Matthew Lillard will be in Man of Tomorrow, and his role is a secret. That hasn't stopped the usual speculation, which led fans to immediately suspect he is The Flash. James Gunn has tersely addressed this and might leave theorists bummed.
Gunn killed the latest internet firestorm with a single word on his chosen forum, Threads: "No." The big question this time? Casting Matthew Lillard in the DC Universe and Man of Tomorrow spurred social media into a frenzy. Users spent hours convinced that cult favorite actor was secretly suiting up as Barry Allen—in other words, The Flash.
The rumor ignited after production details revealed Lillard’s undisclosed character shares scenes with the Daily Planet newsroom and heads a biracial family with two young children. Internet sleuths (probably going by revamped continuity established by the Arrowverse) instantly connected those clues to Barry, Iris West, and the superhero twins Don and Dawn, guessing Gunn was quietly setting up Wally West as the DCU's prime Scarlet Speedster.
As much of a classic logic jump as the conclusion seems, it follows a pattern started by Lanterns. Hal Jordan is brand-new to the DCU but already middle-aged, jaded, and ready for retirement. It's abundantly clear the point of the show was to pass the torch to John Stewart through a true baptism by fire. Doing the same with Barry and Wally only makes sense—albeit too much.
However, Gunn shut the door instantly, with a word and a micro-post that left DC fans back at square one regarding Lillard’s secret gig, which reunites him with Gunn for the first time since their Scooby-Doo collaborations in the early 2000s—handing the actor another high-profile franchise footprint amidst his ongoing career resurgence he owes to Five Nights at Freddy's.
While the Fastest Man Alive is officially off the table, the specific nature of Lillard's scenes alongside Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, and Cat Grant points toward a grounded, character-driven role anchored firmly in Metropolis rather than a high-concept superhero crossover. Speculation naturally pivoted elsewhere, with fans spitballing candidates ranging from Blue Beetle predecessor Ted Kord to Daily Planet fixture Snapper Carr or S.T.A.R. Labs scientist Emil Hamilton.
Even Plastic Man came up in very meme-worthy fashion throughout the thread Gunn moseyed into, although the wacky stretchy guy is far from what anyone would call grounded. His personality, though perfect for Lillard, takes up generous story real estate by itself. Perhaps realizing that, as Man of Tomorrow's director and DC Studios’ key creative force, Gunn repeatedly cautioned audiences not to expect heavy cameo bloat in his film, as he's insisting the narrative focus remains locked on the Last Son of Krypton.
His tendencies prevent his casts from being lean, but swatting down the Flash theory confirms Gunn is at least keeping his superhero lineup intentional. Whatever the role Lillard actually claims turns out to be, it is a character built for the daily pulse of Metropolis, leaving the Speed Force out of the equation for the time being.
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