Even with his more recent MCU appearances, we're not sure we could've predicted Michael Keaton returning to the superhero world quite like this. Yet according to The Wrap, he's now in talks to suit back up as Batman – or Bruce Wayne at the very least – for the Flash stand-alone film starring Ezra Miller.
Increasingly, it appears the movie, which currently hasIt's Andrés Muschietti on to direct it, will be much more interconnected than ever thought, as it'll explore the comics-spawned concept of the multiverse, with various versions of characters connected by those who can cross dimensions, such as Miller's Barry Allen. It's an idea that has been explored in the TV "Arrowverse", where different takes on characters have interacted across universes (Miller even showed up briefly on The Flash show to help get across the idea that the universes DC has been putting on screens big and small can intermingle.
And apparently, if the deal makes, Keaton's appearance won't be limited to one film. The idea is for him to pop up in several entries, much the same way as Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury was dotted around Marvel's movies.
Keaton, of course, famously played Batman for Tim Burton in 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. The concept here – contained within Christina Hodson's script – is to see Barry travelling back in time to prevent his mother's death, and inadvertently crossing into the universe protected by Keaton's now older Wayne, and it'll follow his story after Returns, ignoring Batman Forever and Batman And Robin. It also won't reference The Batman, with director Matt Reeves' take on the character existing in its own universe (though there's always a chance of crossovers down the road).