Should the ongoing talks go to plan, Michael Keaton will play the same Batman from the Tim Burton films in The Flash. Keaton played the iconic DC hero in two films: Batman and Batman Returns. Plans for Keaton's third appearance as Batman fell apart when Burton left the film and was replaced by Joel Schumacher. Despite that, Keaton has remained one of the most beloved cinematic Batmans based on those two films. Keaton returned to the world of comic book movies for Marvel's Spider-Man: Homecoming, but it wasn't until yesterday that it seemed like he could revisit the DC side of things. News broke that Keaton is in very early talks to reprise his Batman for The Flash.

The Flash is an interesting choice for his big return, but it's also the one that might provide the best explanation for how Keaton is back. A solo film for Ezra Miller's Barry Allen has been in the works for years now, but so far has struggled to come to fruition. However, a positive sign came when The Flash scored a 2022 release date. It: Chapter 2 director Andy Muschietti is currently attached to direct the film, which will reportedly adapt the famous Flashpoint storyline from the comics. In Flashpoint, Barry travels back in time to save his mother from being murdered, but in doing so, he changes the reality in numerous significant ways.

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This would explain how Keaton could return as Batman, especially since he will be playing the same Batman he played in Burton's films. Per TheWrap, Keaton's appearance in The Flash will see what his Batman has been up to since fans last saw him in Batman Returns. The subsequent Batman films, which starred Val Kilmer and George Clooney, are not considered canon within the DCEU.

Batman surrounded by smoke in Batman.

Should Keaton indeed return to the role of Batman, he'll likely be included in additional DCEU films such as Batgirl. Reports suggest he'll take on a Nick Fury-like role within the franchise; that is, he'll appear in a significant supporting role for several films. Again, though, these talks are still ongoing, so there's a chance these plans will never come to pass. Still, it's an exciting prospect that didn't seem possible before.

Fans might get some vital updates about this development in August, when the first-ever DC FanDome arrives. Announced last week, the DC FanDome is a 24-hour virtual convention that promises to include some major DCEU reveals. The Flash will be included among the projects discussed, and it would make sense for Keaton's appearance to be confirmed then (should the discussions be completed). DC FanDome takes place on August 22, so it's just a little less than two months to go before fans learn more about what to expect from this long-awaited film.

More: Arrowverse Crisis Already Set Up Michael Keaton’s DCEU Batman Return

Source: TheWrap

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