The DCEU is currently in heavy flux following the news of the HBO Max filmBatgirlbeing shelved by Warner Bros. One of the biggest attractions of the canceled film was the return of Michael Keaton, who would be stepping back into the cape and cowl to reprise the role he played inTim Burton’s 1989 and 1992 renditions of the character inBatmanandBatman Returns. While Keaton’s future as The Dark Knight is now up in the air, questions around his involvement with the DCEU going forward have also begun to light up, with a new report claiming that the acclaimed actor has already filmed scenes for theAquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
The report was originally made byThe Hollywood Reporter, which cites several sources saying that Keaton, who was set to be part of bothBatgirland the upcomingThe Flashfilm set for 2023, had shot scenes for the upcomingAquamansequel which were shown to test audiences. THR reports that these test audiences found Keaton’s inclusion “confusing, as it was unclear why Keaton’s Batman was in this universe.” THR also says that the former Batman actor was being positioned as somewhat as an equivalent toSamuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury for the DCEU, described as an “elder statesman who could pop up in multiple films and offer guidance.”
This report that Keaton had shot scenes for the upcoming sequel starring the King of Atlantis not only comes after the cancelation ofBatgirl, but also a week after the film’s star,Jason Momoa,revealed thatBen Affleckwould be appearing in the film to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne. The last time Affleck played the role was inZach Snyder’s TheJustice League. The reasoning for the change is currently unknown, though THR points out thatAquaman and the Lost Kingdomwas originally meant to come out afterThe Flash, which would have a very similar plot to the iconicFlashpointParadoxstory that saw Barry Allen going back in time to save his mother and thus changing the future in unknown ways. Perhaps Keaton’s Batman would be the result of one of these changes, but withAquaman and the Lost Kingdomnow coming out afterThe Flash, this would not make sense in the new order of events. This is purely speculation, however, and it is impossible to truly know the reasoning until we are told otherwise.
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Aquaman and the Lost Kingdomwill seeJames Wan, director of the first film, once again return for the impending sequel based on a script written byDavid Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, withMomoa himself co-wrote the story treatmentfor the upcoming sequel. While Keaton seemingly will no longer appear in the film, Affleck and Momoa are both part of a cast that includes a returningAmber HeardasMera,Dolph Lundgrenas King Nereus,Patrick Wilsonreturning as Ocean Master,andTemuera Morrisonas Aquaman’s father, Tom Curry.Game of Thrones’Pilou Asbækalso joins the cast at an undisclosed part.Yahya Abdul-Mateen IIis also set to return to reprise his role as the villainous Black Manta.
As of right now, the future of Keaton’s role in the DCEU is currently unknown.Aquaman and the Lost Kingdomis set to release in theaters on June 21, 2025, with the firstAquamanfilm available to be viewed on HBO Max right now. Check out one of our interviews with Keaton below:
