Michael Keaton is in talks to return to the DC universe as Batman.
According to The Wrap, the Oscar-nominated actor is in the early stages of conversations with DC over reprising the role he last played in 1992’s Batman Returns. The Birdman star would appear in The Flash, a solo outing for Ezra Miller’s character who was introduced in Batman v Superman before also starring in Justice League. It’s not yet clear how big or small the role would be.
The Flash is set to be directed by It film-maker Andy Muschietti after Dope’s Rick Famuyiwa left the project in 2016. The plot will allegedly ignore the two Joel Schumacher Batman films and continue on after Batman Returns. It’s based on 2011 comic Flashpoint which sees The Flash travel back in time to save his mother.
After Ben Affleck retired from playing the caped crusader, Robert Pattinson will officially take on the role in The Batman, a noirish take on the character from Cloverfield director Matt Reeves.
The news comes just weeks after Zack Snyder announced that he is working on a longer cut of Justice League to premiere on HBO Max while Henry Cavill may return as Superman in sequels to Aquaman and Shazam. The next dated DC film is Wonder Woman 1984 which is set to be released in October.
Keaton was last seen in Tim Burton’s Dumbo and his upcoming projects include 9/11 drama Worth and Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7. He is also rumoured to be returning as Spider-Man villain Vulture in Sony’s Morbius.
