Bat-fans were very excited to hear the news that both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton were set to reprise their respective takes on Batman for The Flash's first solo DCEU outing, but it sounds like the Spider-Man: Homecoming star's return as the Caped Crusader is not set in stone.
Despite a recent report claiming that Keaton had now officially signed on, the actor has indicated that he hasn't fully committed to the film during an interview with Deadline.
Keaton says he has yet to read the final draft of the script, and is currently very busy with other projects.
"I mean, you know, to tell you the truth, somewhere on my iPad is an iteration of the whole Flash thing that I haven’t had time yet," he admits. "I called them and said, I have to be honest with you. I can’t look at anything right now. I’m so deep into this thing I’m doing. Also, I’m prepping a thing I’m producing and getting ready to do down the road in the fall that I’ll be in, and I feel responsible to that. So, yeah, there is that. I’m not being cute or coy. If I talked about it, I’ll be just bullshitting you. I don’t really know. I have to look at the last draft..."
The Batman '89 star also revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic is still a major concern for him, and may ultimately determine whether he decides to take up the cape and cowl again.
"I keep my eye more on the Covid situation in the UK than anything. That will determine everything, and so that’s why I’m living outside the city here on 17 acres, staying away from everybody, because the Covid thing has got me really concerned. So, that’s my first thing about all projects. I look at it and go, is this thing going to kill me, literally? And you know, if it doesn’t, then we talk."
Let's hope director Andy Muschietti and co. are able to ease Keaton's mind and convince him that The Flash set will be a safe working environment!
Christina Hodson wrote the The Flash's script. Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco are producing, with Marianne Jenkins on board as executive producer.
Plot details are still under wraps, but the story is expected to be at least partially influenced by the Flashpoint comic book arc. We recently found out that the movie would also introduce Sasha Calle as the DCEU's new Supergirl.
Warner Bros.' first solo outing for the Fastest Man Alive is scheduled to begin production in London later this month.