Michael Keaton is gearing up to once again be able to say, in his best gravelly voice, “I’m Batman.” The actor is returning to the role he brought to the big screen in the upcoming The Flash, as the speedster runs so fast that he breaks into alternate universes, causing the Flashpoint storyline to kick off in the DC Films multiverse. We don’t know much about his role in the film other than his Batman may be a kind of mentor to Flash at one point, but we do now know that there will be blood on the Michael Keaton Batsuit.
The image of the bloodstained bat symbol in the middle of Keaton’s Batsuit was shared by The Flash director Andy Muschietti, who unhelpfully posted it without any comment. Just why there is blood on Batman’s costume isn’t clear, but it could hint that Keaton isn’t making it out alive from the film. It also raises questions as to whether or not the actor will be donning the suit for the film. Early reports hinted that he would be more of a Bruce Wayne than a Batman given his old age, but this shot is clearly from the chest of his costume, with its trademark bright yellow bat symbol unique to this iteration of film Batman, so maybe Keaton will suit up again. Hopefully, this doesn’t mean we’re getting a CGI’d younger Keaton throughout the film.
The Flash is looking to do a soft reset on the DC Films universe as the Flashpoint storyline is basically capable of rewriting history any way they like. This will expand the DC universe into a multiverse in which any of their films can technically take place in the same shared space without running into each other. It lets the studio wipe the slate clean of the Snyderverse, finally, without angering his loyal fans by completely erasing his films. Keaton isn’t the only Batman returning for the film as Ben Affleck has also been confirmed to be reprising his role as the Caped Crusader for the film.
The Flash is set to release on Nov. 4, 2022. But for now, all we have of The Flash is Batman and blood on his bat symbol.
