Why Didn't Barry Allen Know Bruce Wayne in Justice League DCEU?

The question of why Barry Allen, the Flash, didn't recognize Bruce Wayne, Batman, in the Justice League DCEU movie often puzzles fans. Here are several reasons and explanations behind this phenomenon.

1. Batman’s Persona as a Secret Identity

Batman's role as a vigilante is fundamentally tied to his secret identity—Bruce Wayne. He deliberately maintains this separation to ensure that the public does not know his true self, thus protecting both his identity and his loved ones from potential harm. This secrecy is what makes Batman, Batman. As such, even those who have known him for years, like Barry Allen, do not necessarily recognize him without the proper context.

2. Time Displacements and Flashpoint

The Justice League: War animated movie, which is set in the New 52 universe, presents a unique scenario where time lines and characters' histories are significantly different from the DCEU movies. In the New 52, time is not a linear progression, which often leads to significant changes in character relationships and timelines.

For example, Flashpoint, a major event in the New 52 universe, caused a major temporal disjunction where the Justice League was just forming, despite the Flash having known Bruce Wayne for over a decade. Flashpoint involved an outside force that deliberately altered the timeline, causing the Justice League to effectively never have fully formed from the perspective of those within it. This reset would explain why Barry, despite his extensive knowledge of Batman, never met him in the pre-Flashpoint timeline.

3. Animated Movie Differences and Canon Discrepancies

The Justice League: War animated movie is a work of fiction that does not strictly adhere to the DCEU canon. Therefore, many scenes and plot points in this movie, such as the conversation between Flash and Batman, may not align with the DCEU's established storyline. In the comics, Flash was not initially a fan of Batman and was reluctant to help him until persuaded by Hal Jordan. These aspects were not accurately represented in the animated movie, making the interaction between the two characters seem out of place.

The New 52 timeline presented in Justice League: War caused further confusion. Since Flashpoint occurred after the formation of the Justice League in the New 52, it's plausible that the animated movie was simply meant to highlight the origins of the current Justice League, rather than a direct continuation of the events in the main DCEU films.

4. Conclusion

In conclusion, the lack of recognition between Barry Allen and Bruce Wayne in the Justice League DCEU movie can be attributed to several factors: Batman’s commitment to his secret identity, the temporal alterations caused by Flashpoint, and the differences between the New 52 and the DCEU's established universe. These elements contribute to the complexity and depth of the DCEU universe, making it a fascinating and multifaceted world for fans to explore.