Michael Keaton’s return in the DCEU signifies a multiverse of Batman
Michael Keaton’s return as Batman in The Flash could open up the DCEU to a multiverse of wider possibilities.
In 2021, Matt Reeves’ The Batman and Zack Snyder’s Justice League will release featuring two different Dark Knights in two different universes. With the recent news of Michael Keaton’s Caped Crusader being involved with the upcoming Flash movie, it seems like Warner Bros./DC is now starting to invest in the multiverse.
DC embracing the multiverse is fascinating because it now can literally do what it wants. It should’ve been doing that from the beginning to differentiate itself from the competition.
But not only is WB/DC now seemingly investing in the multiverse, they are fully committed to demonstrating the versatility of their most well-known character.
Three respected actors playing the character in three separate films being so close to each is an unprecedented occurrence.
Robert Pattinson’s Batman will be a detective, Ben Affleck’s Batman is a mythological figure, and Keaton’s Batman is a Gothic hero. There won’t be just one Batman on film, but multiple versions – each one with their own unique identity. If that doesn’t excite any Bat-fan, then what does?
When DC celebrated the character’s 80th Anniversary, on their official site they said, “Batman is humanity’s timeless hero and he’s just getting started.”
Having this many Batmans on screen had to have been in the works for years and the anniversary could very well be what motivated DC to move forward with it.
Batman may be a character that has been overdone in many people’s minds, but he’s just too successful. And when something is successful, why stop selling it? DC is still experimenting a lot with their films outside of the character, so it’s not like the other characters are going anywhere. This is more WB/DC embracing what the fans like and what they are ultimately investing into it.
A multiverse of Batman
While the concept of the Flashpoint storyline being the focus of The Flash’s first solo film with Batman being in the supporting role is a polarizing idea for some, in a lot of ways, it’s incredibly exciting.
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The Flash is one of DC Comics’ most powerful characters with the ability to alter both time and universes. He could be the gateway to how all of the different universes (different Batmans) connect. And maybe there will be different versions of other characters appearing as well, which opens up many possibilities. After all, look at how the TV iteration of the Scarlet Speedster opened up endless possibilities on The CW’s The Flash – something that ultimately led to the super Arrowverse crossover Crisis On Infinite Earths.
Batman is quite simply one of the most recognizable fictional characters of all time. Furthermore, he has seen massive success in his 80+ years of existence, so why not have new stories revolving around multiple versions of the character? The Dark Knight can be remolded and reinterpreted in countless ways that can be both unique and exciting.
Brace yourselves, the Bat-renaissance is upon us.
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Would you like to see a multiverse of Batmen on the big screen? Do you think the DCEU will do it? Let us know in the comments below!