Michael Keaton is coming back as Batman in The Flash and Batgirl, both part of the DC Extended Universe, but he won’t have the same look as he did in 1989’s Batman, as his DCEU suit is very different. The DCEU continues its reinvention and expansion, and among the most anticipated titles from this superhero universe is The Flash, which won’t only explore Barry Allen’s (Ezra Miller) story a lot deeper but will also take the audience through the DCEU’s multiverse and will bring together two versions of Batman: Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton.
Directed by Andy Muschietti, The Flash is influenced by the Flashpoint storyline and will follow Barry Allen as he travels back in time to prevent his mother's murder, but traveling in time brings terrible consequences to his timeline. Given that Barry’s travels will take him to other timelines within the DCEU, The Flash will bring together different versions of Allen along with Sasha Calle’s Supergirl and Affleck and Keaton’s versions of Batman. Keaton’s Batman is expected to be a big presence in The Flash unlike Affleck’s, even though this will be the latter's last time playing the Caped Crusader on the big screen.
Michael Keaton made his first appearance as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton’s 1989 movie Batman and reprised this role three years later in Batman Returns, which became one of the most popular superhero movies ever. The universe of Batman continued without Keaton after that, but he’s now back to it in The Flash and the upcoming Batgirl, and of course, this version of the Caped Crusader has changed a lot since 1992, and his suit is the biggest proof of how he has evolved as a hero. Here are all the differences between Michael Keaton’s 1989 Batman suit and his DCEU costume.
What Michael Keaton’s Batman’s New DCEU Costume Looks Like
Michael Keaton’s 1989 Batman suit is a favorite among Batman fans, and it became so popular and beloved that it has been used as a reference for many comic book artists. As Tim Burton’s version of the Caped Crusader kept a comic book vibe yet tried to make it as grounded as possible, Batman’s suit reflected that same style by having elements like the yellow utility belt which give it a more comic book-like look while the rest was an armor that replaced the traditional spandex and cloth cowl. Keaton’s DCEU Batman suit has a less comic book-y look and a more polished but somber vibe, which is a lot more fitting with the essence of the DCEU, which in turn shows a more mature (and perhaps damaged) Batman.
The Cowl
One of the most notable features of Keaton’s 1989 Batman suit was the cowl, and not just because of the long ears but because the material the cowl was made of didn’t give Keaton any mobility. The cowl blended seamlessly with the chest and cape of the Batman suit, so if he turned the neck too far, there were gaps in the cheeks that were quite unflattering. This resulted in Keaton making sharp twists with his shoulders, which became known as the “Bat-Turn”. This seems to have been fixed in Keaton’s DCEU Batman suit, which even though also looks like part of the cape and chest, it has some lines on the sides that could give Keaton more mobility – and, hopefully, he will be able to hear through the cowl too, as the material it’s made of looks less rubbery.
Batman Chest Emblem
Another notable difference in the new DCEU Batman suit is the chest emblem. For the 1989 suit, the Batman chest emblem was changed to have two points coming out from the bottom center tail, giving it a unique look – however, this slight change was heavily criticized, and for Batman Returns, the emblem was given a more traditional look without those two extra points. The chest emblem in Keaton’s DCEU Batman suit is the same he wore in Batman Returns, so there’s some continuity there, and it’s now the only colored detail in the all-black suit.
Torso & Utility Belt
For the Batman suit, Burton wanted an all-black one instead of a gray spandex suit. The traditional spandex look was replaced by the above-mentioned rubber cowl and heavy armor on the chest and forearms, with the chest and torso giving Keaton a muscular look. However, the torso of the 1989 Batman suit doesn’t look too strong or protective, and the DCEU suit has a more armor-like style that looks a lot more resistant while also granting Keaton mobility, so his fighting style will surely change in The Flash and Batgirl. One of the biggest differences, however, is the utility belt, which in Batman was one of only two colored elements in the suit, and in the DCEU’s version, it’s all black and more stylized, with more compartments for different tools.
Gauntlets
The arms and gauntlets in Keaton’s DCEU Batman suit have also been upgraded, and they could hint at the enemies and experiences this version of Batman has come across and gone through since the events of Batman Returns. In the 1989 suit, the arms were almost seamlessly attached to the rest and the gauntlets had hidden gadgets, such as a steel extension, yet the design was very discreet. In the DCEU’s suit, the shoulders are also protected with armor and the arms don’t blend with the chest, hinting (once more!) at more mobility for Keaton. The gauntlets are less discreet with fins on each one, though these might be retractable.
Lower Body & Boots
The 1989 Batman suit looked like a one-piece costume as most parts were seamlessly glued, and that was also the case with the lower body part. In the DCEU’s suit, the lower body doesn’t seem like an extension of the rest of the suit and has a very discreet design on the sides with some lines that could make it more flexible. In both versions, the suits have shin guards but the boots themselves seem different, though it’s a bit hard to tell exactly how different due to the light of the photo.
Cape
Last but not least, Keaton also got a new cape along with his DCEU Batman suit. Burton’s Batman suit had a textured cape to resemble bat wings, and as mentioned above, it was glued to the cowl and the chest, making it all look like one piece. The fabric of the DCEU’s new Batman suit looks less textured and rubbery, and it’s also a lot longer, as the 1989 cape cut above the heels and had an uneven fall, while the new one is straight and goes all the way down to the floor. Michael Keaton’s Batman suit has gone through some major upgrades for his introduction to the DCEU, and hopefully, all these changes also fixed the biggest mistakes of his 1989 Batman suit.
