What is DC Planning with Michael Keaton’s Potential Return As Batman?

It wasn’t too long ago that a simple meme turned into a fanboy’s dream. After being passed around the internet, fans have been pushing for Michael Keaton to return to his role as Bruce Wayne in a live-action Batman Beyond.

From IMDB

Fueled by remorse and vengeance, a high schooler named Terry McGinnis revives the role of Batman. Under the supervision of an elderly Bruce Wayne, he fights crime in a harsh, futuristic Gotham.

What started as an animated series back in 1999, it quickly became a fan favorite spinning off into eventually it’s own comic and returning in the latest Dark Knights: Death Metal.

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Keaton was and still could be one of the best Bruce Waynes to hit the big screen. In typical critic/DC fanboy fashion, he was met with a lot of fo criticism upon being cast as Batman. However, something about his demeanor was a perfect match for the balance of Bruce Wayne and Batman.

So how does this unfold with future DC movies in regards to The Flash?

Well, we all know Barry Allen is fast enough to run through both space and time at any given point in the multiverse. A lot of speculation is going into the Flashpoint storyline, where Barry travels back in time to save his mother, creating an alternate timeline where Thomas Wayne is still alive and Bruce Wayne was the one murdered in the alley.

If rumors of a multi-film contract to be the DC version of Nick Fury are true, the only way of seeing this through would be through the Batman/Flash comic arc The Button eventually bringing Thomas Wayne to the same universe as Bruce Wayne. Having two Batman’s (Batmen?) would be as confusing of how they’re going to have Robert Pattinson for the upcoming Batman film and Ben Affleck as the ZSJL Batman.

Then what again of Flashpoint? Does The Flash movie stand as a solo film that WB was switching too or does it tie into the DCEU as part of Zack Snyder’s Justice League? Does the Darkseid future lead to Barry questioning his whole life and that’s the catalyst to go back and save his mother? Does that lead to him going back to the present time and realizing he has to then warn Ben Affleck’s Batman of the coming future and not trust Superman?

One of the most important parts to point out is the wording of all the reports. “Michael Keaton to return as Batman” could be deliberate. He doesn’t need to play Bruce Wayne to be Batman. Hell, his role as the Vulture proved he can play the cynical part, so maybe he is Thomas Wayne?

Maybe he’s not even involved with the movies at all. Could he be in talks to be the focus of a live-action Batman Beyond show for HBO Max and be introduced in the movies? The Snyder Cut will debut on HBO Max with Ezra’s Flash so they’ll have to co-exist in the same universe. While the news is still fresh, secretly we hope this is the route they’re going. Isn’t it time we had a Batman Beyond series again?