Michael Keaton in Talks to Reprise Batman Role in ‘The Flash’

Oscar nominated and Golden Globe & Critics Choice award winning actor Michael Keaton is securing a multi-picture deal to reprise his role of Bruce Wayne / Batman in future Warner Bros D.C. properties. The first of which would be It filmmaker Andy Muschietti’s The Flash (2022).

Muschietti has Ezra Miller returning to the role of Barry Allen / The Flash, with plans for his speeding superhero to travel through time and different dimensions in a reset/expansion of the DCU as we know it.

Keaton played the iconic DC hero in 1989’s Batman opposite Jack Nicholson and 1992’s Batman Returns opposite Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer. Both films were critical and commercial successes, with Keaton winning over fans who primarily knew him as a comedic actor.

Awards Focus founder Byron Burton profiled the history of both Batman and Batman Returns for The Hollywood Reporter.

Keaton generously participated in Awards Focus’ Aiding Australia charity event this past February.  Keaton attended with his songwriting son, Sean Douglas, daughter-in-law and grandson. He signed several Batman and Beetlejuice items for charity benefit, hosted by John Ottman, Byron Burton, and guest of honor Colin Hay from Men at Work.

Following the success of Beetlejuice, Keaton’s two Batman films with director Tim Burton and composer Danny Elfman rebranded The Dark Knight for modern audiences. Their influence would go on to permeate Warner Bros. animation with Batman: The Animated Series. The gothic influence of Burton’s films were a trademark of the series as well as Elfman’s iconic theme.

Keaton’s new role is described as a mentor across multiple projects. It’s unclear if Keaton will be suiting up for battle or if any of the living characters — Robert Wuhl’s Alexander Knox, Kim Basinger’s Vicki Vale, or Michelle Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle — will return.

The Flash is set to shoot in 2021 in London, where production is currently paused on the Robert Pattinson starring film, The Batman.