While the Arrowverse came to an end with the series finale of The Flash, AI reimagine it as one last crossover.
The Arrowverse was a juggernaut of television for a whole decade. What started as a TV show about a vigilante driven by a desire to right his family’s wrongs turned into a larger-than-life shared universe full of metahumans, aliens, and parallel dimensions.
Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batwoman all entertained us on a weekly basis, with their various adventures on The CW keeping the DC Comics legacy on the small screen alive and well. Even with a limited budget (and perhaps too many episodes), the Arrowverse on The CW was the ideal DC shared universe, eclipsing what Warner Bros. attempted to do with the DC Extended Universe at the time on the big screen.
Unfortunately, changing leaderships at both The CW and Warner Bros. Discovery resulted in the end of the Arrowverse. While Arrow, Black Lightning, and Supergirl had already ended on their own terms, Legends and Batwoman were cancelled, meaning that The Flash‘s ninth and final season was the official culmination of this world.
Emotions were understandably mixed after the series finale of The Flash as all of the heroes weren’t present to bid the Arrowverse farewell.
However, we asked ChatGPT’s AI to write an alternate ending to the Arrowverse, imagining what would happen if the stars had aligned and everyone could be present.
"In this alternate ending to the Arrowverse, the grand culmination of the storylines from Arrow, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman, and The Flash brings together an unforgettable conclusion, paying tribute to the beloved characters and providing a satisfying send-off.As the Multiverse faces its greatest threat yet, the heroes of the Arrowverse unite to combat an otherworldly force that seeks to erase all existence. Led by Oliver Queen’s spirit, which transcends time and space, the heroes embark on a perilous journey to restore balance and save their respective cities and realities.In the face of overwhelming odds, Oliver’s guidance inspires each hero to tap into their true potential and embrace their destiny. Supergirl and Batwoman demonstrate unwavering strength and resilience, while the Legends of Tomorrow employ their time-traveling expertise to rally allies from different eras.Meanwhile, Barry Allen, as The Flash, realizes that his connection to the Speed Force holds the key to unraveling the Multiverse crisis. With the support of his friends and family, including his wife Iris West-Allen, the Flash family, and Team Flash, Barry races against time to forge a cosmic solution.In a heart-pounding climax, the heroes confront the central antagonist, who seeks to reshape reality to their own twisted desires. Through a combination of teamwork, sacrifice, and the unwavering belief in the power of love and friendship, the heroes emerge victorious, restoring the Multiverse and safeguarding the countless worlds within.In the aftermath, the heroes gather for a tearful farewell, celebrating their triumphs and reflecting on their journeys. Oliver’s spirit, having fulfilled his purpose, bids a final goodbye, expressing pride in his friends and the legacy they have created.The closing moments of the Arrowverse showcase each hero continuing their individual journeys, protecting their cities and exploring new horizons. The Flash, having embraced his role as Central City’s guardian, passes on the mantle to a worthy successor, signaling a new era for the speedster legacy.The series finale concludes with a poignant montage, highlighting the heroes’ enduring legacies, the enduring power of hope, and the bonds forged throughout the Arrowverse’s rich tapestry of interconnected stories.This alternate ending to the Arrowverse aims to pay homage to the characters and their respective shows, tying up loose ends and providing a sense of closure for fans. It celebrates the heroic journey of each character while emphasizing the themes of unity, resilience, and the indomitable spirit that defines the Arrowverse."
The irony here is that this actually sounds like a sequel to Crisis On Infinite Earths, the game-changing Arrowverse crossover of 2019 and 2020 that paved the way for the end of Arrow. In many ways that was the initial endgame of The CW’s shared universe of superheroes, as it capped off five years of storytelling on the crossovers, bringing the heroes of each show together for one last major threat before allowing the originator of this world, the Green Arrow Oliver Queen, to bow out with a sacrifice.
What’s also ironic is that this ending would have brought the spirit of Oliver back to protect his new multiverse, which is something that actually happened in the final season of The Flash as a special episode saw him and Barry Allen team up one last time. It didn’t quite carry the crossover stakes imagined here, but that was a welcome surprise.
Speaking of which, the reason that this ambitious alternate ending to the Arrowverse would have been such a success was the fact that it would have allowed all of the heroes of this world to bow out at the same time, bringing back faces like Supergirl and Green Arrow, while also allowing heroes like Batwoman and the Legends to get the wrap-up that their respective shows’ cancellations robbed them of.
As awesome as this imagined crossover sounds, it’s not something we could have seen on the final season of The Flash, as various Arrowverse stars had moved onto other projects, and the budget was probably extremely limited given the network’s shift towards cheaper programming.
We miss the Arrowverse and while we’re always thankful that The Flash got the chance to bring it to a close, it is interesting to think about what one final multiverse-spanning Arrowverse crossover could have looked like.