2016: Cast as The Flash, DCEU's future, $200M franchise planned.
March 2022: First Hawaii arrest—choked woman at karaoke bar.
April-August 2022: 9 more incidents—burglary, assault, grooming allegations, protective orders.
Warner Bros. dilemma: $200M already spent, can't reshoot, can't release.
June 2023: The Flash released anyway—$271M box office (massive flop), career over.
This is how Ezra Miller went from DC's golden child to Hollywood's biggest liability—and nearly destroyed a $200 million franchise.
The Rise (2008-2020)
Early Success
Born: September 30, 1992 (New Jersey)
Pronouns: They/them (non-binary)
First film: Afterschool (2008), age 15
Breakthrough: We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
Critical acclaim: "Disturbing, brilliant"
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012): Fan favorite
Age: 20, indie darling
DC Universe Casting (2016)
Role: Barry Allen / The Flash
Announcement: October 2014
First appearance: Batman v Superman (2016)
Justice League (2017): Ensemble role
Reception: Fans loved his quirky Flash
The plan: Solo Flash movie, cornerstone of DCEU
His status: LGBTQ+ representation, beloved
The Flash Solo Film (2016-2022)
Announced: 2016
Directors quit: 5 different directors
Script rewrites: Countless
Production hell: 6 years of delays
Finally filming: 2021 (pandemic delays)
Budget: $200 million
Release planned: 2022, then 2023
Warner Bros. investment: Everything riding on this
The Collapse (March-August 2022)
March 28, 2022: Hawaii Incident #1
Location: Margarita Village karaoke bar, Hilo, Hawaii
Time: 11:30 PM
What happened:
- Became agitated at people singing karaoke
- Grabbed microphone from woman singing
- Lunged at man playing darts
- Woman asked them to calm down
- Choked the woman by the throat
- Threw chair, hit woman in forehead
Arrest: Disorderly conduct, harassment
Bail: $500
Warner Bros. response: Silence
Industry reaction: "Isolated incident"
April 19, 2022: Hawaii Incident #2
Location: Same area, 27 days later
Situation: Couple hosted them at their home
Allegation:
- Couple asked them to leave
- They threw chair at man's head (gash requiring stitches)
- Threw chair at woman (bruise)
Charge: Second-degree assault
Bail: $500
Warner Bros. response: Still silent
The Flash status: Still releasing
The Grooming Allegations (2022)
Accuser: Tokata Iron Eyes (activist, Indigenous teenager)
Timeline: Met when she was 12, they were 23
Parents' claims:
- Flew her to London at age 14
- Gave her alcohol, marijuana, LSD
- Isolated her from family
- "Psychologically manipulated" her
Standing Rock Sioux: Tribal court issued protective order
Tokata's response: Denied allegations, said she's an adult making choices
Their response: "I am disgusted by these lies"
Investigation: No charges filed
Public perception: Devastating
June 2022: Vermont Incidents
Location: Vermont (they had farm there)
Allegation #1: Mother and 12-year-old child felt unsafe at their farm
Mother's claim: They behaved inappropriately around child
Protective order: Granted against them
Allegation #2: 25-year-old woman and 3 children living at their farm
Concern: Children's welfare
Vermont Department for Children and Families: Couldn't locate children
Media: "Where are the children?"
Eventually: Children found, safe
August 7, 2022: Vermont Burglary
Location: Stamford, Vermont
Crime: Broke into home
Stole: Bottles of alcohol
Surveillance: Caught on camera
Charge: Felony burglary
Arraignment: Pleaded not guilty
The pattern: 10 incidents in 5 months
The Complete Timeline
- March 28: Hawaii karaoke choking
- April 19: Hawaii assault (chairs)
- April: Grooming allegations surface
- June: Vermont protective order #1
- June: Vermont family welfare concerns
- August 7: Vermont burglary
- Multiple: Restraining orders in multiple states
- Multiple: Accusations from various individuals
Total arrests/incidents: 10+ in 18 months
Warner Bros. spent: $200 million
The question: What do they do with The Flash?
The Warner Bros. Dilemma (2022)
The Options
Option 1: Cancel the film
- Write off $200 million
- Admit defeat
- Lose cornerstone of DCEU
Option 2: Reshoot with new actor
- Cost: $50-100 million more
- Time: 1-2 years
- Feasibility: Extremely difficult
Option 3: Reduce their role
- Reshoot with body double
- Minimize their screen time
- Cost: Still massive
Option 4: Release as planned
- Hope controversy dies down
- Accept PR nightmare
- Recoup some investment
The Decision
Warner Bros. chose: Option 4
The logic:
- $200M already spent
- Multiverse plot requires them in every scene
- Can't reshoot without them
- Maybe people will forget
The gamble: Release it and hope for the best
Their "Apology" (August 2022)
Statement released: "Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment. I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life."
Translation: Seeking treatment, career in jeopardy
Warner Bros. response: "We're encouraged by their steps"
Public response: Mixed (too little, too late vs. hoping for recovery)
The Release (June 2023)
Marketing Nightmare
Problem: Can't promote movie with star who had 10 arrests
Solution:
- Minimal press tour
- Focus on Michael Keaton's Batman return
- Focus on Ben Affleck's Batman
- Barely mention Ezra Miller
Press: "Where's the star of your movie?"
Warner Bros.: Changes subject
June 16, 2023: Release
Opening weekend: $55 million (domestic)
Expectation: $130+ million
Total box office: $271 million worldwide
Budget: $200 million + marketing = $300M+
Loss: At least $100 million
Rating: 83% Rotten Tomatoes (good reviews!)
The irony: Critics loved it, nobody saw it
Why It Flopped
Reason 1: Ezra Miller controversy (obvious)
Reason 2: DC fatigue (multiple disappointments)
Reason 3: Superhero fatigue (market saturation)
Reason 4: Marketing couldn't feature star
Reason 5: Competition (Spider-Verse, Elemental)
The truth: Controversy killed interest
Legal Resolution (2024)
Vermont burglary: Pleaded guilty
Sentence: Probation, mental health treatment, no jail
Hawaii charges: Pleaded no contest, $500 fine
Other cases: Settled or dropped
Current status: Out of public eye
Career: Effectively over
The Damage Assessment
To Warner Bros./DC
Financial loss: $100+ million on The Flash
Franchise impact: No Flash sequel planned
DCEU: Entire universe rebooted (James Gunn's DCU)
Trust: Executives fired, strategy changed
Lesson: Better vetting of franchise stars
To Ezra Miller
Career: Dead (no projects announced)
Reputation: Destroyed
Legal record: Criminal convictions
Public perception: Dangerous, unstable
Age: 32 in 2024
Prospects: None currently
To Victims
Hawaii woman: Choked, traumatized
Hawaii couple: Physically injured
Tokata Iron Eyes family: Ongoing trauma
Vermont family: Children in potential danger
Multiple women: Restraining orders
The cost: Real people hurt
The Warning Signs
Before 2022
2011: Arrested in NYC, marijuana possession
2020: Video surfaced of them choking woman at bar (different incident)
On-set rumors: Difficult, erratic behavior
Interviews: Increasingly bizarre
Red flags: Ignored because talented
The Pattern
Age of victims/accusers: Often very young (12-18 when met)
Locations: Remote (Hawaii, Vermont farm)
Behavior: Isolation of individuals
Response to confrontation: Violence
The escalation: Each incident worse than last
From DC Star to Hollywood Pariah
2014: Cast as The Flash, LGBTQ+ icon
2016-2021: Justice League, Flash filming, beloved
March 2022: Hawaii choking arrest
April-August 2022: 9 more incidents (assault, burglary, grooming allegations)
August 2022: "Apology" statement, seeking treatment
June 2023: The Flash bombs ($271M on $300M budget)
2024: Convicted, probation, career over
Time span: 18 months from DC star to unhireable
The Lesson
You can:
- Be cast in $200M franchise
- Represent LGBTQ+ community in major blockbuster
- Have studios invest everything in you
But if you:
- Choke fans at karaoke bars
- Assault people with furniture
- Have grooming allegations involving minors
- Get arrested 10 times in 18 months
- Make yourself uninsurable
The result:
- $200M movie becomes $100M loss
- Franchise dies
- Career dies
- People get hurt
- Trust destroyed
From Flash to crashed.
From DC's future to Hollywood's cautionary tale.
From $200M investment to $100M write-off.
From beloved to banned.
That's what happens when studios ignore red flags.
And talent ignores accountability.
Nobody wins.
Especially the victims.
