Thanks to what Michael Keaton describes as a “really good” screenplay forThe Flash, which takes inspiration from theFlashpointstoryline, the upcoming superhero blockbuster will see the iconic return of Keaton’s Batman in what can be considered more than a cameo appearance.Keaton walked away from Batmanwhen he and Tim Burton’s successor, Joel Schumacher, didn’t see eye to eye on how to move forward with the franchise and character followingBatman Returns. As a result, Keaton retired from Batman for 30 years until Muschietti convinced him to don the cape and cowl again so that his Batman could return one last time inThe Flash.RELATED:The Flash: Michael Keaton Reveals Why He Returned as BatmanMuschietti gets sentimental and nostalgic during a promotional interview where he talks about the honor and gravitas of bringing back the Batman that had a personal impact on himself as a teenager. The promotional video showcases new shots of Keaton’s Batman looking as iconic as fans remember while Muschietti reminisces on his desire to bring back Keaton as Batman. “The idea of bringing back Michael Keaton as Batman was very exciting to me because I saw Batman in the movies when I was a teenager. It was a character that left an impression on me in a way that no other Batman did.” Barbara Muschietti, a producer ofThe Flash, expands on Andy’s sentiment by expressing that this was one of the things that cemented their decision to makeThe Flash: “The fact that we’d be able to bring Michael Keaton back as the Tim Burton Batman.” Andy Muschietti adds, “it’s like bringing back a classic. It’s like bringing back the Beatles. Most people think that they won’t see that again in their lifetime.”
Barbara Muschietti shares that Keaton was so shocked when he saw the Batcave that he “filmed it to send to Tim Burton.” “That’s why it’s so exciting,” Andy Muschiettie says, “for people that were affected by the first Batman. To see that Batman is coming back again.” However, all the excitement is bittersweet, as the elephant in the room suggests thatKeaton’s Batman return is cut shortdue to the DCU reboot.
The original plans under previous WB President Walter Hamada were for Sasha Calle to stay on as Supergirl and Keaton to continue as Batman inBatgirl.Ben Affleck’s Batman was presumably shown to be stuck in the Knightmare timeline at the end ofThe Flashinitially, possibly opening the doors for Zack Snyder to continue hisJustice Leaguesaga. However,Batgirlwas later canceled, Keaton’s cameo scene in theAquamansequel was cut, andThe Flashending was changed to accommodate the franchise’s new direction under David Zaslav, James Gunn, and Peter Safran. So now, none of those storylines are happening, as the events ofThe Flash, and what it would have set up in the DCEU, were retconned in its post-production stages to adjust to the DCU reboot, making Keaton’s Batman return a one and done.
Maybe one day, Warner Bros. Discovery will releaseBatgirl, revealingwhat was next for Keaton’s Batman. Despite all this,The Flashmay be much more special among fans for bringing back Keaton’s Batman and being the last DCEU film in the franchise that pays homage to where it all began in Man of Steel.
The Flashwill be released in theaters on Aug 01, 2025.
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