After a pesky music rights issue, HBO Max recently updated its trailer for Zack Snyder's director's cut of Justice League. And along with this black-and-white teaser came a full breakdown of the preview by the director. In the explanation, Snyder shed light on many aspects of his edit of the film, including behind-the-scenes stories and hints at plot and character details that differ from 2017's theatrical cut.
One of the most interesting revelations was about Snyder's unique creative decision regarding the internal logic of the Flash's powers. While speculation abounds about how Barry Allen will manipulate time within the speed force in the new cut, this announcement focused on how he interacts with his surroundings while traveling at super-speed, specifically people. Snyder explained that he doesn't want Barry grabbing people at superspeed because, in theory, it would seriously injure them. This tweak to the Flash's powers will set him apart from most other versions of the character and could make him a more dangerous member of the League.
The decision to have Flash not be able to move individuals in super-speed is a massive deal. Throughout various adaptations of the character, the Flash has been able to touch and move other people whilst moving at super-speed, sometimes using his abilities to transport people from one place to another. This was a huge part of his arc in the theatrical version of Justice League, where Barry used his powers to transport S.T.A.R. Labs scientists, Russian civilians and even Wonder Woman out of harm's way.
The new constraint on what Barry is able to do as a hero will most likely force this new iteration to use his powers more carefully. On top of that, it could also see the Scarlet Speedster be portrayed as a much more blunt force of nature, having to find creative new ways to save people from peril whilst not being able to physically touch them. This will add an element of danger to the character and makes him less likely to perform meticulous feats.
However, while this might be an interesting update on a classic hero's abilities and will impose limitations that make him less over-powered, the decision is misguided. The Flash is already a fantastical character whose entire power set relies on a fictional cosmic force, so it doesn't make sense that certain laws of physics would be followed so closely. In addition, Snyder even provides a satisfactory rebuke for his own new rule, admitting that one explanation could be that the Speed Force protects those that Barry interacts with physically.
Whether this newfound power finds its way into the character's solo film remains to be seen, but in the end, however his powers are utilized in the highly anticipated director's cut, the Flash will certainly be a much more dangerous and chaotic force.
Justice League stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Ciarán Hinds as Steppenwolf, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor and J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon. Zack Snyder's Justice League will premiere exclusively on HBO Max in 2021.