Warner. Bros has announced the release dates of two of their biggest tentpole films — The Flash and Matrix 4

However, they’ve also conspicuously left another one of their tenpole hopefuls off the schedule — Akira, which initially had Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi attached to it.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. will release the as yet untitled Matrix sequel (though we’ve taken to calling it Matrix 4 for now) on May 21, 2021. The long-gestating/perennially stuck in pre-production hell solo The Flash film finally has an official release date of July 1, 2022.

The big-screen adaptation of Akira previously occupied the May 21, 2021 date that has now been given over to Matrix 4. The manga adaptation had Taika Waititi tapped to direct, but was put on hold — perhaps now indefinitely — when the director signed up to direct the MCU’s upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder.

In related tentpole film news, Warner Bros. has likewise moved its Mortal Kombat reboot up six weeks to Jan. 15, 2021.

Like that other long gestating DC Film — Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Black Adam — The Flash has had a long and measurably more tumultuous road to even get to this point of announcing a release date. Star Ezra Miller first appeared on screen as the scarlet speedster in 2016’s Batman V Superman, with the studio planning a solo outing for The Flash in 2018.

However, since that time, The Flash has gone through a rotating list of directors and writers. Rick Famuyiwa, of Dope fame, was initially attached to direct the film. He exited and was replaced by writing/directing duo and Spider-Man: Homecoming directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. Then those two exited the film and were then replaced by IT director Andy Muschietti.

Through it all, Ezra Miller has stayed on to play The Flash, though it’s been difficult to pin down a date for release given his busy Fantastic Beasts schedule.

However, looks like it’s been sorted out enough to get a release date — which means we officially have a director, a star and a release. Let’s hope all three stick!