The future that people might have envisioned for Michael Keaton's Batman will probably not going to happen, and that's good news for both Batgirl and the DCEU. Decades after Keaton's last appearance as Batman in Batman Returns, the actor will suit up again for The Flash. While the context for how Michael Keaton will appear in The Flash is still a mystery, it is known that the actor will be staying as Batman in the DCEU for future projects. One of these projects is Batgirl, an HBO Max original set to come out in 2022.
Batgirl will be the character's first solo film and the first appearance of a member of the “Bat-Family” in a movie since Batman & Robin. Batgirl will also be Barbara Gordon's first appearance in a movie as the Alicia Silverstone version was actually Barbara Wilson, Alfred's niece. Batgirl is also another step by HBO Max towards crafting original DC content for the platform and will be one of the first titles to show what the DCEU will look like after The Flash reboots some elements of the franchise. Batgirl will integrate elements from different continuities as both Michael Keaton's Batman and J.K Simmons' Commissioner Gordon — previously attached to Ben Affleck's version — will be part of the film.
The fact that Michael Keaton's Batman will be the one to mentor Batgirl means that an adaptation of Batman Beyond, as was speculated by some, will probably not happen. Rather than train Terry McGinnis in the distant future, this veteran Bruce Wayne will guide the first steps of Batgirl's journey in addition to playing an important role in the broader DCEU. This new dynamic between Batman and his bat-verse of sidekicks won't be exactly like the comics, as both Batgirl and Robin used to be Batman's partners during the prime years of the caped crusader, but also won’ be a one-on-one Batman Beyond adaptation. However, while the change is undoubtedly significant, it actually represents a huge opportunity for both characters, while simultaneously broadening Bruce Wayne's mentorship beyond what's seen in the original source material. By altering the role of the older Bruce Wayne, the new Batgirl movie can actually present a brighter future for the character than ever, despite the alteration.
The idea that a Batman Beyond movie in which Michael Keaton would mentor Terry McGinnis would eventually happen has been around ever since the animated series ended. Despite being original concepts created for that show, Terry and the world of Neo-Gotham quickly became fan favorites and were later brought to the comics. After Keaton's return to the role of Batman was announced, many believed that a Batman Beyond adaptation would be how the actor would join the DCEU. In an interesting and inspired choice, the franchise preferred to transfer the idea of an older Bruce Wayne to Batgirl’s story and made it possible for Michael Keaton's Batman to interact with the heroes of the current DCEU chronology.
Having Michael Keaton mentor Batgirl instead of Terry McGinnis might be disappointing for those who were hoping for a Batman Beyond adaptation, but it’s actually a good thing for both the DCEU and Barbara Gordon's future. Nothing prevents Terry from being brought into the franchise later on and becoming an important member of the Bat-Family. Meanwhile, Keaton's new role, separate from the original Batman Beyond plan, can see the character serve as a pseudo-Nick Fury figure in the DCEU, interacting with a range of younger heroes. As Robert Pattinson's Batman establishes itself and Michael Keaton returns to DC movies, the future for the caped crusader and his apprentices has never looked brighter thanks to this development.
