Both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton will return to play Batman in the multiverse spanning version of “The Flash” movie starring Ezra Miller…
Batman will be front and center — played by multiple actors — in “The Flash” movie starring Ezra Miller.
Both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton are set to portray The Dark Knight in the upcoming film directed by Andy Muschietti, which will span the DC multiverse in a film adaptation of the famous “Flashpoint” storyline from the comic books.
While Keaton has been rumored for his return for several months, Affleck just recently agreed to return to play Batman/Bruce Wayne one more time after previously hanging up his cape and cowl following a less than enthusiastic reaction to the “Justice League” movie. After attempting to create his own solo Batman film, Affleck ultimately decided to leave the role, which was later picked up by Robert Pattinson for director Matt Reeves’ upcoming film, “The Batman.”
Now Affleck is set to return as he helps bridge the gap between the rest of the shared DC film universe and “The Flash” movie with Miller set to return to the role he first portrayed in 2016’s “Batman V. Superman.”
“His Batman has a dichotomy that is very strong which is his masculinity—because of the way he looks, and the imposing figure that he has, and his jawline —but he’s also very vulnerable,” Muschietti told Vanity Fair. “He knows how to deliver from the inside out, that vulnerability. He just needs a story that allows him to bring that contrast, that balance.
“He’s a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Affleck’s Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven’t seen before. It’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in. I’m glad to be collaborating with someone who has been on both sides of the camera, too. He understands.”
In the original version of the Flashpoint comic book written by Geoff Johns, Barry Allen travels back in time in order to save his mother from being murdered by the Reverse Flash. In doing so, Barry irreparably damages his own timeline and the course of events that happen throughout history. He’s then forced to reconcile with his own mistakes about changing the past in order to fix the future.
It’s been expected for sometime that “The Flash” movie would feature some alternate version of that storyline with Miller’s Barry Allen traveling through the multiverse, which would then allow other past characters from DC films to make appearances.
In the same interview where Affleck was announced for his return, Muschietti also confirmed that Keaton would also be reprising his role as Bruce Wayne and Batman after originally portraying the character starting with 1989’s “Batman” directed by Tim Burton.
While Muschietti wasn’t giving away any secrets to Keaton’s return to the role, he added that he would also play a “substantial” part in the movie.
More details about “The Flash” movie are expected to be revealed this weekend at DC’s Fandome — an event that will feature a first look at several upcoming movies that will replace the studio’s typical appearance at San Diego Comic Con, which was forced to go virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
