The Flash, one of many upcoming Warner Bros. DCEU film projects, has been plagued by production issues since its first announcement in October 2014. The film finally seemed to be back on track with new casting announcements earlier this year. this year, but a new problem has arisen in the last few days. Michael Keaton, who is reportedly reprising his role as Batman, isn't sure if he'll be able to show up after all. In a lengthy chat with Deadline, Keaton admitted that his busy schedule meant he might not be able to don the cape and cowl for the first time since 1992. Deadline was asking Keaton about his involvement in the Flash movie, a conversation Keaton initially intended to lead. carried out with little success. Eventually, however, Keaton explained that he hadn't even had a chance to see the final script for the film and seemed to admit that he might not be able to appear at all. “To tell you the truth, somewhere on my iPad is an iteration of all things Flash that I haven't had time to (read) yet,” Keaton said. "I called them up and said, 'I have to be honest with you. I can't see anything right now.' I'm so into what I'm doing." Also, I'm doing something that I'm producing and preparing to do in the fall that I'll be in, and I feel responsible for that. So yes, there is that. I'm not cute or shy. "
Will Michael Keaton's Batman end in Flash?
We certainly hope so. While Keaton doesn't seem optimistic, he doesn't categorically confirm that he had to walk away from the project. The actor is currently enjoying a professional renaissance, so it stands to reason that he is inundated with offers from various film and television studios. We don't know how involved Keaton's Batman would be in the Flash movie, so there's a good chance he could play a part or a trashy part if he's really short on time. If the vigilante detective incarnation of him is needed for a larger role in the film, this is where trouble can arise. If Keaton has already signed on to other projects, as Deadline alludes to in his response, The Flash could take another heavy production hit from him. As we mentioned, it's been seven years since Warner Bros. originally announced that a Flash movie would be released soon, and we're still waiting for it to arrive. The movie has gone through five writers and five directors during that time, with IT director Andy Muschietti and Bumblebee writer Christina Hodson being the latest people to enter the respective hot seats. Other issues, such as Billy Crudup, who was set to reprise his role as Barry Allen's father, Henry, left due to scheduling conflicts (The Hollywood Reporter) that plagued production on The Flash most recently. Meanwhile, Cyborg's removal from the film about Ray Fisher's ongoing feud with Warner Bros. executives (The Wrap), also made things worse from a plot point of view. The Flash movie would incorporate parts of the Flashpoint comic book storyline, which would be key to the return of Keaton's Batman along with Ben Affleck's iteration of the Caped Crusader. If Keaton were to leave, he would complicate things again and could lead to another script revision to rework the plot in his absence. Hopefully, Keaton's latest comments aren't as serious as they seem, and his return to Batman still hangs in the balance. The Flash version is scheduled for November 4, 2022. The speedster can currently be seen in Zack Snyder's Justice League, available on HBO Max and Sky Cinema.