Michael Keaton’s Batmobile Returning In The Flash, Teased By Set Photo
Michael Keaton is set to return to the screen as Batman and now his ride might be coming too with the Batmobile showing up on The Flash's set
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A superpowered case of the Mondays or a faulty Tachyon speed enhancer? Warner Bros. has been fighting to get the Scarlet Speedster’s live-action solo film The Flash (starring Fantastic Beasts’ Ezra Miller) off the ground since 2013, with little success. Despite recently being given a 2022 release date, the project itself is plagued with production problems and manifold delays. Six directors and five screenwriters have come and gone, leaving little to work with in their wake. There have been so many starts and stops with talent leaving along the way. And now, because of COVID-19 concerns, Michael Keaton — slated to play one of two former Batmen in Miller’s Flashpoint movie — is on the fence on whether to stay on board. Or is he? Could he AND his famous ride be making an appearance in the film?
Pictures Vehicles, Ltd., a U.K.-based custom automobile company known for servicing Hollywood movies, shared a photograph of Keaton’s ‘89 Batmobile early this week. The turbine of the car, a redone Chevrolet Impala, is distinguished by its upward-pointing central bracket, as opposed to the ‘92 Batmobile, which is pointed downward. So, is Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne confirmed to appear, or only his vehicle is? At present, it’s difficult to tell. The company’s Instagram account was hounded with questions about their involvement in Argentine director Andy Muschietti’s The Flash movie, but declined to respond to any inquiries. They do confirm it is, indeed, Keaton’s Batmobile, however. Check it out:
Michael Keaton is one of the comic books’ most beloved movie Batmen. He played the reclusive billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne in Tim Burton’s two films about the Caped Crusader: Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). He has since proven his salt as one of Hollywood’s most bankable, nuanced actors with several award-winning roles in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) as a psychotic, down-on-his-luck former actor, and Ken Nolan’s The Company, as CIA chief James Angleton, codenamed Mother. He was last seen playing lawyer Ramsey Clark in Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 and is set to reprise the role of Adrian Toomes/Vulture in Sony’s upcoming Spider-Man spinoff Morbius. It’s obvious why folks would want him to make an appearance in this The Flash film, tying together characters from the past with the present is always cool.
For a superhero imbued with faster-than-light reflexes, the DC Extended Universe’s live-action Flash is certainly taking his sweet time hitting the ground running. Michael Keaton news aside, this film has been plagued with issues. Ray Fisher, who played Cyborg/Victor Stone in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, was written out of the film after alleging workplace abuse against Geoff Johns and Walter Hamada, co-founder and current president of DC Films, respectively. Gal Gadot, previously reported to star in the movie, is no longer reprising the role of Wonder Woman/Diana Prince. Billy Crudup, who played Barry Allen’s father Henry, in Justice League bowed out due to scheduling conflicts.
Muschietti and Birds of Prey writer Christina Hodson were recently hired to streamline the film, but with Warner Bros. undergoing structural changes in light of Zack Snyder’s perceived departure from the franchise, only time will tell if these two will even survive the overhaul and manage to live to tell the tale. Ezra Miller’s solo outing as Barry Allen/The Flash is set to adapt Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert’s 2011 Flashpoint storyline for the big screen. That would have Allen serendipitously crossing with his own timeline’s Bruce Wayne, played to form by Justice League’s Ben Affleck, as well as Tim Burton’s Batman, Michael Keaton. Greg Berlanti, who was previously hired to pen and direct the film, had gone on to produce a television-only version of the arc in the CW’s The Flash.
So, does this Instagram picture mean that Michael Keaton and his ride will appear in the next film? It’s conspicuous timing for sure and could lead to some cool news soon.
