'The Flash' star Kiersey Clemons on director Rick Famuyiwa's exit: It's "very upsetting"

The Flash director Rick Famuyiwa announced earlier this week that he was leaving the project, citing creative differences with Warner Bros. He had already cast Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, and actress he had previously worked with on his indy movie Dope.

The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Clemons to get her thoughts on Famuyiwa leaving The Flash, and naturally she wasn't too happy about it.

"Rick was one of the main reasons I wanted to do the movie," Clemons told The Hollywood Reporter. "So him not being a part of it is obviously very upsetting to me."

"All I can do is give it up to the gods. Let's see what happens. Let's see who's going to jump in," Clemons said of a new director.

"Ezra and I are going to do what we promised to do from the beginning," Clemons added. "No matter who the director is, I am going to do what I think Iris should be."

It was revealed that Clemons also has a cameo as Iris West in Justice League. That movie is due out on November 17, 2017. The Flash, which was supposed to be out in March 2018, will likely be delayed.

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter

52 comments

ken

November 4, 2016

I understand her loyalty to the director that put her on the spotlight in DOPE and is probably one of her mentor. However, as a young up-and-coming actress in Hollywood she gotta be careful with her words" Rick was of the main reasons why I wanted to do the movie..." that sounds extremely conceited and narcissic.
Let's face it comic book movies are the biggest in the world right now.A lot of A-listers would kill for a role in one of those money making franchises. So lose the bossy attitude and be thankful for the opportunity. You can say that Rick departure is unfortunate without saying that he was the best thing about the project.

Ryan
November 4, 2016
Ur an idiot bro.. how does that sound conceited? It's her honest opinion.. bossy attitude are u a fuckin feminist? U voting for Hilary?
1. Foomankru
  November 4, 2016
  She can absolutely have an opinion but honestly, for me, I'd rather see actors who are loyal and excited about the subject matter first be cast in these movies.
  1. Rust
    November 4, 2016
    “Ezra and I are going to do what we promised to do from the beginning,”
    Clemons added. “No matter who the director is, I am going to do what I
    think Iris should be.”
    ^ That quote is satisfactory for me.
  2. Ryan
    November 4, 2016
    she did say she's gna do what she signed up for.. but I understand what u mean because that's what we want as fans when Benedict said he wanted to be on screen w batman whixh coulda been a slip but i wanted to smack the shit outta him cause I was thinking as a fan how could u disrespect D.C. Or marvel like that.. but ppl make mistakes
2. ken
  November 4, 2016
  🙄🙄🙄I Always forget that genre is infested by frustrated 12 years old.
  1. Ryn
    November 4, 2016
    Are u commenting on urself? lol I feel like I'm talking to barbies ken.. 😂😂🙈
    1. ken
      November 4, 2016
      Oh screw you Ryan!!! Just joking but seriously screw you elementary school was hard enough for me.
    2. Ryan
      November 5, 2016
      Lol have a good day ken, and keep living life!
3. Zoom
  November 4, 2016
  Are you voting for Trump ? the greatest asshole in your nation ?
  1. Ryan
    November 4, 2016
    Nah my man I feel the bern!! 😆👍 and bro Hilary should be in jail.. I don't get this shit?! I understand trumps a douchebag but can we name one good thing Hilary was done that's good...? U think she actually gives a fuck bout ppl like she says 😂 She's a gangster bro.. jus like the rest of em.
    1. grayghost84
      November 5, 2016
      Hilary is at least not an outright racist, and disrespectful of women. Trump could start WW3 by Nukeing some country on a whim. He is dangerous and ignorant. Vote Hillary if only to save yourself from him.
    2. Pat Bateman
      November 5, 2016
      spirit cooking
    3. Ryan
      November 5, 2016
      U don't kno her real fuckin opinions..!! 😂 She's told what to say stfu! Trumps an idiot w shit he does and says but "atleast" he's honest.. and those 30,000 emails were about yoga.. 😂 Gtfoh! And how the fuck can he nuke a fuckin country he can't jus go on a rampage grabs the keys and blow them away u ppl are acting crazy. And Hilary done said she wants to put a no fly zone over Seria that Obama already disagreed to because fear of war with Russia and we NEED to have a good relationship with them and jus like import and export taxes how come we're one of the only countries that don't do that.. like wtf? that is a big reason why are businesses are going overseas and to Mexico n shit. And immigrants that don't have a green card I kno they jus want a better life but like in construction Union jobsites are going union non union because dudes from w no green card will get subcontracted the work for super low then after the job done they all go back to home one was fifteen years old! Been dry walling since he was 7! Lol weighed like 110 pounds but was a beast on the stilts. But this was like a big three month job so all them union dry wallers don't have the work n can't provide for their family's because their corporate rather pay illegal immigrants lil bit of nothing so they can get more cash.. I mean I would do the same thing if I was an immigrant but that's where the system needs to do something where they have to do it the right way get a green card and come up through the trade..
4. Denass
  November 4, 2016
  What the fuck does that have to do with Hilary you spakky cunt
  1. Ryan
    November 4, 2016
    Eat shit bitch
  2. Ryan
    November 4, 2016
    I understand the angst I really do.. 😂 He's expressing himself in a way he wants bitch, so kick rocks with ur bullshit.. On here acting like somebody's psychiatrist
5. Ryan
  November 4, 2016
  Talking bout trolls.. lol idk if u are or jus been smoking too much hefer.. and yea I was gna use pussies instead.. Trump supporters are feminists? Lol okie dokie well Forrest did ya not read the way he was implying it, in what way was she being conceited or that she was bigger than that project. Stfu trying to act smarter than somebody fuckinnn douchebag..
Theshadowbat
November 4, 2016
I do agree that she handled that poorly. Comic book movies are the biggest movies, they can make an actor well known. Even directors, before rick was announced as the director of the flash he was unknown. No one would have thrown his name around. I don't think she sounded conceited and narcissistic but the way she said it, felt like she didn't care much about the project. that's the more worrisome part.
YourGrace
November 4, 2016
Firstly,If Kiersey left,which she would be well within her right, she would be scooped up by another superhero/blockbuster franchise in a flash(lol see what i did). You obviously haven't seen her work you aren't aware of her talent. She doesn't need DC, her stock will only go up with even being affiliated with the film if she did drop out.
Secondly,all she did was be completely honest in support of a man who gave her her first big break. For an indy based African American director to be able to have the opportunity to direct a big budget film for a major franchise was a huge win for representation in Hollywood. So for him to depart for "creative differences" leaves alot of speculation to how diverse WB wants to be. Or atleast how they want to be portrayed. There is nothing narcissistic about her response or attitude. Rick opened a door for an up and coming woman of color,cast as traditionally Caucasian role, so her loyalties have not changed. The trust she had in him to create an Iris West that would remain true to the material without dismissing her experience as a young black female(in this universe) cannot be ignored. She obviously cares about the character and respects Candice Patton enough to make this Iris her own and Rick was a big part of her believing she could accomplish that. So please excuse yourself. Nothing was unprofessional sbout what she said.
Helgard
November 4, 2016
Her being upset by it is completely expected and totally understandable. It must feel like a total bait-and-switch. Rick Famuyiwa was the main selling point for her, because they already had a working relationship and it obviously was a mutual feeling of enjoying working together. Now he's out, she's contracted, and she has no idea what direction this movie is going in or who is going to direct it. Plus the person she trusts left because he didn't like something. I still have high hopes for Flash but her reaction is totally understandable. As a commenter on things he is not privy to, you gotta be careful with words like 'extremely conceited' and 'narcissistic'. That sounds extremely conceited and narcissistic.
JoshDen
November 4, 2016
Wtf??
ken
November 4, 2016
Okay Everyone!!!!
First; we are on the same team here (DC) , so stop with the vicious attacks.
Second; I'm Belgian, I'm a business student in the US but English isn't my first language therefore I don't really overthink it when writing on a freaking fanboy blog comment section , especially because I stress enough proof reading papers. All that to say that "narcistic"and "conceited"might have not be the best words to use.
Third; I did say that I understand where she was coming from but her form was all bad because the headline will be " Kiersey Clemons is upset about the Flash losing it director" and as one of the biggest and most iconic studio in the world that's not a headline you want about an upcoming project especially coming from an up and comer talent you gave a chance .
Fourth, to that one person that say she so talented she don't need those movies. Well just like every job in the world it doesn't matter how good you are, if you are not a team player you and your talent can stay home. Many talented A- listers many Oscar winners can't find decent roles because of their attitudes. And you think this up and comer has earned the right to be elitist about The Flash which is a upcoming movie from a multi billion dollar franchise??? Talent and awards are good for established actors and directors to get some leverage in negotiations but for unproven one studios want company men and women they want team players, they don't want folks who gonna say well "he was the best part of this project... but whatever I guess I'll do the job since they pay me to do it"
1. BROWN_KNIGHT 4 Trump
  November 5, 2016
  Yikes dude
2. Ryan
  November 5, 2016
  Stop it kenifer! 😆 ur jus overthinkin what she said homeboy. Anyway what is Belgium like?
Blockhead Jr.
November 5, 2016
Because he contacted her.

Mario

November 4, 2016

Well, work is work, only big shots have the balls to exit a massive project like this cause their director is gone so, no news here for me, she was ok, show some loyalty to the guy, but not pointing fingers at the studio cause she still wants the gig.

grayghost84

November 4, 2016

Indeed, the curse of being ocd about the DCEU.

The Doctor

November 4, 2016

I really don't want to see a third jump off the moving train. Hopefully WB/DC takes the time to find the right choice for Director, don't rush someone into the chair who isn't passionate about the project.

Mario
November 4, 2016
Well, look at Patty Jenkings, before she was up for Thor 2, but left the same way, and got on board with WW, she is in love with her film, lets hope she delivers, and maybe we get the same good fate with a passionate director for the Flash, Famuyiwa seemed good and all, but he had kinda his own "multicultural agenda" and stuff, is cool, but i don’t want so much stuff in the Flash movie, lets focus on The Flash.
1. Mario
  November 4, 2016
  He said many times he wanted to print a bit of a "message" and the "more edge" line seems to me that he tried to rework the script in a way that Geoff Jones and his crew didn't like, a detail i don't let by, meaning i trust Geoff.
  1. Mario
    November 4, 2016
    He's not "making" them; that's directors job, he's on top of it, on the main story line and chain of events mastermind, like the Feige of DCEU. Did Feige had the "experience" before Marvel explode????
    1. Mario
      November 5, 2016
      In what?
Swaggersaurus
November 5, 2016
Technically Rick is the 3rd director/directors to leave the project.

Doofungus

November 4, 2016

Delete that Ben script article @chris.

Dumb Cunt
November 4, 2016
more clikcs= more ads being shown, which means more income for Chris.
he could update the title if he hasn't though
1. Ryan
  November 5, 2016
  Crazy, I use to like Christopher..

Captain DC

November 4, 2016

Kiersey Clemons 💘💍

Johns v Feige! I'm interested to see if Geoff Johns can actually captain the DCEU ship, LIKE A BOSS! Not having the Flash movie ready, and someone publicly trashing his and Affleck's rough drafts of The Batman script, are not good signs. I wanna see him respond like a champion, and make the right moves.

The walking Cuban
November 5, 2016
I notice you don't get a lot of upvotes... It's cuz you speak your mind. DCEU mirroring MCU's success would be great, but not a popular notion round HYUH.
(DCEU makes first billion dollar film) "yeah, cuz they sold out and went all Disney" only, they won't say that, because they want it to succeed. I mean, some, I should say. I get the feeling there really are some hardcore nonconformist goth kids rooting for DCEU to stay just unlikeable enough to keep going...
Your_Mama1
November 7, 2016
Johns is a complete hack. The guy has no idea what he is dong either.

krampe1995

November 4, 2016

i hope she stays. i actually like the actress. As for the director. I dont know shit about his directing abilities. i just want the movie to turn out good, he is my favorite after batman

OmegaCorleone

November 4, 2016

Cool that she stays on. Ezra Miller has great range, I hope he and Clemons will have great chemistry.

col42

November 4, 2016

I am also upset about it, hopefully they get another great director.

EpicNoobsFTW

November 4, 2016

Very good point actually.

sj conker

November 4, 2016

"I am going to do what I think Iris should be"
well I was hoping she'd do what geoff johns, the director, or the writer thought Iris should be but ok, fine.

November 5, 2016

We all know that superhero films are embarrassing to watch, even if you are above the age of 17 and they really are cultural detritous but an indie director with a bit of vision would def prefer directing something with sophistication rather than men bouncing around in capes exploiting embarrassing one-liners for the confines of the school playground so it is expected.

BROWN_KNIGHT 4 Trump

November 5, 2016

I respect her candor but she has to be careful in her wording...granted wb deserves a sack of shit for their blunders...but reality is...I dont think she was even in the running..

Brandon J. Hall
November 5, 2016
Yes, but she's already filmed as Iris West for scenes in Justice League. I believe she's been accepted for her position as the character. I know what she meant in terms of fulfilling her obligation and commitment to the role.
1. BROWN_KNIGHT 4 Trump
  November 5, 2016
  If they want she could be gone...whoever else they had in mind could be brought in..