Our world was thrown for a bit of a loop earlier this week when it was reported that Michael Keaton was in talks to reprise the role of Batman for Warner Bros.' upcoming THE FLASH. Keaton of course played Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's BATMAN and BATMAN RETURNS, and still stands, in my opinion, as one of the best to play the role.
While nothing about Michael Keaton's participation in THE FLASH is official at this point, small details have been leaking out, and the latest installment of THR's Heat Vision newsletter includes a little tidbit about the Keaton's role. Although long-standing rumours have pointed to Thomas Wayne's involvement in THE FLASH, THR seems quite confident that Keaton would be playing Bruce Wayne, and not only that, but he would also be donning the cape and cowl once again. I can't imagine that you'd ever want to bring Keaton back and not show him in some sort of Batsuit, but this is welcome news nonetheless.
It's been said that THE FLASH will reportedly find Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) traveling back in time to save his mother, but instead create an alternate universe in which Micheal Keaton's Batman is still operating. Sources have also told THR that Micheal Keaton's Bruce Wayne could take on a role similar to Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as something of a mentor/guide/string-puller in a handful of DCEU movies. Umberto Gonzalez of The Wrap has also claimed that Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne could also be used to introduce audiences to the concept of the DC multi-verse. Production on THE FLASH under the direction of Andy Muschietti(IT: CHAPTER TWO) is expected to kick off spring 2021, with a June 3, 2022 release.