A new report claims Michael Keaton was set to return as Batman after ‘The Flash’ movie. But this solo feature film project was canceled by Warner even before an official announcement was made…
The Flash : the return of Michael Keaton
A few months ago, we learned that Michael Keaton, who played Bruce Wayne in both films Batman by Tim Burton (1989 and 1992), had been recalled by Warner to reprising his role in several DC projects. Indeed, the actor will do his great return in the skin of the Dark Knight on the occasion of the film The Flash. Directed by Andy Muschietti (both films That), this feature film which focuses on the rocket of the DC universe will explore, in the same way as Spider-Man: No Way Home, the multiverse.
A way for producers to bring Ben Affleck back as Bruce Wayne, but also Michael Keaton who will embody an alternate version of the masked vigilante in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) will travel through the multiverse and meet alternate versions of himself, but also of Superman (with the presence of Supergirl) and therefore of Batman. Except that for some time now, the DCEU (which we can now call DCU) has been floundering. And since the arrival of James Gunn and Peter Safran at the head of DC Studios, plans are changing…
A project canceled before it was even announced
In addition to The FlashMichael Keaton also had to appear as Bruce Wayne in the film Batgirl. Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life), the feature film was violently canceled by Warner when filming was over. An incomprehensible decision that disappointed the fans, the two directors and the main actress Leslie Grace.
A missed opportunity to see Michael Keaton again in Batman. And obviously, this was not the only project that concerned him. Indeed, according to Jeff Sneider, who runs the podcast The Hot Mic Podcast, a movie Batman with Michael Keaton was originally to see the light of dayas a spin-off of The Flash. Christina Hodson, the screenwriter of The Flash, had apparently started working on a story centered around his character. The project would have served as starting to create a new temporality introduced in Andy Muschietti’s film. We do not know where the development of this project was, but according to Jeff Sneider, it was in any case canceled.
A project Batman Beyond ?
According to Umberto Gonzálezjournalist at The Wrapthis project would have adapted the comic Batman Beyond. The latter focuses on another version of Batman: a certain Terry McGinnis. As the plot unfolds in the future, Terry investigates murders that involve the original Batman’s former enemies. Bruce Wayne is also there and serves as a mentor to Terry McGinnis. Hence the presence of Michael Keaton as the aging Bruce Wayne.
But like Batgirl before him, this project would have been purely canceled by Warner. Even if no one from the studio has yet reacted to this report. So we only have one more chance to find Michael Keaton in Batman, on the occasion of The Flashwaited for June 21, 2023 in cinemas. Fingers crossed that the project is maintained…