Jeffrey Dean Morgan acknowledges the obvious: Warners Media sidestepped him for Michael Keaton’s return as Batman.
The Walking Dead actor, who had a cameo as Dr. Thomas Wayne in the opening of Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, believed it would be a no-brainer he would be back as Batman for Andres Muschietti’s The Flash. Given the plot is inspired by Geoff Johns Flashpoint miniseries, fans were eager to see Morgan as the alternate, more lethal Dark Knight.
In the original story, Barry Allen decides to go back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. By doing so, however, he inadvertedly alters the timeline due to his inexperience at altering history. The result is a modern day where his mother is alive, as he intended. But Barry is no longer The Flash and no longer married to Iris, and that’s just the start. Nations are at the mercy of a war between Amazons and Atlanteans, Superman never landed in Kansas and is a US government experiment instead, and villains are suddenly heroes. Abin Sur is even still The Green Lantern of Sector 2814 instead of his successor, Hal Jordan.
Click below to watch the teaser trailer.
In the case of Batman, Bruce Wayne dies in Crime Alley instead of his parents. Thomas Wayne abandons his practice and becomes a brutal version of his son’s alter-ego, while his wife Martha tragically descends into madness as The Joker. Referred to as “Flashpoint Batman,” Wayne was integral in helping Allen realize his mistake and reset the timeline. Writer Tom King later took hold of that character as his surprise antagonist in his two-year long run on Batman.
When word got out that The Scarlet Speedster’s first solo movie would be inspired by Flashpoint, Morgan’s involvement seemed a no-brainer. However, given that Warner Media is so intent on sweeping the Snyder-verse under the rug, they gambled on nostalgia and brought Michael Keaton’s 1989 Batman back instead. “Michael Keaton swooped in and stole my gig, ” Morgan jokingly said in a recent interview. “[Nah], I think it’s super cool. [Ever] since Zack Snyder walked away, my whole kind of bit in that world has walked away with him. However, there’s always a chat going on. So we’ll see!”
What Morgan is referring to is the recent fan interest in Zack Snyder’s vision of the DCEU seen in Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Besides The Flash, the remaining film franchises that share continuity are Shazam!, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman.
Directed by Muschietti, The Flash brings back Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, Kiesha Clemons as Iris West, and Ben Affleck as Batman, the latter in the opening scenes, and Sasha Calle debuts as Supergirl.
Click below to watch the teaser trailer.
“Official Source – Jeffrey Dean Morgan Says Michael Keaton ‘Took’ His Batman Gig (thewrap.com)
