Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Michael Keaton in talks to return as Batman after 28 years

Actor previously played the role in ‘Batman’ and ‘Batman Returns’

Louis Chilton
Tuesday 23 June 2020 07:31 BST
Comments
Michael Keaton spoiled Batman plot point day before it was released

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Michael Keaton is reportedly in talks to reprise the role of Batman in the forthcoming The Flash film.

The actor previously played the title character in Tim Burton‘s Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).

The Flash will focus on the lightning-quick superhero played by Ezra Miller, who made his debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and appeared again in Justice League.

According to reports, the plot will ignore the two films that followed Batman Returns, the Joel Schumacher-directed Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. The story will be based on the 2011 comic Flashpoint, in which The Flash travels back in time to save his mother’s life.

If the talks prove successful, this will be the first time Keaton has played the caped crusader since 1992. In recent years, he has appeared as the Marvel supervillain The Vulture in 2017’s Spider-man: Homecoming, and as an actor best known for playing a batman-like superhero in Birdman in 2014.

Since Keaton left the Batman franchise, a number of other actors have stepped in to play the caped crusader, to varying levels of acclaim, including Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale and Ben Affleck.

Robert Pattinson is set to be the next actor to take up the mantel, when he stars in Matt Reeves’s The Batman.

Affleck’s Batman will also be returning to screens on HBO Max, as it was revealed that director Zack Snyder has been given the go-ahead to re-edit Justice League into a longer cut. Fans had been demanding the release of the so-called “Snyder Cut” since the film’s original premiere.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in