The Flash: Born To Run — The first movie of the Flash trilogy
Image by Andrew Gong
Project 1: The Flash: Born To Run
This would be the first movie of The Flash trilogy, inspired by the novel of the same name. Totally conceptual. (Yes, I did write this whole thing myself.)
Act 1: The Weight of the Mantle
A year after Barry Allen’s death, Wally West is still wearing his Kid Flash suit, desperately trying to protect Central City solo. He intercepts Captain Cold and Mirror Master robbing the Central City Museum. Wally saves the civilians but is overwhelmed by the villains until Elongated Man (Ralph Dibny) steps in to bail him out. Before Ralph can console or talk to him, Wally flees in a flash of lightning.
Wally retreats to his apartment near CCPD, treating his burns and ignoring a stack of unopened letters from his grieving family (Iris, his cousins, and Barry's parents). He works at an auto repair shop to make ends meet. While working, he shares a warm, grounding interaction with his close friend, FBI profiler Hunter Zolomon.
Their moment is shattered by an emergency police broadcast—Cobalt Blue (Malcolm Thawne) has mysteriously returned from the dead. Wally's blood runs cold at the name.
Act 2: Broken and Rebuilt
Flashback: One year ago. The skies turn red as a blue fire erupts. Cobalt Blue attempts to travel back in time to murder Barry as a child. Saying a tearful, final goodbye to Wally, Barry Allen uses his Speed Force to trigger a massive explosion, seemingly destroying both himself and Malcolm to save reality. (For evidence of this being possible, see Smallville Season 11 #12)
Back in the present, Wally tracks down Cobalt Blue. The battle is a disaster. Malcolm brutally taunts Wally for failing Barry’s legacy, steals Wally’s speed, and leaves him and a dozen policemen broken in the dirt before speeding off. As his friend is taken to the hospital to heal his shattered knee, Wally realizes his current training and mindset aren't enough.
Wally secures legal permission (as Kid Flash) to visit Iron Heights. He seeks out August Heart (Godspeed). August is no longer a maniacal killer; he is cold, pragmatic, and reformed. August delivers a harsh truth: "You're failing because you're trying to be Barry. You need to be yourself." August trains Wally, pushing his limits to unlock new Speed Force abilities like afterimages and lightning constructs, along with potentially learning the Infinite Mass Punch.
Act 3: Outrunning the Past
The skies turn blood red again as Cobalt Blue opens another time vortex: this time to erase the entire Flash Family from history. Wally and Godspeed team up to intercept him. Malcolm overpowers them, severely injuring August. As Malcolm prepares to deliver a killing blow to Godspeed, Wally snaps.
Shedding his mental blocks and Barry's shadow, Wally pushes himself faster than he has ever gone. Moving at impossible speeds, he blitzes Malcolm, shattering Cobalt Blue's mystical blue talisman with the Infinite Mass Punch and permanently severing his connection to the Negative Speed Force through it. (Think JLU Wally vs Brainiac/Luthor)
A week later, Wally visits August in prison to thank him. August tells him Barry would be proud. Wally responds that Barry would have been happy to see his friend act like a hero again. Finally at peace, Wally goes back to Barry's old house and begins to reconnect with his Aunt Iris and his family.
On the one-year anniversary of Barry's death, Central City unveils a public monument to Barry Allen. Iris West gives a moving speech, reminding the world that even though her husband is gone, Central City still has a hero. On her cue, trailing brilliant silver lightning, Wally speeds into the frame wearing his brand-new Flash costume, finally embracing his destiny as the Flash.
Questions? Concerns? Confessions (lol)?