The Flash (2022)

[Gotham Knight]

Rumor mill:

Word is that the higher ups at WB are extremely enthusiastic about the Flash, and that Gunn's reboot will be broad but not a blanket, whatever that means. Maybe the Flash becomes the launch pad for a much bigger sweeping change, but you still get to keep Keaton, Shazam, Beetle...and maybe even Erza Miller!

[The Dark Knight]

Rumor mill:

Word is that the higher ups at WB are extremely enthusiastic about the Flash, and that Gunn's reboot will be broad but not a blanket, whatever that means. Maybe the Flash becomes the launch pad for a much bigger sweeping change, but you still get to keep Keaton, Shazam, Beetle...and maybe even Erza Miller!

Well well well. It opens up a whole new host of possibilities for Batman if The Flash doesn't exactly lead nowhere. The ending has been retained from what I know, and while I believe it could still serve as a conclusion of sorts for Keaton, it obviously leaves room for a continuation. But you would have to think that would have already been mapped out and agreed upon by now given the 10 year plan idea. But then again, maybe not? Perhaps it's still up in the air, and a lot will depend on the film's response. If there's the remote possibility Keaton remains, and Beyond can happen, I'll cling on to that. Because it's now or never.

[DocLathropBrown]

Rumor mill:

Word is that the higher ups at WB are extremely enthusiastic about the Flash, and that Gunn's reboot will be broad but not a blanket, whatever that means. Maybe the Flash becomes the launch pad for a much bigger sweeping change, but you still get to keep Keaton, Shazam, Beetle...and maybe even Erza Miller!

Well, well, well... I must be psychic!

...or psycho. The doctor won't tell me yet 

[thecolorsblend]

Gunn also said of his role as head of the studio that he plans to "keep what works and fix what doesn't."

At the risk of sounding like someone else... yeah, because that approach has worked great so far.

[The Dark Knight]

I haven't seen anything about Keaton being deaged, and I don't think I'd want it. At least not for too long. I'd greatly prefer to have the complete real deal man rather than something that almost equates to being a realistic video game character.

Digging in to spoilers, it makes we wonder what happens with Bruce's long hair? It's meant to be like that when we first meet him inside the kitchen. But not long after he agrees to help and suits back up again. But will he sort out his appearance before then? I think there's an opportunity to do something like Bruce's moustache disappearance in TDK Returns.

All in all, my enthusiasm for the movie remains. Regardless. I think a scorched Earth reboot makes more sense, but that doesn't leave the door open for more Keaton. Because that's really where my mind is right now. Whatever will be will be. In the short term The King returns this year.

[DocLathropBrown]

Gunn also said of his role as head of the studio that he plans to "keep what works and fix what doesn't."

At the risk of sounding like someone else... yeah, because that approach has worked great so far.

To be honest, I don't agree. For me, the DC movies have been on an upward trend since Suicide Squad. While that movie wasn't really very good, it was at least entertaining on some level, and not a slog like MOS and BVS. The theatrical JL wasn't high art, but it was at least a stripped-down, Saturday morning cartoon adventure (which is the best you could have done given the time frame they gave Whedon to work with). I genuinely loved WW84, even if I see the criticisms. BOP could have been better, but it has a fair amount going for it.

I'm a glass-half-full guy when it comes to movies, I always have been (BF and B&R say "hi"). So it's rare for me to outright dislike a film. I don't even hate MOS, it's just not really rewatchable.

So for me, it's been mostly working. And while I never subscribe to the idea that the ONLY way ahead after rocky moments is to reset (if you did that after Temple of Doom, you wouldn't have gotten Last Crusade), I'd gladly take a reset to get rid of the DCEU's biggest mainstream complaints (Cavill's Superman and Affleck's Batman) to avoid losing the rest that is good enough to build on.

Things like this are always going to be subjective. I greatly liked Henry as a person and would have preferred he get the chance to actually play Superman instead of mope-man... but for the general audience, he never clicked. And it makes business sense to walk away from the baggage he brings. Same with Affleck (whom I also enjoyed), not that he wants to actively continue in the role anyway. BvS really is the largest sticking point in the DCEU for the general audience, as it was such a tremendously high profile dumpster fire... so if you can just leave that baggage at the door, you're on your way.

Certain fans seem to be constantly forgetful that Hollywood is a business. Writers, actors, directors... yes, they are in it for the art. But the people who bankroll the movies? There needs to be a good rate of return. Otherwise, no more movies. Snyder's tenure didn't actually make WB much (if any) money, and the general audience (ie: not the fanboys, which make up a tiny part of the audience) did not enjoy his movies. Whether the MCU movies are a great work of art is arbitrary to the real world truth: they make money, and even the installments that make less money than others have positive word of mouth and keep the hype of the entire MCU going. A rising tide lifts all ships.

WB's desires for financial and critical success is not a new thing, and it isn't limited to WB. Burton's 2nd Bat movie got a lot of heat, so he didn't get to direct the third.  But, onwards and upwards.

[The Joker]

Gunn also said of his role as head of the studio that he plans to "keep what works and fix what doesn't."

At the risk of sounding like someone else... yeah, because that approach has worked great so far.

If the precedents with being the 'guiding hand of the DCEU' are any indication, it's precious that Gunn thinks WBD is going to uphold whatever his approach is the minute they become disillusioned with his performance.

[eledoremassis02]

I haven't seen anything about Keaton being deaged, and I don't think I'd want it. At least not for too long. I'd greatly prefer to have the complete real deal man rather than something that almost equates to being a realistic video game character.

Digging in to spoilers, it makes we wonder what happens with Bruce's long hair? It's meant to be like that when we first meet him inside the kitchen. But not long after he agrees to help and suits back up again. But will he sort out his appearance before then? I think there's an opportunity to do something like Bruce's moustache disappearance in TDK Returns.

All in all, my enthusiasm for the movie remains. Regardless. I think a scorched Earth reboot makes more sense, but that doesn't leave the door open for more Keaton. Because that's really where my mind is right now. Whatever will be will be. In the short term The King returns this year.

Maybe we'll get Keaton's meditation into Batman that he wanted to do way back in 89?

[The Dark Knight]

Maybe we'll get Keaton's meditation into Batman that he wanted to do way back in 89?

They could play it two ways. Something like what you describe above, where we see him seriously pondering the prospect, and once having made a decision mentally and physically preparing himself. Or his reappearance could be abrupt, played as a surprise for both Barry and the audience. Both would work. We'll find out what they've gone with soon enough.

[eledoremassis02]

Maybe we'll get Keaton's meditation into Batman that he wanted to do way back in 89?

They could play it two ways. Something like what you describe above, where we see him seriously pondering the prospect, and once having made a decision mentally and physically preparing himself. Or his reappearance could be abrupt, played as a surprise for both Barry and the audience. Both would work. We'll find out what they've gone with soon enough.

I am interested to see how he comes back as batman, and I wonder if the scene Keaton talked about being in the spirit of Burton will be the supergirl rescue scene

Depending on the super bowl add, I wouldn't mind seeing him in suit again on the big screen and keeping that footage out of the trailer. But I feel like they're really gonna sell him for this film.