It’s already been a big day for DC Comics fans ahead of DC Fandome, but now, BLOCKBUSTER news has come thanks to Vanity Fair. They’re reporting that both Michael Keaton AND Ben Affleck will both return as Batman for the upcoming 2022 movie The Flash, which is set to start filming soon global lockdown willing.
Andy Muschietti is the head of the film and noted to Vanity Fair that it was vital to not just have Keaton for the film, but Ben Affleck as well:
“He’s the baseline. He’s part of that unaltered state before we jump into Barry’s adventure,” the director said. “There’s a familiarity there.”
“His Batman has a dichotomy that is very strong, 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,” Muschietti said in an interview. “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.”
Affleck got the script at the end of last week apparently and agreed this week to join the project. Which is a huge score for fans who liked Ben Affleck’s portrayal of him in Batman V Superman but wanted more (which we didn’t get in Justice League for various reasons).
The director noted that both Batmen have roles to play, including how they connect with Barry Allen…you know, the star of The Flash movie played by Ezra Miller?
“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,” the director added. “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.”
Given that this revelation was made before DC Fandome, it’s possible we could hear more about this soon. We’ll see!
