For DC's The Flash movie, Michael Keaton is in talks to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne aka Batman in the DC Extended Universe movie. Keaton played the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie, and again in 1992's Batman Returns. Though that particular Batman franchise continued, both Keaton and Burton departed. Since then, a handful of actors have played Batman, including Ben Affleck, who took on the cape and cowl for the DCEU, appearing in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.

As for The Flash, Warner Bros. has been developing a solo movie since casting Ezra Miller as Barry Allen aka The Flash in the DCEU. However, the project has gone through multiple directors and was stuck in development for some time, with its release being delayed. Most recently IT director Andy Muschietti signed on to helm The Flash movie, and it will follow the Flashpoint storyline from DC Comics. That story sees Barry travel back in time to save his mother, and in the process, creates a whole alternate universe. Now it appears DC's Flash movie will introduce the concept of the multiverse to the DCEU by way of Keaton's Batman.

Related: How Ezra Miller's Flash Movie Could Keep Ray Fisher's Cyborg in the DCEU

Today, The Wrap is reporting Keaton is in very early talks to play Bruce Wayne aka Batman in The Flash movie, but the publication notes that his appearance isn't set in stone just yet. If confirmed, Keaton will reprise the character of Batman from his movies in the late 80s/early 90s and The Flash film will reveal what's happened to the superhero since Returns. The Wrap notes that the movie will retcon the latter two entries in that Batman series, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. THR reporter Borys Kit offered further details, revealing Keaton's Batman would be a mentor, and there's a possibility that if he returns, he could be in multiple DCEU movies, including the in-development Batgirl film.

Michael Keaton in the Batsuit in Batman Returns

Additionally, according to The Wrap, the story of the film will see Miller's Flash go back in time to save his mother and create an alternate universe in which Keaton's Batman has been operating, finding him 30 years after the events of Returns. This would be a major change from the Flashpoint comics storyline, which featured Bruce Wayne's parents Thomas and Martha Wayne becoming Batman and Joker, respectively. Instead, it replaces the DCEU's Thomas Wayne (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) with a different version of Bruce Wayne, that being Keaton's from the Burton movies. It's unclear how these changes will play out in The Flash movie and how well the filmmakers can pull off this crossover without confusing longtime fans of the Caped Crusader.

Certainly, if The Flash movie uses this as a way to further introduce the multiverse to the DCEU and bring back Keaton's Batman for multiple appearances, it could fix the shared universe's missing Batman issue after Affleck left the role. Affleck seemingly departed the DCEU ahead of The Batman starting production, with director Matt Reeves casting Robert Pattinson in a new take on the character. However, that seemed to leave the main DCEU continuity without a Batman - or, at least, no confirmed appearances for Affleck's Batman. If The Flash movie brings Keaton's Batman into the DCEU, then perhaps Warner Bros. can move forward with his Bruce Wayne, while Pattinson's operates elsewhere in the multiverse. More details about how Keaton's Batman will be introduced to the DCEU and what it means for the various DC franchises will hopefully arrive soon - including confirmation that Keaton has officially signed on to appear in The Flash movie.

Next: The Flash Movie: Every Update You Need to Know

Source: The Wrap, Boris Kit

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