The Canadian behind The Flash explains what it takes to design a blockbuster

Oscar-winning production designer Paul Austerberry melded multiple universes in DC super hero film

A man in a purple gingham shirt stands in a kitchen. On the table in front of him are two Batman figurines, a toy Batman motorcycle and a large emblem of The Flash.
The Oscar-winning Canadian production designer Paul Austerberry poses with Batman and Flash memorabilia. Austerberry is one of the creative forces behind the upcoming super hero movie The Flash. (Craig Chivers/CBC)

It hasn’t been an easy journey for The Flash. The movie has been hampered by a floundering, then rebooted DC expanded cinematic universe that lags far behind Marvel’s, a heavy schedule of reshoots and a lead actor in and out of legal trouble.

But at CinemaCon film festival this week, that all faded into the background as audiences got their first preview six weeks ahead of the rest of the public. The reactions were, for the most part, glowing: some called it superb, one of DC’s best and funniest, and also one of the great all-time super hero movies.

While that’s a triumph for director Andy Muschietti, there’s another talent behind the screen — even if few are aware.

“My job is very detail oriented,” Paul Austerberry explained to CBC News. “Half the things we do, some people will see, some people won’t.”

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Locus Magazine: books for May

These are the forthcoming “Selected Books by Author” for May from the December 2022 issue of Locus Magazine.

MAY 2023

  • CASSANDRA KHAW • The Salt Grows Heavy • Titan Books UK, May 2023 (h, hc, eb)
  • CHARLES STROSS  • Season of Skulls • Tordotcom, May 2023 (h, hc, eb)
  • CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI  • Fractal Noise • Macmillan/Tor UK, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI  • Fractal Noise • Tor, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • CHRISTOPHER PRIEST  • Airside • Orion UK/Gollancz, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • GENEVIEVE COGMAN • Scarlet • Ace, May 2023 (tp, eb)
  • GENEVIEVE COGMAN • Scarlet • Macmillan/Tor UK, May 2023 (tp, eb)
  • JUNO DAWSON • The Shadow Cabinet • Penguin Random House/Penguin, May 2023 (tp, eb)
  • KAGE BAKER • Maelstrom and Other Martian Tales • Subterranean Press, May 2023 (c, hc, eb)
  • MARK LAWRENCE • The Book that Wouldn’t Burn • Harper Voyager UK, May 2023 (1st US, hc, eb)
  • MARTHA WELLS  • Witch King • Tordotcom, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • MICHAEL SWANWICK  • The Best of Michael Swanwick • Volume Two, Subterranean Press, May 2023 (c, hc)
  • PETER S. BEAGLE • The Essential Peter S. Beagle • Volume 2: Oakland Dragon Blues and Other Stories, Tachy­on Publications, May 2023 (c, hc, eb)
  • PIERCE BROWN • Light Bringer • Hodder & Stough­ton UK, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • PIERCE BROWN • Light Bringer • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • R.F. KUANG • Yellowface • HarperCollins UK/The Borough Press, May 2023 (a, hc, eb)
  • R.F. KUANG • Yellowface • HarperCollins/Mor­row, May 2023 (a, hc, eb)
  • RORY POWER  • In an Orchard Grown from Ash • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • RORY POWER  • In an Orchard Grown from Ash • Titan Books UK, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • S.L. HUANG • The Water Outlaws • Tordotcom, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL • The Malevolent Seven • Quercus/Jo Fletcher UK, May 2023 (hc, eb)
  • STEPHEN GRAHAM JONES • The Salt Grows Heavy • Tor Night­fire, May 2023 (na, h, hc, eb)
  • TEMI OH  • More Perfect • Simon & Schuster UK, May 2023 (tp, eb)
  • TEMI OH  • More Perfect • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, May 2023 (tp, eb)