Last year it was reported that Michael Keaton is set to don the cape and cowl once more, reprising the role of Batman for an appearance in the DC Multiverse-spanning The Flash, and while Keaton himself downplayed the news, we’ve since seen some official concept art from DC Films showing Keaton’s Dark Knight alongside Ezra Miller’s Scarlet Speedster.
However, it seems that Keaton’s involvement still isn’t 100% assured, as the actor has revealed to Deadline that he still needs to see the final draft of the script, and remains reluctant to commit due to the ongoing pandemic.
“I mean, you know, to tell you the truth, somewhere on my iPad is an iteration of the whole Flash thing that I haven’t had time yet [to read]. I called them and said, I have to be honest with you. I can’t look at anything right now. I’m so deep into this thing I’m doing. Also, I’m prepping a thing I’m producing and getting ready to do down the road in the fall that I’ll be in, and I feel responsible to that. So, yeah, there is that. I’m not being cute or coy. If I talked about it, I’ll be just bullshitting you. I don’t really know. I have to look at the last draft…
“I keep my eye more on the Covid situation in the UK than anything. That will determine everything, and so that’s why I’m living outside the city here on 17 acres, staying away from everybody, because the Covid thing has got me really concerned. So, that’s my first thing about all projects. I look at it and go, is this thing going to kill me, literally? And you know, if it doesn’t, then we talk.”
Given that filming is due to begin this summer and Keaton’s Batman is believed to play a key role, Warner Bros. and DC Films will surely be hoping to have him confirmed soon, otherwise director Andy Muschietti may find himself having to make some last ditch phone calls to Val Kilmer and George Clooney.
While Keaton appears unconfirmed, we do know that The Flash will see the return of Ezra Miller as Barry Allen alongside Zack Snyder’s Justice League co-stars Ben Affleck as Batman and Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, while DCEU newcomers include Ron Livingston (Office Space) as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdu (Pan’s Labyrinth) as Nora Allen, and Sasha Calle (The Young and the Restless) as Supergirl.
