The cast of the upcoming HBO Max DC film Batgirl has been confirmed to include Michael Keaton according to a new press release from Warner Bros. Batgirl, which is currently filming in Scotland, will follow the adventures of Barbara Gordon (Leslie Grace), the daughter of Commissioner Gordon (J.K. Simmons, reprising his role from Justice League), who takes on the mantle of Batgirl. The film also features Brendan Fraser as the villain Firefly and Jacob Scipio in an as-yet-unspecified role. The film does not currently have a release date set, but it is expected in late 2022 or early 2023.
Michael Keaton has already been set to make his DC Extended Universe debut in the upcoming 2022 film The Flash, which will feature both him and Ben Affleck reprising their previous Batman roles. However, recently he hasn't shied away from playing comic book characters who aren't the caped crusader. In addition to starring in the Oscar-winning Birdman, which played with his superhero legacy, he starred as the villain Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming, a role he will be reprising in the upcoming Jared Leto anti-hero film Morbius.
In the official cast list distributed by Warner Bros., Michael Keaton is listed among the performers participating in Batgirl. Although it is currently unclear if he will be reprising his role of Batman in the film, it seems the most likely avenue for his inclusion. It is also important to note that the press release includes the phrase "Credits are not final and dates are subject to change," so there is still a chance that Keaton's part will not be included.
One thing that makes Michael Keaton's role especially unclear is the fact that Batgirl takes place in a different branch of the DC multiverse. The Commissioner Gordon seen in this film will not technically be the one from Justice League, even though he's being played by the same actor. However, antics combining the multiverses are the reason that Keaton will be appearing in The Flash in the first place, so it's not only possible but likely that this is the role he will be playing.
Currently not much is known about the plot of Batgirl. It is likely to be more focused on the on-the-ground threats faced by the Gotham Police Department, however. So if Michael Keaton's Batman plays a part, it is probably as a retired hero who is a mentor to Leslie Grace rather than a character involved in any particularly high-concept multiversal incidents during the events of the movie.
Source: WB
