Warner Bros.‘ The Flash is now looking for its third director in less than a year.
Writer/producer Seth Grahame-Smith (author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) was originally hired to helm the DC Comics adaptation but left due to creative differences in April. Now his replacement, Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), has stepped down as well.
In a statement published in Variety, Famuyima said, “I pitched a version of the film in line with my voice, humor, and heart. While it’s disappointing that we couldn’t come together creatively on the project, I remain grateful for the opportunity. I will continue to look for opportunities to tell stories that speak to a fresh generational, topical, and multicultural point of view.
He went on to say he “wished the best” to The Flash‘s creative team and lead actor Ezra Miller.
Famuyiwa was an exciting choice for The Flash, an experienced director whose resume includes teen movies, romcoms, and political dramas. But, as with Edgar Wright‘s last-minute break from Marvel‘s Ant-Man, his outlook may not have fit with the studio’s vision for an action franchise film. Dreaded “creative differences” struck again, leaving Warner Bros. scant time to find a new director if they want The Flash to be finished on schedule for 2018.