For many fans of DC Films, Michael Keaton will always be their Batman.
In fact, when The Hollywood Reporter conducted a poll in 2019 asking the general public who their favorite Batman actor was, Keaton topped the list. So, when news broke that Warner Bros. was bringing him back to reprise the role in a live-action Batman Beyond film, they were elated. Now, it appears as if those plans have been scrapped altogether by the new regime at DC Films, headed by James Gunn and Peter Safran. The information was brought first forth by industry insider Jeff Sneider in the most recent installment of On The Hot Mic with Jeff Sneider and John Rocha.
“[James Gunn and Peter Safran] came in and said, ‘Absolutely not,'” Sneider reported. “I’m sure that was part of the condition of even getting Keaton back in the first place… ‘You have to develop a solo movie for me.’ But I’m sure that they were just like, ‘Nope. We’re not messing with Batman. Batman is doing great right now, Matt Reeves’ Batman. This, everything else Batman, or Joker, gone.'”
Despite the disappointing news, fans of the DC Universe will catch a glimpse of Micheal Keaton as Batman in The Flash. The upcoming film, starring Ezra Miller, will be centered around a multiverse that will feature two different Batman characters. One will be played by Michael Keaton, and the other will be portrayed by Ben Affleck.