The DC Extended Universe is finally living up to its name by firmly embracing the concept of a Multiverse to tell all manner of stories free of continuity and crossovers. While it's a shame the DCEU was unable to tell one overarching story as successfully as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Batman drives home just how much potential standalone franchises can have.
While Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton look set to share the role in The Flash, Robert Pattinson will play the Dark Knight in a world that isn't beholden to what we've seen in movies like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. However, that doesn't mean Bruce Wayne is his world's only hero.
In a new tie-in book, Before The Batman: An Orginal Movie Novel, a character called Dex references both LexCorp and Metropolis. "My dad and I need to get away," Dex says at one point. "Maybe Metropolis. I hear LexCorp Race Team is taking on new mechanics."
There's every chance this was just a throwaway Easter Egg included by the book's author and not something that will have meaningful ramifications for The Batman and beyond. However, this story is seemingly "canon," and the fact that both Metropolis and LexCorp (and presumably its villainous CEO, Lex Luthor) exist could mean we get a Superman story set in this world somewhere down the line.
Although after Zack Snyder's DC movies explored Batman's relationship with Lex, we're not anticipating those two crossing paths on screen again for the foreseeable future!
Check out our interview with Jesse Eisenberg below for the latest on his Lex Luthor future:
The Batman is set to be released in theaters on March 4.