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James Gunn’sThe Flashnot only used CGI to recreate Henry Cavill’s Superman but also digitally brought back Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of the iconic character. The late actor appears in a controversial CGI recreation of his likeness during the ‘Speed Force’ sequence in the film. However, Reeve’s children have revealed that they did not watch the film, and none of them were involved in the creation of this particular cameo.
Fans on X expressed their discontent with the poorly received film, venting their frustration at the decision to include Reeve’s likeness without consulting his family.The Flash, helmed by Andy Muschietti and starring Ezra Miller, failed to impress critics and audiences alike and bombed at the box office.
Also Read:James Gunn Has Reportedly Revealed Superman: Legacy Cinematographer That Can Spark Another ‘Nepotism’ Accusation
James Gunn’sThe FlashDid Not Consult Christopher Reeve’s Family For His CGI Depiction
The Flashused AI and deep fake technologies to bring back previous incarnations of Superman, Batman, and Supergirl in the film. BesidesChristopher Reeve, the film also featured CGI-rendered Superman versions of George Reeves andNicolas Cage. The execution of these recreations fell short of expectations and the film was a big letdown in the CGI department.
Reeve’s three children, Will, Matthew, and Alexandra, appeared in an interview withVarietyto promote the documentary on their father,Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. They discussed their father, his roles, and the documentary which premieres at Sundance today. When asked about their thoughts on Reeve’s CGI appearance inThe Flash, they revealed that they had not seen the movie. Variety also reported that none of them were consulted for that cameo.
Did Christopher Reeve’s children watch#TheFlash? | Variety Studio presented by@audible_comhttps://t.co/VYrkQgilJkpic.twitter.com/mhvBXlBuG6
— Variety (@Variety)August 06, 2025
Fans were not impressed with this move fromJames Gunn‘s studio. While the film was legally within its rights to use the character without seeking family approval, fans found it ethically questionable that the family was not involved in the on-screen portrayal of Reeve. Some believed that the family should have at least been informed, while others felt they should have been compensated. Some also joked that the family didn’t miss much by skipping the film. Fan reactions read:
So messed up they had no involvement. This is a major issue in using likeness
— Truly Pete (72%)👽 🔜 Some Rave Eventually (@AStateofPete)August 19, 2025
Wow, means they didn’t even ask the family about it or give them a heads up
— Abel (@ImJustMeAbel)June 13, 2025
Anyone else think it’s gross his family didn’t recieve any money for the use of his likeness?
— Leo🇺🇸 (@SirLeoX)July 23, 2025
They didn’t miss much.
— 𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐆𝐇 (@texburg)July 24, 2025
That’s actually kind of wild how they disrespected him
— Henry 🇺🇸 (@MrDarthhenry)August 22, 2025
It appears that James Gunn’s studio needs to improve its communication skills, as they were also subtly called out by Nicolas Cage on the matter. Cage reprised his role from the droppedSuperman Livesproject in a blink-and-miss scene in the film. Cage had actually filmed some footage for the movie, but was surprised at how his cameo turned out in the film. In an interview withWired, he revealed that the portrayal was very different from what he had originally filmed.
Also Read:“They don’t want to deal with secret identity”: James Gunn Reveals One Reason Why He Likes DC More Than Marvel
Christopher Reeve’s Children Would Choose Another Role Over Superman As His Best
During the interview with Variety, Christopher Reeve’s children were asked about his most underrated role in a career dominated by his Superman role. Will Reeve shared that his father was proud of his small yet important role in the 1993 film,The Remains of the Day. In theAnthony Hopkinsstarrer, Reeve played the role of US Congressman Jack Lewis.
Will Reeve shared that his father was able to show a completely different side of him in the film. He revealed that when the local movie theater in their hometown in Bedford, New York, wanted to honor their father, they asked them to playThe Remains of the Dayinstead ofSuperman. Will shared with Variety:
“He was so proud of his role in that movie. It’s not a big role. It’s an important role in the film. He got to show a completely different side of himself. I knew how proud he was of that. Not that he wasn’t proud of Superman…but if he were here he wouldn’t choose Superman, he’d choose Remains of the Day.”
Also Read:DC Fans Beg James Gunn to Honor One Unintentional Tradition in Superman Movies After David Corenswet Replaces Henry Cavill
Christopher Reeve’sSupermanand James Gunn’sThe Flashare now available for streaming on Max.The Remains of the Dayis now available for streaming on Paramount+.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3019
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
