Ben Affleck Unites With Michael Keaton as Batman in the Multiverse of “The Flash” Movie

Ben Affleck will once again be seen in his Batsuit in the upcoming Ezra Miller’s “The Flash” movie which will be coming out in 2022. The film will also have Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne in a different universe/dimension.

 

In an interview with Vanity Fair Director Andy Muschietti revealed the news that Affleck got the script last week and agreed this week to join the project. Affleck starred as Batman in 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and 2017’s “Justice League.”

 

“The Flash” will feature Miller’s Barry Allen appearing in parallel dimensions and meeting different versions of DC’s heroes. Michael Keaton, who played Batman/Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton’s 1989 pic and returned to collaborate with the director in 1992’s “Batman Returns,” is also due to appear in “The Flash.”

 

Affleck had been planning to direct and star in a standalone Batman film for Warner Bros. but stepped down from helming in 2017, handing over that job to Matt Reeves. He decided early last year not to star in the movie, with the role going to Robert Pattinson. Affleck has admitted that he stepped away from the movie due to a drinking problem.

 

Keaton first played the Caped Crusader in Tim Burton’s 1989 “Batman” and returned to collaborate with Burton in 1992’s “Batman Returns.” He left the role during the development of the third film, “Batman Forever,” with Val Kilmer taking over the Batman role and Joel Schumacher directing.

“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,” Muschietti tells Vanity Fair who broke the news. “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.” says Muschietti.

 

“He’s the baseline. He’s part of that unaltered state before we jump into Barry’s adventure…There’s a familiarity there,” he further tells Vanity Fair.

 

“His Batman has a very strong dichotomy, 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. 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.”

 

Warner Bros. is hosting a DC Fandome virtual event for its superhero movies this Saturday with panels for the new Flash movie, Wonder Woman 1984, Aquaman, Shazam!, The Batman, Black Adam, Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman 1984.