After The Flash, Michael Keaton "Gets" Batman On Another Level Now

In a thoroughly enjoyable new profile on Michael Keaton in The Hollywood Reporter, the actor shares his thoughts on the dawn and rise of the superhero film genre. Keaton will be reprising the role of Batman he originated in the 1989 Tim Burton film for the upcoming movie The Flash--according to this THR piece, he "just finished shooting" that performance.

Since the OG Batman movie, Keaton says he's been "stunned" by the genre's explosion both in print and on screen. While he recently proudly has self-appointed himself the best Batman of all time (who would argue?), he made a point in this profile to share credit with Burton: "What Tim did changed everything… Everything you see now started with him. If you really think about what happened between 1989 and now, on a cultural, corporate, economic level, it's unbelievable."

Still, he admits he is not and has never been a comics fan--though is "awed by the phenomenon." Keaton said, "after the first Batman, I'm not sure I've ever seen an entire [comic book] movie… I just never got around to it." Elsewhere in the profile, Keaton admits he doesn't understand the MCU.

However, Keaton clarified that he's not dismissive of the genre. It's just something he missed his point of entry with. Nevertheless, he said his time on The Flash as Batman was eye-opening: "What's really interesting is how much more I got [Batman] when I went back and did him. I get this on a whole other level now. I totally respect it… This is a big deal in the world to people. You’ve got to honor that and be respectful of that. Even I go, 'Jesus, this is huge.'"

The Flash is currently scheduled to hit theaters on November 4, 2022.