One of Michael Keaton's biggest films to date is Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film, and Keaton says that's also the last comic book movie he's watched in its entirety. When Keaton was originally cast in the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, most considered it a bad choice as Keaton was mainly known for comedic work. However, Keaton is a far more adept performer than the general public was giving him credit for. Keaton's performance helped to make Batman the highest-grossing film of 1989. To this day, some fans still consider Keaton's portrayal as the best live-action iteration of Batman, and it also wasn't Keaton's last role in a comic book film.
The success of Batman saw a sequel in 1992's Batman Returns with Keaton back in the role of the Caped Crusader. Batman Returns was another massive success at the box office, but due to a lackluster script for the third film and some behind-the-scenes shakeups, the Batman franchise would continue without Keaton or Burton, who directed the first two films. The next two films in the series, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, were both financial successes but were less well received by critics and audiences, with many citing Keaton's absence as part of the issue. Keaton did not return to another role in a comic book film until 2017, when he took on the role of the Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming. It's also a role he is revisiting in the forthcoming film Morbius, but Keaton seemingly hasn't been watching the movies.
In an in-depth interview with THR, Keaton discussed the immense growth the comic book genre has undergone over the years, even crediting Burton with the start of it all. Keaton said, "What Tim did changed everything." Still, Keaton isn't much of a comic book fan, and he even went on to say, "After the first Batman, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an entire [comic book] movie." While that is quite the statement for a man who helped define the genre, Keaton's honest about his lack of connection to the comic book world. Check out Keaton's comments below:
"After the first Batman, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen an entire [comic book] movie. I just never got around to it. So you’re talking to a guy who wasn’t in the zeitgeist of that whole world. When I went down to do the Marvel things in Atlanta… It’s an entire city dedicated to Marvel… They’ll be doing Marvel movies forever. I’ll be dead, and they’ll still be doing Marvel movies."
Keaton's comments are a bit odd given that he has appeared in three comic book films with two more on the way, including his return as Batman in the upcoming The Flash. Many actors hate watching themselves on screen, with some, like Adam Driver, flat-out refusing to do it. While this could be part of Keaton's reasoning, he also has explored the nature of becoming larger than life due to a single hero character. Keaton earned praise for his role in Birdman, where he played an almost meta-like character living in the shadow of a superhero role from his past. Audiences were able to draw comparisons between Keaton's time as Batman and his role in Birdman, which boosted Keaton's career, bringing more roles his way.
Keaton's return as the Vulture in Morbius could lead to him playing the character again, depending on how they decide to move forward with the world they're building. Audiences are also eager to see Keaton don the cape and cowl again alongside Ezra Miller in The Flash, where he'll be playing an older, more grizzled version of his Batman. It's likely that Keaton won't watch any of these forthcoming projects after they're finished, but audiences are excited about his return to the world of Batman when The Flash finally releases in 2022.
Source: THR
