Article by John Hammond
No doubt that you will all be aware of the rumours that have been circulating, suggesting that 69 year-old Michael Keaton is to become the main Batman in the DCEU. That’s what we read from the New York Times anyway. However, those reports have now been addressed.
It appears that while an appearance from Keaton has certainly been confirmed for the The Flash movie, fans have taken this news as Keaton taking over from Ben Affleck as the new permanent Batman.
However NYT journalist Brook Barnes, who wrote the piece, has come out to clarify the matter, saying that Keaton will appear in ‘one film’:
Been offline (moving apartments) and return to see this Michael Keaton craziness. I was referring to the *one film* that Keaton has been announced as being in, not a set of his own Batman films. If I had info on him beyond "The Flash," I would have obviously put it in my article
— Brooks Barnes (@brooksbarnesNYT) January 5, 2021
Furthermore, a user on Twitter asked Barnes directly:
Some have interpreted that WB is doing 2 franchises starring Batman, one with Pattinson, one with a new actor. Is that correct, or you were referring to Keaton as a second Batman, being part of a non-Batman-centric saga?
In response to this question, Barnes replied, simply, ‘Keaton’, before returning with a further tweet to say he was only referencing about Keaton’s involvement in The Flash movie.
Michael Keaton played the Dark Knight/Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton’s 1989, Batman movie and the sequel Batman Returns in 1992. He was eventually replaced by Val Kilmer for Batman Forever in 1995, after refusing to continue starring as the superhero when Burton was dropped as director of the franchise.
The Flash, starring Ezra Miller, scheduled for release in November of 2022 will feature the Ben Affleck version of Batman, as well as Keaton.
What do you think people? Is Keaton going to be a permanent fixture or is it one movie and done? Will it open up the possibility of a Batman Beyond movie with Keaton as an aged Bruce Wayne? These are all questions that will no doubt be answered in the future, or perhaps in The Flash flick itself. Let us know what you think.
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