James Gunn, Grant Gustin, and the DCU Flash: What’s Really Going On?

James Gunn and Grant Gustin set the internet on fire last week, and no, it wasn’t just another random DC rumor cycle. Between suspicious social media posts, sly James Gunn responses, and new DCU announcements about Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, and even Darkseid, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes right now.

So let’s break everything down - how the new DCU Flash fits into James Gunn’s long-term plan, what Grant Gustin’s blonde hair really means, and how all of this connects to the next few years of DC movies and HBO shows.

Why Everyone Freaked Out Over Grant Gustin’s Flash Posts

The whole reason the DC fandom went into detective mode last week is simple: Grant Gustin posted photos of himself with dyed blond hair… standing directly in front of Flash posters.

And not just any posters.

If you watched The Flash TV series, your brain probably did the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme instantly. One of the posters behind him was straight out of The Flash Season 2, back when Zoom was pretending to be Jay Garrick—a direct homage to the classic comic storyline where Barry Allen meets Jay Garrick for the first time.

Another poster, partially cut off, was from the first-ever Supergirl–Flash crossover. And yes, they did multiple crossovers over the years, but that first one is iconic.

So yeah—people noticed.

Fans Want Grant Gustin Back in the DCU (And James Gunn Knows It)

Since The Flash TV show ended and James Gunn officially rebooted the DCEU into the DCU, fans have been begging to see Grant Gustin return as some version of the Flash.

Not necessarily the main Justice League Flash—but a Flash.

And James Gunn has been very open about being a huge fan of both Grant Gustin and the Arrowverse version of The Flash. He’s even referenced it appearing across DC media, including small nods in the new Superman movie.

When fans started joking that people would riot if Gustin didn’t come back, James Gunn leaned fully into the humor, replying that he keeps hearing about these riots… but has yet to actually see one.

He also jokingly claimed he had no idea whether Grant Gustin dyed his hair blond, which is classic Gunn misdirection. Let’s be real—he knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s the one planning all of this.

Grant Gustin Responds (And Calms Everyone Down… Sort Of)

Grant Gustin eventually chimed in himself, and his response was about as diplomatic as it gets.

He confirmed that he would always welcome the chance to play the Flash again if James Gunn asked. That’s the big takeaway. If the DCU wants him, he’s in.

However, he also clarified that the long blond hair is for a completely unrelated project—nothing to do with the Flash or any superhero role.

That said… posting those photos underneath his Flash posters is still a little suspicious. Even so, it’s likely he really was just having fun with the fan reaction.

Since the show ended, Gustin has mostly focused on non-DC projects, though he’s continued to interact with Flash fans at conventions and even joked about the infamous “future newspaper” from Season 1 once real life passed that date.

Who Is the New DCU Flash Supposed to Be?

Here’s where things get interesting.

Based on Easter eggs in the Superman movie and recent DCU TV shows, it looks increasingly likely that Wally West—not Barry Allen—will be the main Flash in James Gunn’s Justice League.

That doesn’t mean Barry Allen doesn’t exist. It just means Gunn may be following the Justice League Unlimited–style approach, where Wally takes the spotlight.

Clues from Creature Commandos even suggest a possible older Wally West, with Barry Allen already established and Jay Garrick being very old.

That said, Gunn could still start the DCU with Barry Allen as the center point and introduce a younger Wally later. Nothing is officially locked in yet.

The DCU “True Crime” Show and the Rise of Flash Villains

One of the most important upcoming DCU projects is the mysterious crime anthology series people keep calling “DC Crime”—though James Gunn has confirmed that isn’t the actual title.

This show will reportedly follow Daily Planet characters investigating major crimes and uncovering DC villains case by case. And Season 1 is expected to revolve heavily around Flash villains.

The big one? Gorilla Grodd—finally in proper live action.

This explains why Gunn waited a bit after Ezra Miller’s Flash movie before reintroducing the character. He wanted the dust to settle before slowly rolling Flash mythology back into the DCU.

Eobard Thawne is also clearly being set up to return at some point.

Gorilla Grodd, Creature Commandos, and What’s Canon

If you watched Creature Commandos, you already saw Gorilla Grodd—but in an alternate future timeline that was erased by the finale.

That means Grodd hasn’t actually appeared in the present-day DCU yet.

What we do know is that he was once allied with Princess Rostovic and used an upgraded telepathic crown, but since that future never happened, the DCU now has a clean slate to reintroduce him properly.

That’s likely what the upcoming Superman spinoff will deal with.

Jimmy Olsen, Darkseid, and the New Gods Connection

One of the funniest twists in all of this is that Gorilla Grodd is expected to debut on a Jimmy Olsen–led HBO crime anthology show.

Yes, really.

And if that sounds wild, remember: Darkseid himself was first introduced in a Jimmy Olsen comic back in the day. Which is why all those Darkseid jokes suddenly make sense.

James Gunn has already confirmed that Darkseid will debut in the DCU through animation first, in a New Gods TV series based on Mister Miracle. Darkseid is a major part of that story.

Christopher Judge has even said he’d love to voice Darkseid—and honestly, that would be perfect.

Batman, Wonder Woman, and “Man of Tomorrow” Updates

James Gunn also clarified a few things about upcoming DCU heavy hitters:

DCU Batman: Brave and the Bold

• Gunn is not finished with the script
• Casting won’t be announced until The Batman Part II releases
• Batman may be mentioned in Man of Tomorrow, but won’t appear onscreen

Wonder Woman in the DCU

• She is not being cast for Man of Tomorrow
• Gunn is screen testing actresses—but for a different female character
• Wonder Woman could still be referenced or teased

Classic James Gunn lawyer speak—but very intentional.

Final Thoughts: What Should the DCU Do With Grant Gustin?

At this point, it’s clear James Gunn is playing the long game. Flash characters are being seeded carefully, villains are getting proper buildup, and the Justice League is being assembled piece by piece.

Whether Grant Gustin returns as Barry Allen, an older Flash, or a multiversal variant remains to be seen—but the door is wide open.