You can take Michael Keaton out of the DC Universe, but you can’t take the DC Universe out of Michael Keaton. Keaton, who famously brought to life a dark and brooding version of Batman in Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns, returns to the superhero scene as the villainous Adrian Toomes aka Vulture in this year’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Even though it has been about a quarter of a century since Keaton has donned the cape and cowl, the Dark Knight still resonates deep within him, despite joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man Homecoming. When Tom Holland, the newest actor to play the wall crawler, was asked what it’s like to go up against the previous Batman, he had this to say:
“Pretty cool. He’s a badass. We have a fight in the movie and I punch him. He turns around and says [in a deep voice] ‘I’m Batman.’ He kept doing Batman quotes on set.”
Although superhero films weren’t quite as commonplace in the late 80’s/early 90’s as they are today, they were still giant blockbusters and they helped Michael Keaton become a well known household name. At only 20 years of age, and having himself a starring superhero role himself, Holland could certainly learn a thing or two from the superhero legend.
Since hanging up the cape, Keaton has shown great diversity in his acting, having starred in such films as Birdman, Spotlight, and The Founder. As any of us would be, I’m sure Holland is more than excited to be playing a superhero now, but Keaton can help him learn what to do with his career when that time is over. It’s also good to see that Batman still means so much to Keaton after all these years.
The original Dark Knight can next be seen in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming as the Vulture on July 7, 2017.
