The Batman will be set on its own version of Earth, but thanks to The Flash, there is an organic way for that universe and the DCEU to crossover. Robert Pattinson will be the next actor to bring the Dark Knight to life in Matt Reeves’ upcoming Batman reboot,which is currently in production. While it was initially going to be Ben Affleck’s solo film featuring his Caped Crusader, the project eventually evolved into a standalone franchise that is taking place outside the DCEU continuity. Little is so far known about Pattinson’s universe in terms of what other DC characters may live in it. But thanks to multiple set photos, we know Reeves is definitely seeding a few DC connections.
One of the biggest Easter eggs that were recently revealed was The Flash’s iconic emblem that was seen next to a torn poster for GothCorp. It's clear that there is at least some other DC presence in Pattinson’s world. Even though it’s a Flash logo, it’s not necessarily Barry Allen that Reeves’ franchise is teasing; the single lightning bolt emblem is more associated with Wally West.
The Batman will focus on Bruce’s second year as the Caped Crusader, meaning that any crossovers between the two universes are premature at this point. But given how much Warner Bros. is now investing in the DC Multiverse concept, ever since Arrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, the possibility is more of a reality than in previous decades. With the film arriving in 2022, it’ll be a long wait before eager fans find out what kind of DC world the Pattinson franchise is creating. But this is how The Flash can ultimately bring The Batman’s universe closer to a DCEU crossover.
Why The Batman Should Have A Different Speedster
Through the popularity of The Flash TV show on The CW, the concept of speedsters has become more popular in recent years. With the amount of diverse and various members that exist in the DC lore, there are many more options to choose from besides Barry Allen. While Pattinson’s Batman may not necessarily be teaming up with any other heroes in his universe any time soon, that doesn’t mean he never will. After a few installments in The Batman franchise, his Bruce will be more evolved and perhaps be in need at some point to form some alliances. Currently, it’s very ambiguous in how some of the Justice League members are like in the Pattinson universe.
But that’s where the reboot has an opportunity to do something different, including with The Flash. While the DCEU has Barry, The Batman universe could go full out with that Flash Easter egg and have Wally serve as this world’s Scarlet Speedster. Not only is Wally due for a cinematic debut, it also opens up the door for a lot of story potential. What if Barry has already been The Flash and thus has passed on the mantle to Wally? Does Barry perhaps not even exist in this universe and that’s how Wally is The Flash from the get-go? The character of Wally would help enable Warner Bros.’s desire in embracing the Multiverse concept in its entirety as they create different plots and scenarios across multiple Earths.
The DCEU Can Take Its Time Developing Barry Allen
The upcoming Flash movie with Ezra Miller will be Barry’s first feature film, as it has been in extended development for over 5 years. But at last, things are finally running in the right direction as Miller’s take on the Scarlet Speedster will be going through his own version of DC’s Flashpoint arc. Given how young this Barry is, it’s likely that the concept of the Flash Family won’t emerge for quite some time. Since he is still not even experienced enough with his ability to travel between other realms (as his Crisis on Infinite Earths cameo proved), The Flash franchise is possibly (and wisely) taking its time with developing Barry in the DCEU.
A way for the film to differentiate itself from The CW series would be by taking its time in building towards The Flash family. The Arrowverse version of Flash had almost introduced all of the iconic members by the end of season 4, with only Bart Allen still missing. Exploring Wally in The Batman universe not only gives DCEU’s Barry a way to pace his development, but can also eventually build up to a crossover where Wally and Barry meet from different universes.
Why Robert Pattinson's Batman Should Crossover
Pattinson's Batman will be very different in comparison to previous actors who have brought the DC icon to life. With Reeves set to focus more on the detective side of the Dark Knight in this noir-driven franchise, it'll be a new chapter for Batman on film. As Michael Keaton and Affleck's respective versions of Batman return for The Flash, the cinematic experience has never been this highly anticipated for the Caped Crusader, in addition to Pattinson's upcoming iteration.
Even though it's currently a mystery what The Batman world looks like with other DC characters, it'd be a waste of an opportunity to not use Pattinson's Batman in a DCEU crossover. Naturally, the upcoming reboot will want to take its time to focus on this new take on Bruce as Gotham City's protecting vigilante. Similarly to how the Arrowverse built up to Crisis on Infinite Earths, which officially saw the TV and film versions of Flash share the screen, a crossover with Pattinson's Batman would have to be earned.
But by only having him in his own universe and never engaging with the DCEU in any way is a waste for Warner Bros. and the Multiverse potential. Pattinson and Affleck's Batmen crossing paths. similarly to how Gustin and Miller met in Crisis on Infinite Earths, would be a cinematic accomplishment for Batman. The Batman is already showing its potential in how to build a new DC Universe on this alternative Earth while the DCEU progresses forward with its ongoing franchises. Hopefully, by the time the Batman reboot comes out in 2022, there will be a better image of what Reeves is planning to do in terms of larger DC connections. Ideally, those plans will include the potential for The Batman and the DCEU, through The Flash, both Barry and Wally, to do a proper crossover.
