Director Andy Muschietti attributes the box office failure of his DC Extended Universe film, "The Flash," to a lack of broad audience appeal. Speaking to Radio Tu, and as reported by Variety, Muschietti stated the film didn't connect with "the four quadrants" – a term referring to male and female audiences under and over 25 – sufficiently to justify its $200 million budget. He explained that Warner Bros. aims for maximum audience reach with such a large investment.

"The Flash failed, among other reasons, because it didn't appeal to all four quadrants," Muschietti said. "When you spend $200 million, they want to bring even your grandmother to the theaters." He further elaborated, revealing insights from private conversations suggesting a significant portion of the audience, particularly women, lacked interest in the Flash character. This, he noted, created significant headwinds for the film.

Unfulfilled DCEU Teasers

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Muschietti's acknowledgment of "other reasons" for the film's underperformance likely encompasses factors such as negative critical reviews, concerns about the CGI, particularly the recreation of deceased actors, and the film's release within a concluding, now-defunct film universe.

Despite "The Flash's" commercial struggles, DC Studios has retained Muschietti to direct "The Brave and the Bold," the inaugural Batman film in James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted DC Universe.