Kevin Smith Wants Christian Bale’s Batman to Return in The Flash Movie
With Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck already set to play Batman in The Flash, Kevin Smith believes the DCEU film should bring back Christian Bale too.Kevin Smith has his dream scenario for 2022's The Flash: Christian Bale returns alongside the movie's other Batman actors. After years of delays and creative changes, it looks like the DCEU's solo Flash movie is finally just around the corner. Set to premiere in November 2022, the Andy Muschietti-directed film will see the return of Ezra Miller as speedster Barry Allen in his own version of the Flashpoint storyline from the comics. That arc sees Barry run back in time to save his mother from being killed. While he's successful on that front, he also inadvertently unleashes a slew of multiversal consequences.
Kevin Smith has his dream scenario for 2022’s The Flash: Christian Bale returns alongside the movie’s other Batman actors. After years of delays and creative changes, it looks like the DCEU’s solo Flash movie is finally just around the corner. Set to premiere in November 2022, the Andy Muschietti-directed film will see the return of Ezra Miller as speedster Barry Allen in his own version of the Flashpoint storyline from the comics. That arc sees Barry run back in time to save his mother from being killed. While he’s successful on that front, he also inadvertently unleashes a slew of multiversal consequences.
For The Flash, that means realities will be colliding. Not unlike the recent blockbuster hit Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Flash will see movie continuities crossing over in the wake of Barry’s actions. Not only will it feature the DCEU’s Batman (Ben Affleck), but it will also bring back Michael Keaton’s version of the character for the first time since Batman Returns. Whether these two Batmen will actually share the screen in The Flash remains to be seen, but fans are certainly hoping so.
In the case of fan favorite filmmaker Kevin Smith, he’s also hoping another Batman turns up in The Flash. On the most recent episode of his show Fatman Beyond (via ComicBook.com), Smith shared his excitement for The Flash and Keaton’s return, stating the moment will “bring tears to my eyes.” At the same time, he was quick to share his hopes for Christian Bale putting in a Batman cameo as well, which could turn The Flash into the DCEU’s No Way Home. Smith said:
“If they want to do a No Way Home, though, they better bring in Christian Bale as well, though. If I’m them, I’m backing a money truck up to Christian Bale’s just begging to get him for two minutes so we can have our own No Way Home.”
As has been well-documented by now, Spider-Man: No Way Home features its own multiversal premise that allows for past onscreen villains like Doc Ock (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) to appear alongside Tom Holland’s web-slinger. Additionally, (spoilers ahead) the movie features Holland’s Peter Parker predecessors, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. In the case of The Flash, uniting Affleck, Keaton, and Bale would create a similar effect for the DCEU, albeit with the Dark Knight himself.
Right now, plot details for The Flash are still being kept under wraps, so it isn’t even clear how Keaton’s Batman appears in the DCEU. With so little known about what the movie has in store, there’s no reason why Bale can’t play his Batman again too. If Muschietti did end up bringing him back, though, one might hope that twist is kept a secret until The Flash premieres. A vast majority of No Way Home’s returns were revealed ahead of time, and while that still made for some thrilling moments in the theater, it would’ve been much more exciting to not know anything. Affleck and Keaton are already set for The Flash, and if Bale is to return as well, let that be an amazing surprise for audiences.
