Barry Allen

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Born on March 19, 1995, to Henry and Nora Allen, Barry's life changed forever on June 13, 2004. At age nine, his mother was murdered by the Reverse Flash, leading to his father's wrongful imprisonment for her death. Dedicated to proving Henry's innocence, Barry studied forensic science until September 29, 2013, when a chemical accident granted him superhuman speed. During Zod's invasion, he traveled to Metropolis, saving a young boy but failing to save the child's father. By 2015, Wayne decrypted footage of Barry apprehending a burglar, sending it to Diana Prince. In 2017, after meeting Iris West and visiting his incarcerated father, Henry urged him to move on with his life despite Barry's protests.

In Their Own Story

Following Superman's death in 2017, Bruce Wayne recruited Barry for a new metahuman team. Barry enthusiastically joined upon learning Wayne was Batman. In Gotham, they met James Gordon and Victor Stone (Cyborg). Intimidated by a parademon slaughtering a scientist, Barry admitted to having "no combat skills." Wayne advised him to focus on saving one person; Barry saved Silas Stone and civilians while aiding Diana Prince with her sword. After Aquaman joined, the team decided to resurrect Superman using a Mother Box. Barry helped charge the device but was knocked aside by the memoryless Clark Kent until Lois Lane arrived. The group traveled to Russia's nuclear fallout zone where Barry evacuated a single family while Superman saved the entire village. Following Steppenwolf's defeat, Barry took an entry-level job at the Central City police department and challenged Superman to a race.

Reader's Guide

As portrayed in the films, Barry is intelligent, determined, and humorous, often using unconvincing excuses to hide his identity from Bruce Wayne until finally agreeing to join the Justice League. He deals with insecurity but maintains a positive attitude, described by Ezra Miller as an exploration of a "flawed, deeply human person." Barry casually identifies as an "attractive Jewish boy," making him the first confirmed Jewish superhero in film. His running style is unorthodox; Miller trained for two years in martial arts and studied Qinggong in China's Wudang Mountains. He also drew inspiration from speed skaters, dancers, crows, cheetahs, mongooses, rushing water, and lightning. This training influenced his meditative movements when entering the Speed Force to reverse time during the "Snyder Cut" climax.

Did You Know?

• Ezra Miller's portrayal is the first live-action version of The Flash and the first confirmed Jewish superhero to appear in film.
• Miller practiced martial arts for two years, including a trip to China's Wudang Mountains to study Qinggong for his running motion.
• During the filming of Justice League's director's cut, Miller shot scenes remotely over Zoom while located in London, directed by Zack Snyder via video feed.
• Barry Allen casually describes himself as an "attractive Jewish boy" when first meeting Bruce Wayne, mirroring Ezra Miller's real-life heritage.