| For the character, see Static. |
- "I wish there was a black superhero back where I live for folks to look up to."
- ―Virgil Hawkins[src]
Static is a 2023 superhero film based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name. It is the 26th film in the DC Extended Universe and the 4th installment of the Bronze Age. It was released on August 4, 2023.
The film introduces Static into the DCEU.
Synopsis[]
Virgil Hawkins is caught up in a gang war and a chemical explosion called the "Big Bang", changing his life forever. As a result, Virgil obtains the ability to create, generate, absorb, and control electricity and magnetism—he takes up the alter-ego of "Static". Now on this new journey, he must define what it means to be a true hero.
Plot[]
In Dakota City, 2015, paramedic Jean Hawkins helps wounded civilians during a citywide crisis. She is soon killed by a stray bullet due to gun violence. In the present day, her youngest son, 17-year-old Virgil Hawkins lives with his older sister, Sharon and widowed father, Robert. He and his best friend, Richie Foley attend Dakota Union High School together. Virgil is assaulted twice by hot-tempered and obnoxious school bully, Francis Stone a.k.a. F-Stop, after attempting to stop his unwanted flirtation to his best friend and crush, Frieda Goren. Larry Wade, who is also Virgil's best friend, convinces him that he should no longer be a pushover. Larry tells Virgil to meet with him at the docks that night. Daisy Watkins, who is another good friend of Virgil, advises him not to go.
Later that night, Virgil arrives and meets with Larry and his gang. Larry hands him a revolver to exact revenge on Stone. Unwilling to kill or become a criminal, he tosses the gun into the river. While attempting to persuade Larry that they both should leave, his gang confronts with Stone's gang, leading to a violent brawl. The fight is interrupted by the Dakota City Police Department, commanded by Captain Gil Summers, who orders the rival gangs to surrender. In their refusal, the police forces releases tear gas on the riot to stir them away and track them. Virgil is caught in the fumes and narrowly escapes, trying to search for Larry. The next morning, Virgil wakes up physically in good condition, but has developed internal changes to his body and physiology. He learns that he has the ability to control electricity and technology and magnetize metal. Virgil immediately confides in Richie about his newfound powers, impressing him. Richie even persuades him to become a vigilante to fight crime.
Utilizing his intelligence and creativity, Virgil creates a series of suits to conceal his identity and a metal disc to transport himself through flight. He and Richie also find an abandoned gas station to use as a covert base of operations and excavate underneath it. Virgil soon begins his vigilante operations by aiding innocents and stopping criminals, quickly gaining admiration and respect by most of the public. Weeks later, the duo learn that Virgil is not the only metahuman in the city and many gang members who were present at the Big Bang were now either dead or horribly mutated. Others appeared without physical harm, only to mutate later. Richie locates one named Derek Barnett and Virgil goes out to find and help him. However, he encounters a enigmatic, but dangerous metahuman, Ivan Evans, nicknamed Ebon, who has the ability to control and manipulate shadows. He introduces Virgil to his crew of metahumans, Shiv, Talon, Onyx, and D-Struct. When Evans tries to convince Virgil, he refuses, leading them to fight. The brawl quickly catches the attention of Captain Summers, who views all metahumans as a menace and seeks to eradicate them all, especially Static. Summers shoots at Virgil and attempts to arrest him, but flashes a ball of electrical energy at Summers to disorient him, allowing him to flee. Richie criticizes Virgil for almost getting killed.
The next day, Virgil, Richie, Frieda, and Daisy head to the skatepark after school. On their way home, the gang is attacked by Stone, who survived the Big Bang and is now also a metahuman who can control and manipulate fire. Virgil dons as Static and battles Stone. Stone nearly kills Virgil, before being incapacitated by the fire department. As a result of this, Captain Summers issues an city-wide manhunt for Static. To avoid suspicion, Virgil temporarily quits being Static, resumes to his normal life, and asks Frieda on a date, which she accepts. Richie searches for the origins of the tear gas used at the Big Bang at Virgil's request. His date with Frieda is interrupted by Larry, who also survived the Big Bang and inadvertently reveals Virgil's whereabouts and activities the night of the Big Bang. Frieda becomes angry with Virgil and leaves. Robert scolds Virgil for arriving home late and being distant from the family, leading to a heated argument. Feeling that his life is falling apart, Virgil visits his mother's gravesite. Meanwhile, Stone is held in a padded room at a psychiatric hospital and later escapes after deducing Virgil's secret identity. He brutally murders Larry and abducts Frieda to lure Static out. Virgil creates one final suit and goes after Stone.
Captain Summers and the police corner Static and attempt to apprehend him, but Static defeats his men and restrains Summers. He engages Stone and is subdued during a fierce battle. While unconscious, Virgil sees a vision of his mother, who encourages him to let go of the past and be the "spark". He regains consciousness and fights Stone once more, but gains the upper hand this time by excavating sewage lines and overwhelming Stone with a surge of water. Virgil nearly kills Stone, before Richie arrives to stop him and ultimately spares him. He turns Stone in to the police and rescues Frieda, earning Summers' respect, no longer seeing him as a menace.
Two weeks later, Virgil attends Larry's funeral with his family and friends. He reconciles with Frieda and confesses his feelings to her, but not his secret identity. Robert finally reveals to Virgil a story about how he and his mother first met. Virgil embraces his new life and responsibilities as Static with Richie.
In a post-credits scene, Richie shows Virgil an advanced prototype suit he made for himself, impressing Virgil.
Cast[]
Main characters[]
- Niles Fitch as Virgil Hawkins/Static
- Jace Norman as Richie Foley
Antagonist(s)[]
- Dacre Montgomery as Francis Stone/Hotstreak
- J. Alphonse Nicholson as Ivan Evans/Ebon
- Lewis Tan as Shiv
- Becky G as Talon
- Onyx as Kevin Michael Richardson (voice)
- D-Struct as Bumper Robinson (voice)
Side characters[]
- Phil Lamar as Robert Hawkins
- Chelsea Tavares as Sharon Hawkins
- Regina King as Jean Hawkins (photography/flashbacks/vision)
- Abigail Cowen as Frieda Goren
- Jordan Calloway as Larry Wade
- Jenna Ortega as Daisy Watkins
- Damon Gupton as Captain Gil Summers
- Naomie Harris as Detective Trina Jessup
Minor characters[]
- Danneel Ackles as Female Food Truck Owner
Appearances[]
Characters[]
Locations[]
- Earth
- United States of America
- Dakota City
- United States of America
Events[]
- Dakota City Crisis
- Big Bang Riots
- Battle of Dakota City
Items[]
Species[]
Organizations[]
- Big Belly Burger
- Dakota City Police Department
- Meta-Breeds
- Justice League (mentioned)
Trivia[]
- Black Lightning was originally set to appear in this film.
- Phil Lamarr voiced Static in the show Static Shock.
- Niles Fitch worked with Jenna Ortega in The Fallout.
- Dacre Montgomery briefly worked with Abigail Cowen in Stranger Things.
- The argument scene between Virgil and Robert was completely improvised.
Production[]
A Static film was announced back in 2020. Rick Famuyiwa expressed great interest of directing the film, after being approached by Warner Bros and DC Studios. Before signing on, Famuyima had a desire to make a origin story that stayed true to the original animated series, but also had some elements of the recent Milestone Returns comics.
Niles Fitch was cast as Static in August 2021.
Filming began on March 27, 2022 both in Detroit, Michigan and Atlanta, Georgia and wrapped up on May 20 the same year.
Behind-the-scenes Featurettes[]
- 5:41 - History of Static
- 6:00 - Creating The Big Bang
- 3:50 - Making The Suit
- 4:23 - Friends & Family
- 3:36 - Making The Villains
- 2:58 - Becoming Static
- 4:18 - The City of Grime & Glory
- 3:17 - The Gas Station of Solitude
- 2:33 - The Importance of Black Culture
- 5:09 - Creating The Music
- 2:52 - Static vs. Hotstreak
- 5:27 - Making & Flying The Saucer
- 3:31 - Electrifying Discovery
- 4:00 - The Life of A Hero
- 4:12 - A Mother's Love
- 1:58 - Overcoming The Past
Soundtrack Score[]
- Dakota City Crisis
- Family Life
- Francis Stone
- Going to the Docks
- The Big Bang
- Testing Powers
- Abandoned Gas Station of Solitude
- Successful Flight
- Ebon
- Meta-Breed
- Hotstreak Fight
- Virgil's Childhood
- Date Night
- The Truth
- Visiting Mom
- Hotstreak Theme
- Preparing For War
- Fighting Fire With Fire Pt. 1
- Go Be The Spark
- Fighting Fire With Fire Pt. 2
- I'm Nothing Like You
- Larry's Funeral
- How I Met Your Mother
- Static Suite
Advertisement[]
Official trailer was released on March 19, 2023.
Final trailer released on June 27, 2023.
Several TV spots was released after the final trailer.