The truth about Grant Gustin playing The Flash in James Gunn’s DCU
Before you buy the Grant Gustin Flash buzz, know how James Gunn’s comments fit—and what DCU’s The People v. Gorilla Grodd actually refers to.
A viral post on X claimed Grant Gustin has been “officially” cast as The Flash in James Gunn ’s DCU with a theatrical release date of October 27, 2028. There’s no announcement to back that up. DC Studios hasn’t unveiled a Flash movie on its current slate, and that date doesn’t appear anywhere in the studio’s publicly shared plans.
Part of why the rumor took off: Gunn’s new DC universe is a soft reboot that’s kept a few familiar faces around — think Peacemaker and Blue Beetle — which has fans gaming out who else might make the jump. But on the Gustin front, there’s still no confirmation from DC Studios.
Gunn himself has swatted at the speculation on social media more than once. In January 2026, after a fan posted a photo of Gustin as Barry Allen and insisted the casting “had to happen,” Gunn replied:
It happened on TV for 9 seasons.
In September that year, another fan floated a “decent rumor” about Gustin showing up as a multiverse variant. Gunn answered — with a laughing emoji attached —
Please define ‘decent rumor,’
None of Gunn’s responses announced a deal. Gustin, who led The CW’s The Flash from 2014 to 2023, has said he’d suit up again if Gunn asked, but there’s no verified evidence DC Studios has hired him for the DCU.
About that Grodd show
What is real: a DCU project featuring Gorilla Grodd — and it’s not a Flash series. The People v. Gorilla Grodd is an eight-episode, half-hour comedy ordered at HBO Max from DC Studios and Warner Bros. Television.
- Skyler Gisondo — Jimmy Olsen
- Jimmy Tatro — Gorilla Grodd (voice)
- Tony Yacenda — showrunner/writer/EP; directing every episode
- Dan Perrault — showrunner/writer/EP
The premise centers on a superintelligent ape accused of murdering his father, the King of Gorilla City. Jimmy Olsen reopens the case for a “true” crime documentary, digging into whether Grodd was wrongly convicted in one of Metropolis’ most famous trials — placing the action around the Daily Planet and Metropolis, not Central City and Barry Allen.
The announced cast does not include Grant Gustin (or Peter Serafinowicz). DC’s August 2026 announcement didn’t list a premiere date, and nothing in the official material suggests the series is a backdoor intro for the DCU’s Flash.