The Flash Ending Explained: Can Barry Allen Restore the Multiverse?

The conclusion of The Flash introduces a series of unexpected appearances that could rival even the most intricate references from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

Barry Allen’s long-awaited solo adventure in live-action format delivers an action-packed experience, utilizing its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime to incorporate elements from the beloved Flashpoint storyline.

Familiar characters make their return, including Michael Shannon’s portrayal of General Zod, Michael Keaton’s highly anticipated comeback as Batman, and Sasha Calle’s introduction as Supergirl. These appearances were teased before the film’s release, but they are only part of the surprises in store.

With The Flash now available for streaming on Max, it’s no longer a secret that Shannon, Keaton, and Calle’s roles are just the beginning. The film reserves some of its most unexpected cameos for its climactic ending, where the surprises reach their peak.

Barry Allen’s decision to alter the past using his super speed results in unintended consequences, erasing superheroes from existence and putting him in a desperate race against time to restore the future.

Michael Shannon’s Zod Returns to the DCEU

Once both versions of Barry Allen regain their powers, Bruce Wayne finds renewed purpose, and Kara Zor-El rediscovers her faith in humanity, the team unites to challenge General Zod and his formidable Kryptonian army.

While the two Barrys take on enemies on the ground, Batman launches an aerial assault, and Supergirl directly confronts Zod. When he coldly informs her that Kal-El never survived infancy, her fury ignites an intense battle.

At first, their combined efforts appear to weaken Zod’s forces, reducing their numbers considerably. But their victory is short-lived, as both Batman and Supergirl fall in combat.

Desperate to reverse their fate, the Flashes tap into the Speed Force to rewind time and prevent their allies’ deaths. They manage to succeed temporarily, only to discover that every possible scenario leads to Zod’s triumph and the inevitable loss of Batman and Supergirl.

It is then that the older, more experienced Barry Allen understands that certain events cannot be undone, no matter how many times they try.

‘The Flash’ Brings Surprising DC Cameos

Determined to stop his counterpart from making things worse, the central Barry Allen warns the younger version that their actions won’t change reality. However, the younger Barry refuses to listen and continues to reset the battle.

Each time he re-enters the time warp, his body accumulates fresh injuries and Kryptonian shrapnel, signifying the destructive toll his actions are taking. Beyond being futile, his repeated interference is having drastic effects on the timeline where the older Barry remains.

As a result, alternate realities from across the DC multiverse begin colliding with Barry’s timeline. The first anomaly emerges as a black-and-white world, featuring what appears to be George Reeves’ Superman from Adventures of Superman, alongside the original Jay Garrick version of The Flash.

Another look into the multiverse reveals a CGI-rendered version of Christopher Reeve’s Superman standing beside Helen Slater’s Supergirl, watching the chaos come to play.

The biggest surprise of all follows when the long-abandoned Superman Lives project, once meant to star Nicolas Cage, finally gets a moment on screen.

A digital recreation of Cage’s Superman appears, bringing an element of what could have been to life. Attentive viewers might also catch the unmistakable voice of Adam West, referencing his portrayal of Batman from the 1960s television series.

With the multiverse destabilizing, the Speed Force entity that has been tracking Barry finally emerges. The creature’s identity is soon revealed as a mutated, older version of the younger Barry, bearing similarities to classic Flash antagonists like Savitar and Reverse Flash.

After a heated clash, the creature’s mask is shattered, exposing its face and confirming the horrifying truth. This Dark Flash had spent an eternity trying to rewrite the past, twisting him into something monstrous.

Convinced that Barry will never cooperate, Dark Flash makes an attempt on his life, but the younger Barry sacrifices himself in the process. As a result, Dark Flash also ceases to exist, wiping his presence from the timeline entirely.

George Clooney Returns as Bruce Wayne in ‘The Flash’

Accepting that the best course of action is to set things right, Barry makes a heartbreaking decision to say one final goodbye to his mother before restoring the original timeline.

However, a last-minute realization changes everything—spotting a security camera in a grocery store, he recognizes an opportunity to adjust a small detail that could impact his future.

Returning to what appears to be his normal timeline, Barry rushes to his father’s parole hearing. After years of wrongful imprisonment, Henry Allen is finally cleared of all charges and released.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Barry celebrates the long-overdue justice and finds comfort in knowing he has righted at least one past wrong.

On top of that, his romantic life takes a turn for the better when he secures a date with Iris West. Everything seems to be falling into place until an unexpected phone call from Bruce Wayne interrupts the moment.

Although Bruce’s voice comes through the phone, something doesn’t sound quite right. When Wayne’s car pulls up, the scene builds suspense, setting up a revelation that leaves audiences stunned.

Stepping out of the vehicle is none other than George Clooney, reprising his role as Bruce Wayne for the first time since Batman & Robin.

Barry’s seemingly small adjustment to the timeline has created yet another ripple effect, altering the identity of Batman in this universe.

Whether this means Clooney will once again don the infamous bat-suit remains an open question, but his reappearance raises plenty of possibilities for the DCEU’s future. The Flash is now available for streaming on Max in the U.S.