Michael Keaton once appeared to have a bright future as the DC Universe, but the outlook on what lies ahead continues to get worse. Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans for Keaton to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne in the DCU a few years ago.
Decades after he last appeared in Batman Returns, Michael Keaton was seemingly being positioned to take over for Ben Affleck as the franchise’s main Batman.
A lot has changed since then, including the studio mergers and leadership for DC. WBD David Zacklav has now put Michael Keaton Batman’s future in the new DCU in further question by mentioning there will not be four Batman going forward.
The remark by Zazlav indicates that DC studios will have a more streamlined approach when it comes to Batman’s movie future under new DC studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. It is expected that there will be at least two Batmans in movie theatres, though.
Robert Pattinson will continue to lead Batman’s shared universe, while someone will be the main Batman in the DCU.
Michael Keaton may have had to do this before, but still, the momentum is growing for Ben Affleck’s Batman to remain front and center (especially after the Return of Henry Cavil’s Superman in Black Adams post-credit scene). Limiting the number of the on-screen appearance of Batman might leave Michael Keaton Batman’s future in dark.
How did Warner Bros’s action hurt Michael Keaton’s Batman Return?
The once-promising outlook for Michael Keaton has continued to be hurt by Warner Bros. decisions. the original plan was to make Micahel Keaton make his grand return in The Flash through the multiverse and then have appearances in The Batgirl (officially canceled) and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
There were even reports that Warner Bros wanted Keaton’s Batman to be a Nick Fury-like character for the DCU and connect the franchise together. Nothing has changed now with the actor’s return in The Flash, but the plans for what was meant to come after have changed.
Following the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, the shocking decision was made to cancel Batgirl. The move completely wiped out what was going to be a major role in Michael Keaton’s Batman. Warner Bros. further complicated his future after delaying so it would come out after Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
This led to the sequel adding a cameo from Ben Affleck during reshoots. While release date changes have now been put in Aquaman the Lost Kingdom and The Flash once again, there is no guarantee that Michael Keaton’s Batman DCU future will be restored – especially if Zazlav, Gunn, and Safran agree to decrease the number of Batmans.
Does Michael Keaton Batman still have a Future in DC Universe?
Michael Keaton’s Batman future has a slightly lesser chance than it did before, but there is still a chance that he could have a future. It is still unknown where The Flash leaves his character or the state of the multiverse.
DC Studio’s new leadership will have to figure out if Michael Keaton is the one they want to be the DCU’s Batman for years to come or not.
