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The long-awaited Flash movie is less than two weeks away, but film star Ezra Miller may be the movie’s downfall. The Flash movie has been eagerly anticipated for several years. However, the film has become controversial due to Ezra Miller’s behavioral and legal issues. Following Miller’s arrest in Hawaii in March of last year, numerous allegations and revelations about Miller have tarnished the actor’s reputation. And unfortunately, those issues are attached to the movie in which Miller is the lead. Regardless, the film still has some anticipation going for it. Could The Flash movie redeem Ezra Miller’s reputation?
What Exactly is the Problem With Ezra Miller?
Ezra Miller was arrested last year in Hawaii for disorderly conduct at a karaoke bar in Hilo. Miller allegedly yelled obscenities at performers and grabbed the microphone from a 23-year-old singer midsong. Miller also is said to have lunged at a 32-year-old man playing darts. A couple who owned the hostel Miller was staying at posted the actor’s $500 bail. However, The Independent reported that the same couple filed a restraining order against Miller, who they say broke into their home and harassed and threatened them. The couple claims that Miller said, “I will bury you and your slut wife,” before stealing some of their belongings, including a wallet and a passport.
Less than a month later, Miller was arrested again in Hawaii for second-degree assault. Miller was accused of throwing a chair at a 26-year-old woman after being asked to leave an acquaintance’s home. This throw resulted in a half-inch cut on the woman’s forehead. From there, the accusations against Miller only got worse. Miller has been accused of grooming and threatening behavior toward minors. The actor has also been accused of leading a cult.
Disturbing as all of these allegations are, they are not the only times Miller has faced legal issues. While filming the 2012 cult classic The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Miller was arrested for possession of marijuana. At 2017’s San Diego Comic-Con, the actor repeatedly and nonconsensually kissed a male attendee who asked to smell Miller’s breath for alcohol. Miller also got into trouble in 2020 after video footage leaked showing Miller choking a woman outside of a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland. In early 2022, Miller posted a video threatening KKK members with bizarre dialogue putting the actor’s mental health into question.
Finally, it has been reported that Miller had frequent meltdowns on The Flash movie set, contributing to the movie’s long delay.
Can ‘The Flash’ Movie Be Ezra Miller’s Comeback?
With these issues in mind, can The Flash movie be Ezra Miller’s path to redemption? The answer to that question is complicated.
Hollywood and the movie industry can be pretty forgiving, and many disgraced actors have redeemed themselves and made comebacks on the big screen. In the 2000s, director Kevin Fiege faced pushback from Marvel Studios when he wanted to cast an actor whose reputation was tarnished by drugs and alcohol. But despite that feedback, Fiege stood his ground. The result: Robert Downey Jr. was cast in 2008’s Iron Man, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe was born. So yes, a Hollywood redemption story is possible. But is it in the cards for Ezra Miller?
While Robert Downey Jr.’s substance abuse issues were certainly problematic, Ezra Miller’s alleged behavior is downright predatory. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll never be eligible for redemption. Roman Polanski won an Oscar years after his sexual assault scandal, and Mel Gibson has managed to make a comeback after his many moral failures. But those men’s reputations are still not what they used to be, and it took time for the public to warm up to them again.
Ezra Miller has not had enough time pass since these scandals came to light. The actor is still a social pariah, unable to do promotional work for The Flash movie. While Miller will be attending the premiere, the actor will do so without giving any interviews. And unfortunately for Miller, this is making any chance of the movie redeeming the actor in the public’s eye even less likely. The Flash is projected only to make $75 million on its opening weekend. That’s not good news for a movie that cost $220 million to make.
‘The Flash’ Movie Will Not Save Ezra Miller’s Career
Those still eager to see The Flash movie are likely more excited about Michael Keaton returning as Batman for the first time since 1992. Meanwhile, Ezra Miller has already been partially blamed for the failure of Fantastic Beasts 3. Any success for The Flash movie will be in spite of Ezra Miller and not because of Ezra Miller.
That’s not to say there’s no comeback or redemption in Miller’s future. The 30-year-old actor’s generation (millennials) and the subsequent generation (Gen-Z) make up most of today’s movie-going audience. Both generations are known for being more sympathetic towards mental health issues, which Miller is reportedly dealing with.
Moreover, Miller is not without supporters. The Perks of Being a Wallflower director Stephen Chbosky told Vanity Fair,
“I hope Ezra finds the light that they shined so brightly back when we shot the movie because the kid I met was a remarkably magical person. And I always like to believe that that person is always in there, and I hope that they can find the help that they need.”
While The Flash movie will not jumpstart Ezra Miller’s reputation back where it was, mental health treatment and a support system could be just what the actor needs.