Summary
The Flashstar Grant Gustin recreated an iconic Arrowverse meme that took the internet by storm during the franchise’s high point.
Kicking off in 2014 on the CW,The Flashwas a live-action adaptation of DC Comics' popular Scarlet Speedster and centered on the Barry Allen version of the character, finally coming to an end in the first half of 2023. Since the show’s final season aired, series starGustin has spoken about playing another superhero role, potentially even reprising his Arrowverse role.
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AfterThe Flash’s final pull on fans’ heartstringsin the wake of its last season, Gustin has finally given fans a reprisal of his Arrowverse-era roles, albeit not in the way fans might have expected. In a post to their Instagram account,Gary Lizasoshared a photo featuring Gustin at the recently concluded FanX Salt Lake Pop Culture & Comic Convention 2023. The actor and Lizaso recreated the iconic format tagged asGrant Gustin Next to Oliver Queen’s Graveby Know Your Meme. The meme features an image of Gustin kneeling beside Oliver Queen’s grave from the final season ofArrow.
The humorous meme template has been popular since it was first posted in 2020, with the somber tone of the episode (in which many Arrowverse stars cross over toArrowfor the titular hero’s funeral) contrasting perfectly with the silly behind-the-scene antics that led to the iconic photograph being taken. The meme has even gone beyond the fandom and will likely become more popular now that Gustin has graciously recreated it. Unfortunately for fans,Arrowleading man Stephen Amell (seen in the left-side margins of the original photo) didn’t produce a complimentary meme-worthy moment when hereturned as Green Arrow forThe Flash’s curtain call.
Gustin’s refreshing antics at fan events serve to remind Arrowverse lovers of better days, as the franchise is now largely dead, with its last surviving show inSuperman and Loisgetting a disappointing updateconcerning its release date shortly after having to cut down on its main cast due to budget cuts required for renewal. While the best is behind them, fans can look forward to James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted universe to potentially see Gustin and some of his contemporaries back in action.
