Michael Keaton Isn’t Sorry Batgirl Was Cancelled

Michael Keaton Isn't Sorry Batgirl Was Cancelled

As a seasoned cinephile with decades of movie-watching under my belt, I can’t help but reflect on Michael Keaton‘s journey as Batman and his lost return in the shelved Leslie Grace-led Batgirl movie.


Michael Keaton, who played Batman in the aborted Leslie Grace-led Batgirl film, has shared his thoughts on the project’s cancellation. Though fans were deeply disheartened by the movie’s shelving, Keaton appears to have moved past it, but expresses sympathy for the film’s creative team.

Michael Keaton could have returned as Batman in “The Flash,” but for several months before its premiere, many fans speculated that the original screen version of Batman would become a permanent member of the DCEU. Besides his role in “The Flash,” it was initially planned for Keaton to appear in the canceled “Batgirl” film, and there were whispers that he might get another standalone movie featuring an older Bruce Wayne and his crime-fighting persona. However, behind-the-scenes changes at Warner Bros. Discovery dashed these hopes when the project was abandoned in favor of a tax deduction.

During a recent conversation with GQ, Keaton was inquired about the cancellation of Batgirl and if he felt disappointed for missing another opportunity to portray Batman on screen. However, the iconic Beetlejuice Beetlejuice actor appears unphased by the situation. He casually mentioned:

“Nope, it didn’t matter much to me either way. Their project seems great, enjoyable, and promising. I really like those directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. They seem genuinely nice people. I wish them all the best, and I believe they were quite upset, which in turn made me feel sad. As for me, I’m doing just fine.”

Would Michael Keaton’s Long Term Batman Return Have Been a Mistake?

Michael Keaton Isn't Sorry Batgirl Was CancelledMichael Keaton Isn't Sorry Batgirl Was CancelledMichael Keaton Isn't Sorry Batgirl Was Cancelled

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the excitement surrounding the comeback of iconic characters on the big screen. However, not every comeback has been a box office triumph. There have been instances where a character as iconic as Wolverine shone brightly, but others like Willow didn’t quite hit the mark. The return of Michael Keaton as Batman was indeed delightful, yet it wasn’t enough to save The Flash from joining the ranks of disappointing DC films.

2023 saw The Flash, burdened by Ezra Miller’s tumultuous personal life and the upcoming transformation of the DCEU under James Gunn and Peter Safran, join a list of significant box office letdowns. What added to the disappointment was the initial acclaim that labeled it one of the finest superhero films ever made. However, upon its release, it failed to resonate with audiences as expected, leaving the future of both Miller and Keaton in the franchise uncertain.

If Batgirl had been successful and The Flash became a smash hit, we might have seen Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman in a standalone film, potentially resulting in an amazing movie experience. However, there’s always the possibility that it could have turned into another overly sentimental reminiscence of the past that quickly lost its luster. Fortunately, since this scenario didn’t play out, we are spared from finding out.

The Flash
is available to stream on Max.
Batgirl
, is not.

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2024-08-19 22:01