WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Justice League Dark: Apokolips War, available on digital HD now.
Ever since the start of the DC Animated Movie Universe with 2014's Justice League: War, Christopher Gorham has voiced the shared, animated cinematic universe's Barry Allen across six different films. Gorham's latest appearance as the Scarlet Speedster in Justice League Dark: Apokolips War seemingly closes out the DCAMU for good, as the surviving heroes band together to save Earth and defeat Darkseid once and for all.
In an exclusive interview with CBR, Gorham reflected on voicing the Flash across the entire history of the DCAMU, his performance in Apokolips War and his hopes for how audiences see his portrayal of the character.
CBR: You've been Barry Allen six times now throughout the DCAMU. In this film, you've got a small but especially pivotal role. Reading the script, how did you feel about revisiting the character for this one last ride?
Christopher Gorham: Well, you know, I'll say I didn't know it was the last one when we did it. I only found out it was the last one a couple of days ago [laughs]. So I had no idea! But it wouldn't have changed my approach with this because the story is really good. It's a really good movie and it's interesting... it's a good ending to these films, to me, anyway. I find it very satisfying because it's complicated and life is complicated. I'm just really pleased with it and the process of making them is always the same. We always go in to record by ourselves and it always goes really quickly but the finished product is always so much grander than its individual parts.
You've been doing this since 2014. While the process itself hasn't really changed, is there anything that has surprised you as you've grown into the role over the years?
I was really grateful for the opportunity to go deeper with him in this movie than we've done before. It's not just "Ha, ha, Barry is funny" in this movie -- there are some really quality dramatic themes. It's nice that that's something that we're able to do, it's completely different than what's been required of me before now.
This is easily the darkest movie in this cinematic universe. Did that more tortured -- literally -- Barry affect your approach at all?
No, it doesn't affect the approach because, really, the approach is always the same. The job is of an actor is to be a professional empathizer, right? You have to be able to put yourself in the shoes of that person. Whether that's cracking jokes or having celebrity worship with Batman or having the serious physical or psychological trauma he's dealing with in this movie, the approach is always the same.
While there is a degree of finality, the nature of the ending leaves open the possibility of you potentially being able to reprise the role. Would you be open to doing that, in any capacity, as the Flash?
Oh, yeah! If they'd have me, I'd love to do it anytime, yeah. I was a fan of the Justice League growing up so getting to be a part of these films was a real treat. So yeah, I'd be open to coming back, yeah.
Again, you've been Barry for six films now. What are you most proud of after leaving your personal stamp and legacy on the character?
I'm always just relieved that they ask me back. You know, the fact that I made through the whole series without getting fired is a feat of personal pride. As far as my stamp, I've never really looked at it like putting my stamp on anything. I've always just done my best to make the character as real-seeming as possible. I hope that people listen to the movies and they just hear the Flash and they're not thinking about it like, "Oh, that's Gorham's Flash and how does it compare to [Michael] Rosenbaum's Flash." Hopefully, they just get lost in the story and aren't thinking about me at all.
Having said that, is there one moment or performance that you're particularly proud of between Justice League: War and Apokolips War?
Yeah, I think this movie, as far as an acting piece, required more of me than the quippy stuff I did before. So, I'm very proud of the Flash's mark in this movie, I'm very happy with how it all turned out. But I also just love when he's just being stupid [laughs]. Like, when I got to make fun of Jason O'Mara's gravelly Batman voice in the movie, that makes me smile.
What do you hope audiences really gravitate toward and take away from your appearances as this character?
I just hope that they've enjoyed the ride. I hope that the Flash has always felt like the Flash, that Barry always felt like Barry. And the feedback that I've seen has all been very positive so I think that we accomplished that. But, really, I just hope that he feels familiar to the fans because that matters.
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War stars Matt Ryan as John Constantine, Jerry O'Connell as Superman, Taissa Farmiga as Raven, Stuart Allan as Robin, Tony Todd as Darkseid, Jason O'Mara as Batman, Rosario Dawson as Wonder Woman, Shemar Moore as Cyborg, Christopher Gorham as the Flash, Rebecca Romijn as Lois Lane and Rainn Wilson as Lex Luthor. The film is available now digitally and on Blu-ray May 19.