Michael Keaton might be donning the cowl once again if recent reports are to be believed. Keaton is reportedly in talks to return as Bruce Wayne for The Flash, marking his first time back as the character in almost 30 years.
But one question that many DC fans might be wondering following this news is what this could mean for the future of Robert Pattinson's much-anticipated portrayal of the caped crusader in next year's The Batman. So, let's look at how Michael Keaton's return could affect the newest iteration of the Dark Knight.
MOST LIKELY NOTHING
The short answer to the question is nothing. According to TheWrap, Matt Reeves' upcoming film The Batman will not be affected and Robert Pattinson's portrayal of Bruce Wayne is "still viewed as the future of the franchise". Michael Keaton's return as Bruce Wayne won't affect the new Batman franchise because they are more than likely to be set in two separate universes, similar to how Joaquin Phoenix's Joker is set in its own standalone timeline separate from any of the other DC films. However, this does not mean that we will never see the two Batmen have a crossover, and that could be thanks to Ezra Miller's version of the Flash.
THE MULTIVERSE
The Flash film is reportedly going to lean into the multiverse concept so it is possible for multiple versions of the DC characters to appear between films. Ezra Miller's Flash from the DC films made a surprise cameo appearance during the Arrowverse's "Crisis On Infinite Earths," proving that with this version of the scarlet speedster, nothing is off the table when it comes to the multiverse. Having Keaton's Bruce Wayne be a part of the multiverse would also be the easiest way to fold the story into the current DCEU canon that started with Man Of Steel, and to explain the many different takes on certain characters like Batman.
With this take on the Flash being able to travel the multiverse, it's within the realm of possibility that fans could see him cross into Robert Pattinson's Batman universe. "Crisis On Infinite Earths" proves that DC is more than willing to jump into the multiverse in ways that DC fans would never have seen coming, including the return of Brandon Routh as Superman and bringing back the cast of Smallville. The Batman may be set in a different universe, but nothing is impossible for DC.
BATMAN AS NICK FURY?
Reports also claim that the presence of Keaton's Batman will be utilized as the "Nick Fury" of the mainline DC universe continuity, serving as the connective tissue between multiple films. Assuming that the Batgirl and Nightwing films are still on the board for DC, Keaton's caped crusader could also serve as an older, more experienced figure for those characters.
Fans have seen an older Bruce Wayne before in both the comics and TV, so it is not too far fetched to see Keaton take on such a role. As well, depending on how Keaton's Batman is brought into the picture, it could add a layer of new depth to the character if he was a result of Flashpoint, allowing him to coexist with other versions of Batman in the mainline universe and possibly even act as a mentor for a younger Batman, similar to Bruce Wayne's role in Batman Beyond.