Batman Shakeup: Keaton’s Role Died, Affleck Lives!
The DC universe hit a snag when HBO Max pulled the plug on Batgirl, and the ripple effect was felt all the way inside Warner Bros. A recent Hollywood Reporter story reveals that the plan was to bring back Michael Keaton as Batman in a little more than a reboot. He was supposed to anchor the B ATP stories in The Flash and the next Aquaman movie.
What Went Wrong?
Sources say Keaton actually shot scenes for Aquaman (the film The Lost Kingdom) but the test audiences were puzzled. Think of a little Old Man Batman popping up in a story that feels more like a Young Adult episode—everyone’s brand of Batman lore left them scratching their heads.
- Test audiences said: “What’s Keaton doing in this universe?”
- Keaton was meant to be the “elder statesman” with Nick Fury vibes.
- Production had to cut the scenes and re‑shoot with the new Batman.
Enter Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck’s version of the Caped Crusader stepped in, after Jason Momoa made the announcement on Instagram that he’d found his co‑star. Why the switch? The official reason hasn’t floated yet, but the timing might have helped: the original film’s release slot was to lie after The Flash, which could have brought in a time‑travel plot hook—something that’s hard to fold into a story with an older Batman.
Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom Now on Track
The upcoming Aquaman movie, The Lost Kingdom, now officially stars Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul‑Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman. The script by David Leslie Johnson‑McGoldrick and Momoa, directed by James Wan, is slated for a March 17 launch.
In short, the once brilliant plan to sprinkle Michael Keaton’s Batman around the DCEU turned into a neat comic book analogy: “Old man Batman too confusing. We call the new guy!” The world may have lost a cameo, but at least it got a fresh, iconic twist.
