Actor Michael Shannon, who reprises his Man of Steel villain General Zod in the upcoming The Flash, related his experience working with embattled star Ezra Miller.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Shannon stated, "I thought Ezra was lovely—very kind to me when I was there. It’s difficult to talk about, but I always give people a lot of slack in this business, because there’s a lot of people in this business that have issues. And some people have more privacy than others. Any time somebody is out in the spotlight getting picked on, I feel for them. Even if it’s warranted, it’s still a horrible situation."
Ezra Miller's Controversies
Miller had a slightly unruly reputation for years before being cast as The Flash, starting with an arrest for drug possession while filming The Perks of Being a Wallflower in 2011, which led to two citations for disorderly conduct. More recent controversies began with an incident in 2020 when a video of what seemed to be a violent altercation between Miller and a fan circulated.
In 2022, Miller was arrested twice over the course of fewer than four weeks over charges of disorderly conduct, harassment and second-degree assault. Only a few months later, their relationship with then-18-year-old Native American activist Tokata Iron Eyes made headlines, when her parents had a temporary order of protection issued against the actor after accusing them of having groomed their daughter since she was 12 years old (Iron Eyes refutes the accusations against Miller). In August 2022, Miller was charged with felony burglary, which was later dropped when they pleaded guilty to trespassing.
The Flash Is Heading to Theaters
Not long after the incident, Miller released a statement saying they were seeking treatment for "complex mental health issues." Recently, several collaborators on The Flash, including director Andy Muschietti and production designer Paul Austerberry, have spoken out positively about their experience working with Miller. Austerberry pointed out Miller's professional commitment, being on the set for seven days almost every week, shooting on six of them and spending one day in stunt rehearsals.
Much of the marketing surrounding The Flash has centered on actor Michael Keaton's return as Batman and other well-known DC heroes and villains joining the ensemble cast. However, Miller will play a central role, as the film's co-producer Barbara Muschietti pointed out, assuring that the titular character was still the film's focus, with Miller being in almost every scene.
The Flash opens in theaters June 16.
Source: Vanity Fair