From casting choices to other controversies, the upcoming The Flash in the DC Extended Universe has been living and dying in fan anticipation by virtue of one character: Batman. That won't be the Ben Affleck version of the Caped Crusader but the version played by Michael Keaton. Unfortunately, the actor's return might not be as permanent as many fans suspected.
The planned movie Batgirl has been canceled, and that project was to feature Keaton's Batman. But now that the Leslie Grace vehicle got shelved, it's questionable if Keaton's Dark Knight will have any role beyond The Flash. In fact, given other recent film changes, it's becoming increasingly unlikely.
Michael Keaton Was Poised to Be the New DCEU Batman
Rumors claimed The Flash would have Barry Allen rewrite history, with Sasha Calle's Supergirl and Michael Keaton's Batman replacing Henry Cavill's Superman and Ben Affleck's Batman in the new timeline. And from that point on, Keaton would be the only Batman of this universe, with his history in the Tim Burton-directed movies somehow getting consolidated into the present-day DCEU. The rumblings behind this idea were controversial, even for those unhappy with many of the DCEU's offerings. Fans of Zack Snyder's DC films were particularly livid at the thought of his movies getting erased from canon, especially to make way for an older Batman.
But those fans may be getting their wish in terms of these things not coming to pass. Keaton's Batman was going to appear in a scene in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, but his scenes have been reshot with Ben Affleck's Caped Crusader. That was already making DCEU fans suspect things were changing behind the scenes at Warner Bros. Discovery, but now it's seemingly been confirmed. New company president David Zaslav may not see much potential in an elderly Batman, and with Batgirl gone, Keaton's version of the hero may re-enter retirement.
Michael Keaton's Batman Will Likely Only Be in The Flash
From how things are going, it seems that Keaton will only return as Batman in The Flash, making him merely an alternate universe version of the hero and not juxtaposed with the DCEU. That was how many thought the character would unfold in the movie, but that was back when Keaton's presence was first announced and before the movie's additional setbacks and postponements. But this potential original plan is probably the one that Zaslav wants to follow.
That would probably be for the best, as there's simply no way to organically consolidate the Burton films with the DCEU and make it not feel contrived. Keeping Keaton as the "new" Batman could even backfire, with Snyder fans potentially growing angry over Affleck's unceremonious replacement. However, perhaps the biggest reason to keep Keaton's return as a one-time thing would be The Flash movie itself.
Since it got announced, The Flash has been riddled with production woes and changing hands. And given what's currently going on with the movie's star, it might be in the studio's best interest to go ahead and distance themselves from the doomed project entirely. Any further project spinning out from the events of The Flash would already have one foot in the hole, with Keaton's Batman coming to represent that dumpster fire more than his own legacy. Thus, it seems that Warner Bros. Discovery is, for once, thinking long-term by preventing further brand damage. Sadly, that will probably be at the expense of a fan-favorite Batman, who may only have enough gas for one last adventure in the Batmobile.