The idea of Michael Keaton once again suiting up as Batman, more than thirty years after he starred in Tim Burton’s movies, would have been unimaginable just months ago. But with DC Films really pushing this Multiverse idea it opened up a shot for him to appear in The Flash, and opposite Ben Affleck’s Batman, no less. As excited as that has made fans, it’s not a done deal yet. And to hear it from Keaton, it may not happen at all.
Speaking with Deadline, Keaton talks about the things that could keep him away from joining Ezra Miller in The Flash. Namely, those things are upcoming projects he’s really into, as well as COVID-19 which still has him nervous…
“No, you know what it is? I am needing a minute to think about it because I’m so fortunate and blessed, I got so much going on now,” explained Keaton. “I’m really into work right now. I don’t know why, but I am, and so, yeah, I mean, you know, to tell you the truth, somewhere on my iPad is an iteration of the whole ‘Flash’ thing that I haven’t had time yet.”
“I called them and said, ‘I have to be honest with you. I can’t look at anything right now. I’m so deep into this thing I’m doing. Also, I’m prepping a thing I’m producing and getting ready to do down the road in the fall that I’ll be in, and I feel responsible to that.’ So, yeah, there is that. I’m not being cute or coy. If I talked about it, I’ll be just bullshitting you. I don’t really know. I have to look at the last draft. To be honest with you, you know what worries me more than anything about all this stuff?…It’s Covid. I’m more concerned. I keep my eye more on the Covid situation in the UK than anything. That will determine everything, and so that’s why I’m living outside the city here on 17 acres, staying away from everybody, because the Covid thing has got me really concerned. So, that’s my first thing about all projects. I look at it and go, is this thing going to kill me, literally? And you know, if it doesn’t, then we talk.”
The Flash is set to open on November 4th 2022, so there isn’t a ton of time for Keaton to make up his mind. For now, let’s assume he’ll be there and if not expect some significant changes from the folks at Warner Bros.
