News of the Flash movie has been bubbling on the periphery of entertainment news for several years now, with changes in directors barely being acknowledged by fans. However, one piece of news recently broke that led fans to get incredibly excited about the upcoming release of The Flash.
Warner Bros. are in discussion with Michael Keaton to return as Batman for The Flash. Finally, fans of the original Burton movies will get to see what Keaton’s Batman has been doing since the end of Batman Returns. Here's why his return to the role is great (and why it isn't).
Great: Multiverse
The MCU has been the king of superhero movies for the past several years, creating a universe of superhero characters and allowing them to brilliantly cross over into each other’s movies, cumulating in the epic Endgame.
While DC tried to emulate the success of Marvel with the DCEU, they were unable to do so. However, the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman could signal that DC is looking towards a multiverse rather than a universe. In other words, DC could have several different Batmen to call upon or tell stories from parallel universe such as Red Son.
Not: Lack Of Burton
Tim Burton’s influence on the superhero genre isn’t given the respect it deserves. Burton’s Batman movie in 1989 helped resurrect the genre. Without Burton’s incredible job at spearheading the Batman movie, it’s very possible that the MCU itself would not even exist.
While Burton isn’t necessary to create a good Batman movie, it would be hard to see Michael Keaton’s Batman work without him. One of Keaton’s reasons for refusing to act in Batman Forever was that Burton wasn’t directing.
Great: Burton Aesthetic
The best aspect of the Burton movies was the gothic, stylized tone his films took. This wasn’t only in cinematography either, everything from the design of the Batmobile, the costumes, and even Gotham was brilliantly dark and gothic.
Hopefully, when the Flash runs into Michael Keaton’s Batman, fans can see more of this beautiful world of Burton’s Batman (and hopefully allow for the director to make a third installment in the future).
Not: DCEU’s Track Record
To say that the DCEU has had a mixed reception overall may be taken as an understatement by some. While films such as Wonder Woman and Birds of Prey have been well received both among fans and critics, others have been less so well received.
Films such as Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad were almost universally hated and this track record will always worry some fans, particularly those die-hard fans of the Michael Keaton era.
Great: Batman Beyond?
While this has yet to be confirmed, some fans have been speculating that the return of Michael Keaton’s Batman could open up the DCEU to the inclusion of a Batman Beyond movie. Batman Beyond started as a cartoon in the 90s, but would ultimately gain so much popularity that the character of Terry McGinnis would go on to enter the mainstream comics.
In this Batman Beyond movie, Michael Keaton’s Bruce Wayne would take on the role of mentor to Terry McGinnis’ Batman. Additionally, if Burton was to direct this future Batman Beyond movie, it would be incredible to see what he does with a futuristic version of his gothic Gotham City.
Not: Fan Service
While the return of Michael Keaton as Batman has gone down very well with fans of his Batman movies, there is a worry among some sections of the fan base that this could be no more than fan service from Warner Brothers.
Fans will hope that there are is more planned than simply bringing back Keaton as Batman. If not, his return will be largely pointless in the grand scheme of things.
Great: What Happened Post Batman Returns
Batman Returns was the final Batman movie that Tim Burton directed, with the studio executives at Warner Brothers opting to replace Burton so that a more ‘family-friendly’ approach could be taken for the third film in the franchise.
While Batman Forever is technically a sequel to Returns, the film doesn’t say what happened to Vicki Vale, Selena Kyle, or even explain why Harvey Dent now looks like Tommy Lee Jones instead of Billy Dee Williams. the return of Keaton’s Batman could answer these questions and more.
Not: Old Batman Was Done Recently
An older, more grizzled Batman has been done to death recently. In the Dark Knight Rises, Christian Bale played an older, more jaded Batman that had to come out retirement to fight Bane.
Similarly, Ben Affleck plays a Batman that is also older, damaged, and brutal. It would hardly be breaking with tradition, then, to bring in Michael Keaton as another old Batman.
Great: Because Keaton Is Batman
While some younger viewers may see Christian Bale or Ben Affleck as Batman, older fans will certainly see Michael Keaton as Batman. After all, Michael Keaton helped bring Batman to the big screen in a dark, adult film, showing that the modern Batman isn’t the camp character from the 60s.
Additionally, Michael Keaton himself has always kept up the idea that he is still Batman, even years after hanging up his cape and cowl. In an address to Ohio State University in 2018, Keaton still said ‘I’m Batman’.
Not: It Could Take The Spotlight Off The Flash
As said earlier in the introduction, the Flash movie has suffered in production, with the film going through several changes of director before filming has even begun. However, despite this, the film is still set to be released and it will also be the first Flash live-action solo movie.
That being said, then, introducing such a mammoth character as Keaton’s Batman could only serve to take the spotlight off of the Flash in his first solo outing.