The Flash's original ending has leaked – and it would have been a perfect way to set up the new DC universe

The Flash
(Image credit: Warner Bros)

The original ending of The Flash has seemingly been leaked – and it would have been the best way to say farewell to the DCEU.

The Audience Reactions YouTube channel has uploaded a version of the closing moments of The Flash (which we can independently verify is real) from a June 1 screening. You can see it for yourself below.

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The final scene of The Flash is pretty close to what we ended up seeing in theaters. After Barry’s father is exonerated, Bruce Wayne calls Barry outside the courthouse.

It’s here where things diverge slightly. Instead of George Clooney stepping out of the vehicle, it’s an unseen figure – presumably a way to explain why there's a new Batman in The Brave and the Bold – leaving Barry to reply: "Who the fuck is this?" before the movie cuts to black.

Honestly? It’s better than what we got. The Flash – and, in effect, the DCEU – ending with a goofy shot of Barry losing his tooth may have been a decent joke, but this original ending comes bundled with intrigue – and an easy mic drop to set up the new DCU.

With the confusion over the DCU/DCEU still raging (some characters are seemingly being recast, while others are not)  it would have been a neat way to explain why James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU Chapter One features some holdovers from the original DCEU universe. Instead of that merging of the two universes, we got a cheap gag, a loose tooth, and a missed opportunity. 

The latest DC movie, Blue Beetle, is currently showing in theaters. For more, check out our guides to Blue Beetle Easter eggs and the Blue Beetle post-credits scenes.

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.