Former Batman Michael Keaton is set to appear in the HBO Max’s Batgirl film. Collider reports that this news comes courtesy of Warner Bros. themselves. The studio shared a press release on their website previewing all of their upcoming films in 2022. Considering that Keaton is set to appear as Batman in 2022’s The Flash, it seems likely that he will be donning the black cape in the Batgirl film.
Michael Keaton will appear alongside Leslie Grace who has been cast as Batgirl. J.K. Simmons will reprise his role as Commissioner Gordon, and Brendan Fraser will appear as the villain Firefly. The film is set to be released in 2022, though the dates are subject to change.
Considering that J.K. Simmons is reprising his role from previous films, it seems reasonable to assume that Keaton will play Batman again, although his role is not confirmed. His role as Batman in The Flash is being performed alongside Ben Affleck also playing Batman. Giant Freakin Robot suggests that these films may be set in the DC Multiverse. Given the nature of these castings, that would certainly make sense.
Keaton’s reprisal as Batman in at least one of these upcoming films is his first time playing the role since 1992’s Batman Returns. Val Kilmer and George Clooney took over the role afterward but to significantly less acclaim. Christian Bale revived the role to much praise in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, and Affleck took on the role for the DC Universe film series. Robert Pattinson is set to take on a darker version of the character in 2022’s The Batman.
