DC Studios and Warner Bros. have released the first official trailer for The Flash, featuring the return of Michael Keaton's Batman which may cause confusion over the status of Robert Pattinson as the Dark Knight. As seen in 2022's The Batman from director Matt Reeves, Pattinson stars as a younger Bruce Wayne who's already begun to build his legend in Gotham City. However, The Flash will see Keaton returning as the Dark Knight after 31 years, his last appearance being 1992's Batman Returns from director Tim Burton.
In The Flash movie's Super Bowl 2023 trailer, Keaton's Batman confirms that he is indeed Batman, agreeing to help two versions of Barry Allen whose worlds have seemingly collided, resulting in massive alterations to reality. Featuring his iconic Batcave and Batmobile, the levels of nostalgia are high with this classic Batman having come back to the big screen after so long:
Although seeing Keaton's Batman gliding and fighting like he never has before is very exciting, it's understandable if this new trailer generates confusion for some viewers when it comes to Pattinson's Batman and whether he's been replaced.
Keaton Is The Flash's Batman, But That Doesn't Mean He Is Replacing Pattinson
Thankfully, fans of Pattinson's Batman can rest easy knowing that he hasn't been replaced by Keaton's Caped Crusader. Instead, Matt Reeves' The Batman co-exists with the DCU as its own separate universe. Likewise, the return of Keaton's Batman is more than likely the result of Barry Allen racing through the multiverse which has somehow altered his universe and timeline.
This also explains why Ben Affleck's Batman is also seen in The Flash trailer, the primary Dark Knight Barry is most familiar with. As such, it's been confirmed that the Flash and his own variant from another world will be interacting with both versions of Batman at different points in the movie. While each Dark Knight will likely do their part to help the Flashes in their attempt to put things right, they'll also be living proof of how complex reality can become when one messes with time and the greater design of the multiverse.
Why Robert Pattinson Isn't In The Flash Movie
Pattinson's Batman could have appeared in The Flash due to Barry's ability to explore the multiverse through his connection to the Speed Force. However, DC Studios has determined to keep certain projects such as The Batman and its upcoming sequels separate from the greater interconnected DCU. Todd Phillips' Joker movie and Cartoon Network's Teen Titans Go! animated series are also a part of this category which will now be referred to as "Elseworlds", a label taken straight from the comics that also featured series set apart from the main universe as their own unique narratives.
It could have been very interesting had The Flash decided to throw a third Batman into the mix alongside Affleck and Keaton's respective versions of the Dark Knight. However, it's probably for the best that the trilogy Matt Reeves' is building around Pattinson's Batman is left alone. That way, the focus can be kept on Gotham and its more grounded crises rather than worrying about other heroes and superpowers that exist in a greater multiverse.
Who Will Be The DCU's Batman After The Flash Movie?
Following The Flash, it's already been confirmed that a new actor will be taking on the mantle of Batman for the upcoming DCU era under DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. As such, Batman: The Brave and the Bold is currently in development, a movie in which Bruce Wayne attempts to raise and train his biological son Damian as his new Robin. Likewise, Pattinson's Batman will simultaneously exist as the Dark Knight in his own isolated universe.
As far as Keaton and Affleck are concerned, The Flash will essentially be their big major appearances aside from possible Batman cameos in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. After that, it will be time to debut the DCU's brand-new Batman and his son Robin alongside other members of the established Bat Family from the comics.
