s own solo film, instead having the star simply not return as The Flash of the new DC Universe. Given how much fan demand exists for Gustin to play The Flash in the movies, it is possible that DC could decide to give Gustin a chance to serve as the main movie Barry Allen, likely as an alternate version from the one he plays in The Flash series. Gunn mentioned that he could keep DC TV actors in his DC Universe, so there is hope for Gustin.

8 Grant Gustin Could Cameo On Superman & Lois

Gustin could make an appearance as The Flash in Superman & Lois. The series was revealed to not take place in the Arrowverse, with Superman & Lois‘ version of Clark Kent, played by Tyler Hoechlin, never having met the Arrowverse’s heroes like his counterpart from that universe had. Despite The Flash season 9 properly ending the Arrowverse, Superman & Lois should continue for at least a couple more seasons, which gives the show enough time to add Gustin as The Flash for some multiverse fun. Gustin’s Flash from the Arrowverse could find his way to Superman & Lois‘ Earth to help Clark save the day before returning home.

7 An Arrowverse Justice League Movie Could Include Grant Gustin’s Flash

The Arrowverse Justice League deserves a DC Elseworlds movie after never having the chance to form. The Arrowverse Justice League was set up at the end of the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. However, the team never got together due to actors leaving, shows getting canceled, and the COVID-19 pandemic messing up production schedules and creating difficulties for crossovers. After Gunn announced an Elseworlds label of DC projects that take place outside the canon of his new DC Universe, an Arrowverse Justice League movie became possible, with the film being the perfect swan song for the Arrowverse. Gustin’s Barry Allen would have to be one of its leads.

6 Grant Gustin Could Play The Flash In A Max Sequel Series

Gustin could take some time off the role after playing The Flash for the last decade, with the actor deciding to return to the role a few years from now. Gustin starring in a The Flash sequel series on Max in the future could be a perfect way to reintroduce him as the character. The series could show how Barry’s life has changed since The Flash‘s series finale, letting the audience return to the Arrowverse via one of its most beloved characters. A Flash series on Max could allow the show to be different from the Arrowverse’s The Flash, with fewer episodes, a bigger budget, and a more mature tone.

5 Grant Gustin Could Return For An Arrowverse Animated Series/Movie

If Gunn and Safran feel like a live-action Arrowverse Justice League movie would be too distracting from their plans for the new DC Universe, the DC bosses could allow the Arrowverse to have a proper ending through an animated series or a movie. An animated crossover project would let the Arrowverse see its most important heroes team up for one last time, which was not possible on The Flash season 9 due to many factors. Gustin has voiced the Arrowverse version of The Flash in the animated Vixen series in the past, with the actor likely game to return as Barry in a possible new animated Arrowverse show or movie.

4 Grant Gustin Could Appear In One Of DC’s Animated Movies As The Flash

Gustin could also return as a new version of The Flash in one of DC’s animated movies. While the actor cannot play the main version of The Flash from the current DC animated continuity — the Tomorrowverse — as the hero is already voiced by DC live-action veteran actor Matt Bomer, Gustin could still return as the speedster for a one-off animated adventure that is not connected to the Tomorrowverse. DC has done plenty of animated features both in and out of continuity in the past, so Gustin has many possibilities as to how he could return as Barry Allen in the medium in the future.

3 The New DC Universe Could Include Grant Gustin’s Flash In A Multiverse Event

Gustin does not need to be the DC Universe’s new The Flash actor to be part of Gunn’s plans for the DC Universe’s future. Miller’s Barry Allen will be in charge of pushing forward the DC movie multiverse in a big way with this June’s The Flash. Gunn could be building his DC Universe to have a big crossover film in the future, using the multiverse to bring in actors from all over DC’s live-action history. As one of the Arrowverse’s most popular heroes and one that has great experience with the multiverse, Gustin’s The Flash is a prime candidate to appear in a movie of such a nature.

2 Grant Gustin Could Take Over As Harley Quinn Series’ The Flash

Max’s Harley Quinn is an adult-animated series that has no shame in taking DC’s beloved characters and adapting them in raunchy creative ways. The animated show has played with different DC heroes and villains, with The Flash having a minor role in the series, appearing in just three episodes over Harley Quinn‘s three seasons and Valentine Day’s special. Gustin could take over the voice role from actor Scott Porter, with The Flash getting a bigger role in a few episodes with the veteran Arrowverse actor in place. Harley Quinn would allow Gustin to play a very different Flash than what he is used to.

1 Grant Gustin Could Voice The Flash In One Of DC’s Podcast Series

Gustin could also return as The Flash in a very different environment, with the actor’s next time in the role having the possibility of being in one of DC’s podcast series. DC has entered the world of audio dramas, with Batman Unburied proving itself a major success, topping Spotify’s charts worldwide. Given the popularity of the Batman podcast series, DC has decided to bring more characters to the medium. Having a fan-favorite actor like Gustin coming back as his Barry Allen from The Flash in an audio drama would guarantee listeners for DC, furthering the company’s expansion in the medium.