The Flash (2022)

[Gotham Knight]

In response to a couple of fake plot leaks that are circulating a very reliable scooper has confirmed that Barry is actually creating time lines that mash elements from other time lines together. They went on to say that the Keaton Batman of the 'Burton' canon is not exactly the same Batman of Earth-89, and yet he is. Apparently he is a variant who experienced both Batman 1989 and Batman Returns, but his time line is a divergence created by Barry, which is why Sasha Calle's Supergirl exists in his universe as well. Barry then of course creates the rebirth time line.

[eledoremassis02]

In response to a couple of fake plot leaks that are circulating a very reliable scooper has confirmed that Barry is actually creating time lines that mash elements from other time lines together. They went on to say that the Keaton Batman of the 'Burton' canon is not exactly the same Batman of Earth-89, and yet he is. Apparently he is a variant who experienced both Batman 1989 and Batman Returns, but his time line is a divergence created by Barry, which is why Sasha Calle's Supergirl exists in his universe as well. Barry then of course creates the rebirth time line.

I'm ok with that, it leaves the 90's Batman universe alone (for the most part) and allows them to do somthing else. While partially ok with them dropping the Shumacher timeline. This overall idea of "lets forget somthing because we dont like it" is becoming a thing when bringing back old franchises.

[The Laughing Fish]

All I can say is I hope that horrible rumour of Zod killing baby Kal-El in the alternate timeline is NOT true. The idea of infanticide is repulsive, and way too dark than anything Snyder has done. Jesus.

Meanwhile, there are rumours going around that Ezra Miller had been suffering from "frequent meltdowns" on the set of The Flash, with some anonymous source saying he was "losing it". Although, the source did stress that Miller never showed any violent outbursts or even yelled at anyone. Discovery execs are going to have a meeting to decide what to do about the matter.

If this is true then this puts WB in yet another unfavourable light, if you ask me. Miller may be responsible for the alleged crimes he has been accused of, but there were apparent signs of serious psychological instability that the studio failed to address and react adequately. Even if Miller didn't threaten anyone on the set - hell, if he hadn't gotten in trouble with the law, it sounds like he is unfit and needs help. At this stage, he might be a threat to himself as well as other people.

I repeat, that doesn't excuse Miller's violent behaviour. But if there were visible warning signs that the studio failed to handle properly, or worse - ignored it for the longest time up until now - that's their fault for giving this film, and Flash as a franchise, another handicap.

[The Joker]

In response to a couple of fake plot leaks that are circulating a very reliable scooper has confirmed that Barry is actually creating time lines that mash elements from other time lines together. They went on to say that the Keaton Batman of the 'Burton' canon is not exactly the same Batman of Earth-89, and yet he is. Apparently he is a variant who experienced both Batman 1989 and Batman Returns, but his time line is a divergence created by Barry, which is why Sasha Calle's Supergirl exists in his universe as well. Barry then of course creates the rebirth time line.

So basically the Keaton Batman in The Flash is getting New52 Bryan Singered.

Where, rather than take the Spider-Man: No Way Home approach, we're given yet again a variant who is bestowed a "vague history" where events and characters themselves are prone to retcons simply in order to fit the currently pushed narrative...

Truly remarkable.

Where "this" might have happened, but not "that". Where Michael Gough's Alfred existed, but not Pat Hingle's Gordon. Where the Joker exists, but he wasn't Jack Napier, didn't murder the Waynes, didn't fall to his death, but probably will still use famous off-repeated quotes from the Nicholson version. Where the Penguin exists, but isn't "quite" what we know of from Batman Returns. Likely keeping the Penguin having ran for Mayor once upon a time, and subsequently outed, but blatantly undoing the nefarious plot of kidnapping and murdering children (if those "Comeback for Cobblepot" Gotham Globe newspaper headlines are any indication, cause REALLY .... how does one comeback from THAT?), along with, like Joker, his own death being retconned out as well.

With The Flash, the film, at least, has the luxury of using the novelty of Michael Keaton returning in an attempt to get this "vague history/retcon heavy" idea over with the audience (even if it does take some of the oomph and wind out of the sails for those of us who love the Burton films "as is"). When Superman Returns came out in 2006, they only had ... Brandon Routh. Which was noticeably insufficient. However, unlike growing up being OK with the idea that Keaton/Kilmer/Clooney were ultimately all the same Batman in their movies, I never could view Routh's version as nothing more than a variant of Christopher Reeve's Superman. No matter what kinda vague is/isn't, kinda sorta but not really exactly ect interpretation Singer was trying to push. It didn't work, it didn't work with the New52, and it clearly doesn't work here.

So yeah, I agree, and have stated previously, I'll just have to reluctantly yield that the Keaton Batman in The Flash is a variant. That's the cards that are dealt, and we'll see how it goes. Again, it's probably for the best that this Flashpoint Keaton Batman is indeed a variant considering what we're actually hearing about The Flash movie's issues and story line (to which I wouldn't doubt even further tinkering/reshoots might transpire once the merger is fully complete and new people in place). Cause this is no way a coda to the 1989/1992 films.

The Burtonverse Keaton Batman, and it's unique lore, deserves way more respect.

[The Laughing Fish]

In response to a couple of fake plot leaks that are circulating a very reliable scooper has confirmed that Barry is actually creating time lines that mash elements from other time lines together. They went on to say that the Keaton Batman of the 'Burton' canon is not exactly the same Batman of Earth-89, and yet he is. Apparently he is a variant who experienced both Batman 1989 and Batman Returns, but his time line is a divergence created by Barry, which is why Sasha Calle's Supergirl exists in his universe as well. Barry then of course creates the rebirth time line.

So basically the Keaton Batman in The Flash is getting New52 Bryan Singered.

Where, rather than take the Spider-Man: No Way Home approach, we're given yet again a variant who is bestowed a "vague history" where events and characters themselves are prone to retcons simply in order to fit the currently pushed narrative...

Truly remarkable.

Where "this" might have happened, but not "that". Where Michael Gough's Alfred existed, but not Pat Hingle's Gordon. Where the Joker exists, but he wasn't Jack Napier, didn't murder the Waynes, didn't fall to his death, but probably will still use famous off-repeated quotes from the Nicholson version. Where the Penguin exists, but isn't "quite" what we know of from Batman Returns. Likely keeping the Penguin having ran for Mayor once upon a time, and subsequently outed, but blatantly undoing the nefarious plot of kidnapping and murdering children (if those "Comeback for Cobblepot" Gotham Globe newspaper headlines are any indication, cause REALLY .... how does one comeback from THAT?), along with, like Joker, his own death being retconned out as well.

With The Flash, the film, at least, has the luxury of using the novelty of Michael Keaton returning in an attempt to get this "vague history/retcon heavy" idea over with the audience (even if it does take some of the oomph and wind out of the sails for those of us who love the Burton films "as is"). When Superman Returns came out in 2006, they only had ... Brandon Routh. Which was noticeably insufficient. However, unlike growing up being OK with the idea that Keaton/Kilmer/Clooney were ultimately all the same Batman in their movies, I never could view Routh's version as nothing more than a variant of Christopher Reeve's Superman. No matter what kinda vague is/isn't, kinda sorta but not really exactly ect interpretation Singer was trying to push. It didn't work, it didn't work with the New52, and it clearly doesn't work here.

So yeah, I agree, and have stated previously, I'll just have to reluctantly yield that the Keaton Batman in The Flash is a variant. That's the cards that are dealt, and we'll see how it goes. Again, it's probably for the best that this Flashpoint Keaton Batman is indeed a variant considering what we're actually hearing about The Flash movie's issues and story line (to which I wouldn't doubt even further tinkering/reshoots might transpire once the merger is fully complete and new people in place). Cause this is no way a coda to the 1989/1992 films.

The Burtonverse Keaton Batman, and it's unique lore, deserves way more respect.

100% agreed. But according to somebody here, this is the perfect time to correct some of Burton's "mistakes". GTFO here, I say.

On a broader scale, however, I think the Ezra Miller situation is a lot more concerning at the moment. It's now looking likely he's going to be recast. And if that happens, you should definitely expect massive reshoots. Depending how extensive it is, we might see yet another delay.

[The Joker]

I think the Ezra Miller situation is a lot more concerning at the moment. It's now looking likely he's going to be recast. And if that happens, you should definitely expect massive reshoots. Depending how extensive it is, we might see yet another delay.

Yeah, who knows how this is going to shake out? Ezra's on a Labeouf PR level of being a wild card, and it's still well over a year until the release date of The Flash as it stands 'right now'. Like you said, reading that this movie is going to undergo 'significant reshoots' (ala Dr. Strange Multiverse of Madness) in the not-too-distant future, and as a consequence possibly getting pushed back yet again, wouldn't be the least bit surprising. Good times.

[eledoremassis02]

Not sure how I feel about potential Reshoots ala Back to the Future (ironic lol). Filming is pretty much done, finish it and drop Miller after by introding another flash (as rumor suggests). Otherise it's honestly a waste of resources if they have to refilm basically the whole film.

With the Zodd thing. I'm mixed (mostly because it's a varrient and somthing that sounds like a quick reshoot or even ADR could fix).


NWH was handled pretty well, but as I stated earlier, that film (and Multiverse of Madness) already have this film dead in the water because thats what people are going to expect (and possibly demand) from a multiverse film.

Atleast the overall testscreenings seem positive

Plus we'll see what Discovery does

[DocLathropBrown]

Keaton's return in this film was always going to be defined as a variant to me anyway--the true continuation to me will always be the Schumacher films.

[BatmanFurst]

Keaton's return in this film was always going to be defined as a variant to me anyway--the true continuation to me will always be the Schumacher films.

I never viewed those as actual sequels, they're much too different in look, style, and tone. Even though I like Returns, I'm not even crazy about how different that is from the 89 film.

[The Laughing Fish]

Update re: those Ezra Miller meltdown rumours:

Ezra Miller Update: Via IGN, a source with WB Studios has rebuked the original report from Rolling Stone saying that no such emergency meeting took place and dismissing the claims as exaggeration
#TheFlash

https://twitter.com/FlashFilmNews/status/1512152359736074245

This is either damage control, or somebody is lying here.

With that said, anyone who has paid attention to Warner's PR history knows they blatantly lie and order hit pieces, see Jason Momoa and Frosty the Snowman, and for all we know, this could be some bitter, agenda-driven executive trying to use Miller's legal troubles as a scapegoat for The Flash's problems. Assuming if it's true that the claims over Miller's issues on the set are greatly exaggerated, of course.

Now that the Discovery merger will be completed either today or Monday, let's hope the new regime will continue to clean house and this will be the last time we see suspicious gossiping and hit pieces, and the studio's reputation begins to improve.