Like virtually every single other human being on this planet, I love Batman. I love his games, his films, his books, even his LEGO. While not everything starring the Dark Knight is guaranteed to be good, you can go in with at least some assurance that it's likely to be pretty awesome.
You can imagine my excitement, then, at the recent reports that Michael Keaton will be reprising his role for multiple Batman films going forward. Fans will remember that last year it was confirmed the iconic actor, who played the caped crusader in the original Tim Burton films, would be returning for the upcoming Flash movie. However, it's now come to light that DC and Warner Bros. have plans for Keaton's Batman that could extend across multiple movies.
Times reporter Brooks Barnes was recently asked to clarify what he meant in a piece last month that looked at the future of the DC cinematic universe. In it, we got confirmation that the various upcoming movies take place in different universe, unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So for example, Wonder Woman's adventures take place in "Earth 1", while Robert Pattinson's upcoming stint as Batman will be set in "Earth 2".
Advert
Barnes also claimed that "Warner Bros. will have two different film sagas involving Batman - played by two different actors - running at the same time." When asked if this second Batman would be played a new actor, or if DC would build on Keaton's return in the Flash movie, Barnes seemed to confirm the latter.
At the time of writing, DC and Warner Bros have yet to confirm or deny whether Keaton's Batman will have a bigger role in the DC movies going forward. But Barne's comments have ignited speculation that the 69-year-old actor will be reprising his role, and that he will be a second, older Batman in a series of movies separate from Pattinson's younger version of the vigilante.
This is especially exciting for Batman fans everywhere, as it looks as if DC is finally lining everything up for a live-action adaptation of Batman Beyond.
Advert
For those who might have missed it, Batman Beyond - or Batman Of The Future as our more obvious friends in America called it - was an outstanding late 90s/early 00s animated series that depicted a dystopian Gotham City in the year 2039. Set decades after the events of Batman: The Animated Series, Beyond follows a troubled teenager called Terry McGiniss as he steals a high-tech Batman suit from a much older, much lonelier Bruce Wayne and attempts to make it as a hero.
It's not long before this older Wayne reluctantly takes on the role of a mentor to the younger Batman, the two set about trying to restore justice to Gotham that has all but given up on itself.
It's a phenomenal show, and one that the fans have been dying to see brought to the big screen for years now. There are even reports that it nearly happened once back in the mid 00s, right before Christopher Nolan entered the picture with his own, iconic version of the character in Batman Begins.
Advert
While it's important to stress that neither Keaton's inclusion in the DCEU, nor the existence of a Batman Beyond movie have been confirmed, it is looking more likely than ever. At 69, Keaton is the right age to play an older version of the character he nailed back in 1989. It would also make sense, if DC really is going to run two Batman movie franchises at the same time, for them to be markedly different from one another. You can't get much more different than a Batman who has just started his career and a Batman who has long since given up, can you?
For now we'll have to wait and see, but here's hoping Terry McGiniss finally gets that big screen debut we've all been waiting for.
Featured Image Credit: DC