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Every DCEU Cast Controversy Explained: Timelines & Updates

The actors who make up the cast of the DCEU have been no strangers to controversy, but the various issues have caused significant problems for the franchise. Beginning back in 2013 with Man of Steel, the DCEU hasn’t proved to be quite the success that many believed it would be. Though it makes use of almost all of DC’s most iconic heroes, the DCEU faltered considerably throughout its early stages, with numerous missteps in tone and characterization.

The DCEU’s biggest problem is a matter often debated. The franchise’s most commonly cited issues include the creative liberties it has taken with the source material, its needlessly dark and gritty tone, and repeated studio interference behind the scenes. There has also been trouble surrounding the franchise’s directors and producers, with Zack Snyder distancing himself from the DCEU and allegations leveled at numerous high-profile Warner Bros. executives that paint the picture of a less-than-ideal working environment.

One of the franchise’s most persistent issues, however, concerns the many controversies involving the members of the cast of the DCEU. Some of the DCEU actors have found themselves grappling with well-publicized legal issues, and others have sparked social media controversy. Others have done nothing wrong, but talk of Warner Bros. considering replacing DCEU characters has been running rampant for years. Almost every major cast member in the DCEU has been affected at one point or another by controversy, and it has impacted the franchise’s public image in a major way.

Amber Heard

Perhaps the most publicized controversy affecting the DCEU is Amber Heard’s legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp. The two actors have been locked in proceedings with one another since their divorce in 2017, the most recent being Depp’s defamation suit against Heard. As her legal troubles became more public, interest in Heard’s personal life and marriage to Depp attracted a great deal of negative attention toward her.

The backlash to her testimony against Depp prompted calls on social media for Amber Heard to be cut from Aquaman 2. This includes a petition containing more than four million signatures. The trial has also brought to light a 2009 arrest for alleged domestic violence, for which she was never charged. The publicity from Heard’s legal battles has been overwhelmingly negative, placing a strain on the DCEU and on Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom‘s marketing, as there is already talk online of the sequel being boycotted ahead of its 2023 release.

Ezra Miller

Another DCEU actor whose legal troubles have jeopardized their future in the franchise is Ezra Miller. Although they are currently set to star in The Flash, the titular character’s first DCEU solo film, several instances of disorderly conduct have prompted speculation that Ezra Miller will be recast as The Flash. Though Warner Bros. is reportedly not considering replacing Miller, the negative attention they have brought to the DCEU is certainly concerning.

In 2020, a video surfaced depicting Miller choking a woman at a bar in Iceland. The actor faced no charges on that occasion, but they were arrested following an alleged physical confrontation in Hawaii in March 2022 and were charged with disorderly conduct and harassment. Still in Hawaii and roughly three weeks later, in April 2022, Miller was taken into custody for second-degree assault and was subsequently fined for disorderly conduct. The negative publicity surrounding Miller following their multiple arrests has soured public opinion on the actor, although it seems that Warner Bros. will go ahead with Miller’s Flash for the DCEU’s The Flash movie in 2023.

Ray Fisher

Interestingly, the controversy surrounding Cyborg actor Ray Fisher doesn’t appear to stem from the actor’s own behavior, but instead from the allegations he has made against numerous people involved with the production of Justice League. After his experience making the superhero team-up movie, Fisher leveled complaints of abusive and unprofessional behavior at director Joss Whedon in 2020. That prompted other actors to issue a wave of supportive comments and additional allegations against the Whedon. Fisher didn’t stop there, however, elaborating that Whedon’s behavior was enabled by Warner Bros. executives, naming DC Films’ Walter Hamada in particular.

Despite Fisher’s allegations being publicly backed up by numerous other actors, and the actor himself being supported by his Justice League co-stars, the controversy surrounding the actor is undeniable. It would seem that Ray Fisher’s DCEU Cyborg may have been retired, as the actor has declined to return to the franchise until he is issued an apology for the way he was treated during Justice League‘s production. Fisher has stated that an apology would be “where the accountability begins,” although this seems increasingly unlikely as time wears on with no apparent end in sight to the feud.

Henry Cavill

A much smaller controversy surrounding one of the DCEU’s most iconic characters involves actor Henry Cavill. After appearing in 2013’s Man of Steel, Cavill’s Superman proved divisive among audiences, with many considering him too much of a departure from the character’s established backstory.

Henry Cavill’s Superman returned in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and again for Justice League. However, these films failed to redeem the character in the eyes of his detractors, and plans to continue his role within the DCEU were seemingly put on hold. The controversy surrounding Cavill’s place in the DCEU’s cast is ultimately simple: his divisive portrayal of one of DC’s most important characters was fast becoming a major issue through no fault of the actor himself.

Ben Affleck

In an almost identical fashion to Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck also found his casting in the DCEU mired in controversy due to its divisive nature. Ben Affleck’s Batman first appeared in Batman v Superman and was widely dismissed as an inferior iteration of the character. The backlash surrounding his casting and his characterization in the DCEU proved to be enough for Affleck to want to leave the role. Despite Affleck’s version of the character now being much better appreciated, The Flash will reportedly mark the actor’s final DCEU appearance.

Gal Gadot

The final member of DC’s iconic triumvirate of heroes, Wonder Woman has also proved to be controversial in her own way. Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot has faced backlash on more than one occasion in recent years, albeit on a far smaller scale than some of her DC co-stars. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Gadot posted the now-infamous “Imagine” video online, in which she was joined by numerous celebrities in a rendition of the John Lennon song. The Wonder Woman actor faced backlash for the video, which she has since acknowledged as “tasteless.”

In 2021, the Israeli actor shared her thoughts on the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine, something which again caused controversy. Though Gadot’s actions have been decidedly more thoughtless than malicious, they have been enough to make label her as controversial.

Jared Leto

Perhaps the most bizarre controversy to have affected the DCEU so far is Jared Leto’s behavior on the set of Suicide Squad. Leto is known for his method-acting shenanigans, and taking on the role of the DCEU’s Joker proved to be no exception. While filming Suicide Squad, Leto reportedly stayed in character as the Clown Prince of Crime, taunting his co-stars with his odd behavior. While in character as the DCEU’s Joker, Jared Leto reportedly sent a variety of strange items to his fellow actors, including used condoms, “sticky” pornographic magazines, and even a live mouse. Due to the reports of his strange behavior and what was widely considered the worst iteration of the Joker ever committed to screen, Jared Leto also caused considerable DCEU controversy.

How All The Controversy Affects The DCEU

The scope of the various unrelated controversies surrounding the cast of the DCEU spells trouble for the franchise’s future. Though many of the apparent issues surrounding the DCEU’s cast are through no fault of the actors themselves, the negative publicity generated by the media attention is not a good sign. In fact, the DCEU has become far better known as a near-constant source of controversy than it has as a reliably entertaining franchise.

Compare this to the massive success of the MCU, and it appears to cause a significant problem for the DCEU’s future. The DCEU’s direct rival has a far larger cast but faces far fewer behind-the-scenes issues. Of the two major franchises, only one is beset by controversy, and this undermines the DCEU’s reputation even as Warner Bros. attempt to salvage it. The behind-the-scenes problems and controversies surrounding the DCEU’s stars are something that the franchise needs to distance itself from if it ever to intends to match the success of its contemporaries.