Michael Keaton's Batman Return Can Explain Flash's BvS Warning

Barry Allen warning Bruce Wayne from the future remains without a satisfactory explanation in the DCEU, but Michael Keaton's return as Batman in The Flash can fix that. In Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, Bruce Wayne experiences his Knightmare dream sequence, envisioning an apocalyptic future plagued by an evil Superman. During this reverie, Bruce is visited by a time travelling Barry Allen, who warns him that something very sinister is coming. Barry confusingly yells that Lois Lane is the "key" but soon realizes he's "too early" and disappears. Along with the Injustice League post-credits tease and Darkseid, the Flash warning is one of the elements invalided by the DCEU's change of direction. Zack Snyder has revealed that the Flash warning was included as set up for a long-term story that was subsequently abandoned.

Ezra Miller is set to return to the big screen in 2022 with his own solo movie. Just like Barry himself, The Flash has been in constant flux over the years, but a major update recently confirmed that Michael Keaton will be reprising his Batman role from the 1989 and 1992 Tim Burton movies in The Flash. Keaton's Batman will be the same character as before, and The Flash will mark the first appearance of Keaton's Dark Knight in DC continuity since Batman Returns. Naturally, Keaton's appearance has sparked widespread speculation. How will DC's old Batman be worked into the DCEU? Could other legacy characters make a return? What has Keaton's Batman been doing since fans last saw him?

Since the departed Ben Affleck is Bruce Wayne within the DCEU, Keaton will likely be introduced through the Flash's knack moving between universes, bringing 1989 Batman from his own Earth into DCEU continuity. The circumstances around this crossover remain unknown, but it seems intuitive to tie Batman V Superman's Flash warning into Barry meeting Keaton's Bruce Wayne. Perhaps Barry uncovers a brand new threat about to hit Earth - something that could reasonably be connected to Lois Lane. He travels back in time to warn Bruce Wayne about the oncoming disaster, but arrives too early. Barry tries again, but this time crosses universes and lands in the right time... but finds the wrong Batman.

Michael Keaton in the Batsuit in Batman Returns

This would simply and effectively resolve the lingering Batman V Superman Flash plot hole created when Snyder's Knightmare arc was dropped. The director originally planned to have Cyborg, Flash and Bruce Wayne set up a cosmic treadmill that would send Barry back through time to warn past-Bruce about Darkseid and the apocalyptic future. The confirmed 2021 release of the Snyder cut might explore this time travel business further, but as far as DCEU continuity is concerned, The Flash's warning in Batman V Superman remains unaddressed. The scene can perhaps be explained away by claiming that the Barry glimpsed in Batman V Superman came from a possible future where Steppenwolf wasn't defeated because Bruce hadn't formed the Justice League. Barry's words spur Bruce to find the metahumans and bring together the team of superheroes that would ultimately stop Steppenwolf, while also inspiring Bruce to use Lois as a means of calming down the angry, recently resurrected Superman. Not only is this explanation cheap and nasty, it clearly isn't what Batman V Superman intended.

Although Michael Keaton isn't what Snyder expected either, tying the Batman V Superman warning scene into The Flash and the arrival of an alternate universe Bruce Wayne works better and feels more satisfying. As well as plugging one of the DCEU's biggest inconsistencies, the tie-in would also neatly set up how Keaton's Batman and Miller's Flash come to meet each other.

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