Seth Grahame-Smith has taken a page from DC superhero The Flash and has swiftly departed from his would-be directorial debut.
Grahame-Smith was originally set to direct The Flash, a film that he also wrote. The Hollywood Reporter reported that he’s instead left the project over “creative differences.” However, the Warner Bros. film will keep Grahame-Smith’s script nonetheless.
The Flash is slated to premiere March 16, 2018, leaving THR to speculate that the studio has “plenty of time” to find another director.
Perhaps best known as the author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Grahame-Smith first became involved in film following the novel’s film adaptation. He served as the executive producer of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, a film based off yet another one of his books.
Grahame-Smith had previously been attached to the film for nearly seven months, though the announcement of his directorial involvement was met with tepid enthusiasm. It seems that his departure may have been predictable for some Flash fans, who were eager to bash the newbie director on Twitter.
the more I think about THE FLASH movie the less likely I’m going to see it.. sorry WB you lost me with Seth…
— Christopher Marc (@_ChristopherM) April 23, 2016
So WB picked Seth Graham-Smith to write/direct The Flash movie? I like him as a writer but I’m not 100% convinced he should direct.
— Pax is my Name (@paxtonholley) October 5, 2015
.@ZackSnyder give The Flash movie to @EdgarWright. Seth Graham-Smith is NOT a director.
— Joham. (@_Joham_) March 30, 2016
Seth Grahame Smith is directing The Flash movie?!?! Its like picking your vacation”Should I go to Syria or Hawaii? I think Syria.” WTF WB?!
— George Mirnic (@CthulhuGeorge) October 8, 2015
https://twitter.com/connordidatweet/status/726250940110532608
lmao literally the other day i was like “uh idk about this director for the flash movie”
— mara (@furiousroad) April 29, 2016
The flash movie should be a “Fun” movie. But it does need to have some seriousness as well. That director I doubt could do that.
— Noir (@TheRisenKnight) April 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/DCEUNews/status/725550674381938689
Thankfully, Warner Bros. appears to have no love lost over the departure: Grahame-Smith will reportedly remain involved in the forthcoming Lego Batman Movie and Beetlejuice 2—two projects that appear to be more Grahame-Smith’s speed.
Seth: I’m just saying. Since this is a Flash movie, let’s make it fun!
— Phantom (@OddEyesDuelist) April 30, 2016
WB: But dark and gritty is fun!
Seth:I quit. pic.twitter.com/t8mmfYXXYB
