It is becoming increasingly clear that Michael Keaton's return as Batman in the upcoming Flash movie is more than just a glorified cameo. The inclusion of the first actor to play a darker version of the World's Greatest Detective in a live-action movie has led to a lot of speculation that Keaton will replace Ben Affleck as the definitive Batman in the DC Extended Universe.
And while none of those speculations have been verified, that hasn't stopped fans from looking at the pros and cons of such a decision. In reality, there are a number of very good reasons why Keaton would make for a better DCEU Batman than the other options for the position.
10 Keaton Can Bring Some Levity To The Character
While Keaton's Batman, who first appeared on screens in 1989, is often remembered for being dark and gritty, the actor also brought some levity to the role that hasn't been there in the more recent versions. With Keaton's take on Batman, there was a sense that while the Caped Crusader started his journey to avenge his parents, he came to really enjoy fighting crime. Keaton's Batman would, from time to time, smile or even make a joke. Seeing a more human take on the Dark Knight may be exactly what the DCEU needs.
9 Keaton Adds Gravitas To The DCEU
The DCEU has had a troubled run in many ways, and while things look better now, it has come at the cost of some of the bigger names attached to the universe. With actors like Ben Affleck and Jeremy Irons as Batman and Alfred, the DCEU had two well-respected actors to help the newer, younger actors pull the weight of bringing a comic book universe to life.
But with Affleck deciding not to make a Batman film and reportedly stepping away from the role after Flash, the DCEU needs an elder statesman to help be the face of the universe, not unlike Robert Downey Jr. was for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Keaton can easily fill that role.
8 Connecting The Generations
Anyone who saw Michael Keaton play Batman in theaters way back in 1989 is grown up now, and chances are many of those young theatergoers from thirty-plus years ago now have kids of their own who are into superhero movies. Keaton can serve as a bridge between the generations, connecting DC's past with its present and helping bring everyone together. At this point, pretty much everyone who loves superhero movies has seen and loved Keaton as the Dark Knight, and having that kind of connection with audiences is hard to beat.
7 He's Up For It
Michael Keaton famously stepped away from playing Batman when Warner Brothers decided to do away with director Joel Schumacher's plan of using Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's Batman: Year One as the basis for a third film. It seemed at the time, and for the years that followed, that Keaton would never wear the cape and cowl again.
But that all changed when it was announced that Keaton would be in Flash. Adding to speculation that Keaton will be playing Batman for a while longer is Warner Brothers dancing around the question of who will play the Dark Knight in the upcoming Batgirl film. One thing is clear, Keaton appears to be happy to be back playing Batman.
6 Keaton Loves The Character
Not only does Keaton appear to be happy about playing Batman again, but the actor has also made it clear for years that he loved playing the character. Keaton has pulled out his famous improvised line "I'm Batman" whenever possible, from college commencement speeches to appearances on talk shows.
It's clear that as time has passed, Keaton has seen that his work as Batman has had a lasting impact on pop culture and he's proud of the work he did. And since Affleck and former Batman Christian Bale have made it clear that they want to move on from the character, Keaton may be the only one who still wants to play the role.
5 Keeps The Older Batman Concept Of The Snyderverse
One thing everyone liked about Zack Snyder's take on Batman was that it wouldn't be another story about a Dark Knight who was just starting off. It was great to see a well seasoned Batman who had been fighting for the soul of Gotham City for years, something that was rare to see in live-action.
And while Affleck may be stepping away from the role, Keaton's Batman would keep that aspect alive. In theory, Keaton's Batman has been fighting the good fight for over thirty years, making his Caped Crusader roughly the age the character was in Frank Miller's seminal Dark Knight Returns series.
4 Pretty Much Everyone Likes Keaton's Batman
Tim Burton's 1989 Batman and its follow-up, Batman Returns, are both considered superhero movie classics, and for good reason. Burton, with Keaton as his Batman, brought the comic book version of Gotham City to life with wild gothic buildings and outlandish setpieces.
At this point, just about everyone, from the younger viewers to the grandparents of the younger viewers, loves Keaton's Batman. He may not be everyone's favorite, but no one hates what Keaton did with the role, which makes him a perfect choice to help steady the DCEU ship.
3 It's Hard To Beat That Batmobile
The debate over the coolest-looking Batmobile will never be resolved. Some people love the Tumbler from the Christopher Nolan films, and others will always love the retro-style of the 1966 Adam West Batmobile. But no one would put Keaton's Batmobile as their least favorite on a list.
Keaton's Batmobile is slick and stylish, mixing 1940s futurism with gothic architecture. This Batmobile was so popular in 1989 that it got its own poster, which happily hung in the bedrooms of many fans. To this day, Keaton's Batmobile stands out as one of the coolest cars to ever appear in a movie, and seeing it come back is sure to send shivers down many a spine.
2 Sets Up Batman Beyond
Originally introduced to the world in 1999, Batman Beyond was an animated series that saw a world where Bruce Wayne, too old to be Batman, passed the mantle down to a young man named Terry McGinnis. In the decades since the series aired, Batman Beyond's fanbase has only grown.
With Keaton as Bruce Wayne, the DCEU can easily move into the Batman Beyond story if Warner Brothers wants. And since the Batman Beyond suit looks so different from the usual Batman suit, it will help audiences keep the DCEU Batman separate from Robert Pattinson's Batman in their minds.
1 He Doesn't Need To Be The Only One
On demonstrated by Batman Beyond, there is no reason Keaton would have to be the only Batman running around the DCEU. Taking a page from Edmond Hamilton and Sheldon Moldoff's creation in Detective Comics #215, which was brought by Grant Morrison and J.H. Williams, III in Batman #667, the Batmen of All Nations - or Batman Incorporated for the newer style - opens the door to having multiple Batmen running around the DCEU. It could get a little confusing if the filmmakers aren't careful, but it would also open a way to keep Keaton and Affleck around, which could make every fan a little happier.