Michael Keaton to reprise Batman role in new film

Michael Keaton famously once said, “I’m Batman.”

Well, he’ll be Batman again in a new movie that has already begun shooting.

The Wrap reports ICM Partners, Keaton’s talent agency, has confirmed the Pittsburgh native will don the black suit in “The Flash,” which launched its production Monday in London with Ezra Miller in the lead role.

It was reported last year that Keaton was set for the film, only to have the “Birdman” star cast doubt back in March.

“To be honest with you, you know what worries me more than anything about all this stuff? It’s covid,” Keaton told Deadline. “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.”

It seems his fears have been assuaged.

But just how will Keaton as Batman work in a movie that also is reported to include Ben Affleck as the Caped Crusader?

Entertainment Weekly explains: “’The Flash’ takes inspiration from the Flashpoint arc from DC Comics, which sees the Scarlet Speedster running so fast using the speed force that he actually teleports to different parallel realities. It’s a concept teased in Snyder’s ‘Batman v Superman’ and the recently released Snyder cut of ‘Justice League’ on HBO Max. That explains the multiple Batmen.”

Keaton’s Batman has appeared in the 1989 Tim Burton film as well as the 1992 sequel “Batman Returns.” The Wrap reports the new film will toss out the pair of films that followed and pick up with what Keaton’s Batman has been doing since then.

“The Flash” has a release date of Nov. 4, 2022.