Even superheroes can't triumph over some adversities. Union strikes, creative disagreements and the general pitfalls of Development Hell have proven to be stumbling blocks for the speedy superfriend The Flash.

At a recent press conference promoting the release of The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. producer Charles Roven seemed to be saying that they hadn't given up on a film version of The Flash. The "recent writer's strike, and the looming actors' strike haven't helped out the process" of getting production started. While The Flash can move at speeds close to light, lengthy contract negotiations don't appear to be among his skills.

The project has been stuck for several years now. With Marvel gearing up pretty much every one of their properties into movies (with wildly varying success), DC and Warner Bros have been much more particular about going about adapting their characters - and as a result possibly produced better quality end results. Serious news of a Flash film started to bubble up during late 2004 when long-term comic-based screenwriter David Goyer became attached to write and direct, expressing interest for Ryan Reynolds to play Wally West. Goyer spent over a year developing a script but in early 2007 he left the project citing creative differences with the studio. The themes of Goyer's script has been considered too dark with WB wanting something more light-hearted to contrast against the brooding Batman Begins (also co-written by Goyer).

Director Shawn Levy was soon after announced to be attached to the film, overseeing the writing of a new draft which used elements of Goyer's version. Ryan Reynolds was again considered for role of Wally West. Later in 2007, Levy expressed interest in the role once more of The Flash if the new script's incarnation was Wally West.

In October 2007, Levy was replaced after the disaster that was The Pink Panther. David Dobkin (Shanghai Knight, Wedding Crashers, Fred Claus) was signed on to direct. Dobkin announced at the time that the film would work as a spin-off to the then-upcoming Justice League of America film - again using Wally West with Adam Brody taking on the red suit. With the Justice League film being effectively terminated, The Flash was to be pushed forward, but the WGA strike in turn made this fall through.

It appears that, with the production environment starting to level out again, the wheels are turning once again. David Dobkin is still attached, with a script written by an ever-growning list of writing credits. 

While it's good that DC/WB aren't rushing into any of their comic franchises, one would like to see something of an increase in productivity eventually. They've shown that picking directors with integrity can lead to great pieces of filmmaking and interesting, exciting stories - and they should continue on in the same manner.

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