For all the drama surrounding Ezra Miller, it’s easy to forget that the actor isn’t the only reason that next year’s release of The Flash is noteworthy. It will also mark the return of Michael Keaton as Batman, a role he hasn’t played since the release of Batman Returns in 1992. Now, 30 years later, Keaton is detailing why he decided to return to the role that brought him great box office success.
During a chat with Variety, Keaton revealed that he would have never returned to play the Caped Crusader unless there was a real reason to do so. The reason wasn’t complicated, with so many years removed from playing the part. For Keaton, “it seemed like fun.”
“I was curious what it would be like after this many years. Not so much me doing it — obviously, some of that — but I was just curious about it, weirdly, socially. This whole thing is gigantic. They have their entirely own world. So, I like to look at it as an outsider, thinking ‘Holy moly!’”
Keaton also said that from a creative standpoint, writing for the film was just that good, which made it even easier for him to say yes about returning:
“The writing was actually really good. So I thought, why not? It’s cool to drop in and I’m curious to see if I can pull it off.”
Michael Keaton has been involved with the superhero world since Batman Returns, most notably with Sony/Marvel in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Despite appearing in that film and being the definitive Batman for most fans, he admits that he has never watched any of the Marvel or DC universe films:
“I know people don’t believe this, that I’ve never seen an entire version of any of those movies — any Marvel movie, any other. And I don’t say that I don’t watch that because I’m highbrow — trust me! It’s not that,” he explains. “It’s just that there’s very little things I watch. I start watching something, and think it is great and I watch three episodes, but I have other shit to do!”
I kind of like that he’s a bitch detached from the other films and is just focused on the one he’s making. I really do hope that we properly see his Batman return because I know the release of The Flash has the Ezra Miller cloud hovering over it as Warner decides what to do about its release due to Miller’s much-publicized issues.
Are YOU excited to see Michael Keaton return as Batman? The Flash hopefully hits screens on June 23, 2023.