Fans have been giddy with excitement (yes, giddy, don’t deny it) since Michael Keaton was first rumored to be returning to the role of Batman for The Flash (2022) movie. Most of us assumed that this would be a one-and-done reprisal of the role he first made famous in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989). As it turns out, that is no longer the case.
According to recent reports from Warner Bros, Michael Keaton is officially set to return as the Dark Knight yet again for the upcoming Batgirl (2022) movie in addition to his return for The Flash (2022). He will be joining an already star-studded cast that features Leslie Grace in the titular role, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Brendan Fraser making his DC Universe debut as the villainous Firefly.
While we know most of the players, the plot of Batgirl has remained a secret for the time being. Based on a script by Christina Hodson, the only thing we know for sure is that Firefly (Fraser) is the villain and that the film will focus on Barabra Gordon (Grace), daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner Jim Gordon (Simmons). The film will be directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who previously teamed to direct the long-awaited sequel Bad Boys For Life (2020).
Keaton joining the cast in the role of Batman opens up several questions about the effects that the story on The Flash (2022) will have on the larger DC Universe. For example, the first four Batman films are generally considered a continuous series, even though the lead role was recast twice across four films; with Michael Keaton in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992), Val Kilmer in Batman Forever (1995), and George Clooney in Batman And Robin (1997). The fourth (and final) film in that era of Batman featured Alicia Silverstone playing the role of Batgirl; though her character was adjusted to be Alfred Pennyworth’s niece Barbara Wilson rather than Commissioner Gordon’s daughter. So what does it mean that we will be seeing Keaton fighting alongside an all-new iteration of Batgirl?
Stretching things even further is the fact that J.K. Simmons is returning to his role as Commissioner Gordon, which we last saw him portray in Justice League (2017) alongside Ben Affleck’s Batman. So we are seeing an all-new Batgirl teaming up with the classic Keaton Batman alongside Ben Affleck Batman’s Commissioner Gordon (who is her father)? Our best guess is that we will be getting an actual explanation for all of this in The Flash (2022), but we wouldn’t be too surprised to see Keaton permanently supplant Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne in the DCEU moving forward.
You can catch Michael Keaton’s first return to the cape and cowl as Batman in The Flash (2022), which also stars Ezra Miller, Ben Affleck, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, and Kiersey Clemmons. The Flash is currently set to release in theaters on November 4, 2022.
Are you excited to hear we are getting even more of Michael Keaton’s Batman? Or do you think we should leave the past in the past and look towards the future? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments section below and be sure to stick around Geek Anything for more Batgirl updates!
