The Flash (2022)

[thecolorsblend]

Grace Randolph has stuck her head up to claim a former Batman makes an appearance at the end of The Flash, and could even take the ongoing DCU role. She's hinting it's either Kilmer, Clooney or Bale. If she's credible, I can't see it being Kilmer due to his voice issues. Bale has his loyalty to Nolan, and I wouldn't want his trilogy expanded upon honestly. It's fine the way it is. I'm guessing Clooney, especially if The Brave and The Bold is a lighter, more fantastical style film. Absolutely out of left field bizarre to think that could happen. But the thought of Clooney, if it's him, getting a shot at redemption would have my interest.

Bringing 61 year old Clooney back seems like a gigantic risk. I like B&R these days. But Clooney isn't highly regarded in the role. This could easily become fodder for jokes and memes. Whoever is making this decision had better know EXACTLY what they're doing.

As to Bale, I always got the idea that he'd at least consider coming back. I never thought he closed the door permanently on playing the character. But I can't imagine him being open to playing a TBATB version of Batman.

I remind everyone that Randolph has been wrong in the past.

[The Dark Knight]

She has, and that is at the front of my mind. Grace is putting her reputation on the line here again to make such a big claim. Apparently there's serious movement for Affleck to direct The Brave and the Bold, and it's worth noting that he and Clooney are good friends. Could that be a good enough hook to convince them both to do it? Quite possibly.

If Clooney ever came back (what an impossible thought) B&R's spirit of adventure would probably remain, but there'd have to big attempts to differentiate from the parodied B&R elements, ala Batman Triumphant. That's where Affleck would come in handy. That all said, if any of this is remotely credible, watch it turn out to be Bale. There's no denying there's a huge marketing hook there.

[eledoremassis02]

New poster

[The Dark Knight]

I'm not blown away but it's pretty good for a teaser. The 'worlds collide' tagline makes it clear Barry has come to Keaton's domain for the majority of the time, to the point the poster effectively promotes this as a Batman film. We have the explanation as to where the batwing is housed, too.

[The Joker]

I remind everyone that Randolph has been wrong in the past.

Yeah, not the most reliable person by any stretch, and all that jazz.

To bat the breeze on Kilmer/Clooney/Bale returning ....

Bale? If this notion holds any water, probably the most likely out of the three. As it would get all the Dark Knight Trilogy hardcores jumping for joy that their Batman is back. Unfortunately, that means the Nolanverse 'grounded' approach would, I assume, retroactively be folded into this universe to some extent (unless they are going for some weird mish-mash of styles and that's a really questionable choice when concerning Bale's inclusion), and thus, we'll possibly have not one but two grounded takes of Batman running concurrently to one another? Ok .....

Clooney? That's kinda dicey. I can see Clooney being receptive to the idea of redeeming his stint as Batman in the eyes of many fans, but any excitement his theoretical announcement may bring will eventually cool down, and he just doesn't have that hardcore base like that of Keaton/Bale. With Morrison's Batman run being an influence evidently, I can also see pushing Clooney to the background fairly quick as a mentor or whatever (similarly to what was going to happen with Keaton's Batman post "The Flash") in order to get that Dick Grayson as Batman with the brat Robin up and running.

Kilmer? It's really just too damn bad about Val's health issues. Personally, had it not been for that regrettable circumstance, I would be championing Kilmer over the other two right now (even though, like Clooney, I would be cognizant of Kilmer's age making him rather limited in the part). Kilmer, to his credit, was a pretty good Batman following Keaton, and though a lot of people like to clump "Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin" together, I still think there are many people who have much more nostalgia for "Batman Forever" that the summer of '95, than the swing and miss of '97 and B&R. A healthy Val Kilmer returning as Batman, with the subsequent announcement of BF finally getting a officially released Schumacher/Director's cut? Thus opening the window for fans who are too quickly dismissive of Schumacher's take, to give a second look at BF and especially Val's Batman? Well ... that would have been a pretty savvy way to introduce/reacquaint fans to Val in a fairly cost efficient manner.   

[thecolorsblend]

the poster effectively promotes this as a Batman film.

It is telling that Batman's colors and symbol are more visually prominent than the supposed main character of the film.

A healthy Val Kilmer returning as Batman, with the subsequent announcement of BF finally getting a officially released Schumacher/Director's cut? Thus opening the window for fans who are too quickly dismissive of Schumacher's take, to give a second look at BF and especially Val's Batman? Well ... that would have been a pretty savvy way to introduce/reacquaint fans to Val in a fairly cost efficient manner.

It is one of the great cinematic tragedies that Kilmer only played the character once. He would be more fondly remembered if he could've had two at-bats in two relatively dark Batman films. I would even suggest that his fan following would rival Keaton's.

[The Dark Knight]

The aesthetic is very much B89 meets Batman Begins. I'm glad to see it given we haven't had a filmic cave underneath Wayne Manor in recent times. I don't mind variation (the BvS lake house, and TB's railway station), but you can't beat going the traditional route.

[The Joker]

It is one of the great cinematic tragedies that Kilmer only played the character once. He would be more fondly remembered if he could've had two at-bats in two relatively dark Batman films. I would even suggest that his fan following would rival Keaton's.

Indeed. Like a lot of other people, Keaton was "my" Batman at a very early age. However, Val Kilmer ended up proving to be a excellent choice after Keaton decided to exit the franchise, and I wholeheartedly believe it was Val as Batman, that played at the very least a factor in BF's remarkable success in '95.

Not gonna lie, as a kid, seeing Val in both "Batman Forever", and then later in 1995, Michael Mann's "Heat" (yes I saw both in the theater, and somehow got no hassle buying a ticket for "Heat" ... yeah the trailer and tv spots made it look interesting but make no mistake about it.. Val being in the movie was decidedly the hook for me as kid), Val, in my mind, was just one of the coolest guys around.

[The Dark Knight]

Bill Ramey is hinting the previous Batman actor returning story is true, and it's not Bale. Based on one of his Twitter replies it's Clooney, and "Technically, it's the same #Batman on film in '89/'92, '95, and '97..." Interesting indeed if we get a Schumacherverse continuation, which could actually make sense if they're making a point the Keaton/Schumacher timelines are seperate, and/or there's variants or time travel damage shenanigans that split the original timeline.

[Silver Nemesis]

Not long now until the new trailer drops. Let's hope it contains some good shots of Keaton in the suit.

Meanwhile, here's a cool fan poster someone shared on social media.

No matter what happens with Keaton in the future – if he gets Batman Beyond or if this is his final adventure in the cape – at least he'll have gotten to lead his own mini Justice League in this movie. That's more than most cinematic Batmen get.