Recent rumors have suggested that George Clooney's Batman will cameo in The Flash before going on to be the main Batman in the new DCU. However, DC Films co-CEO James Gunn has shot down these rumors, saying they're false.The Flash will center on alternate timelines and the multiverse. It's long been known that the film would feature various cameos and introduce new characters into the DCEU. When Gunn and Peter Safran came on board, the film underwent some changes, and it was uncertain who would make the final cut. Fans already knew Michael Keaton's Batman was in the film, and they saw their first glimpse of him in The Flash Super Bowl trailer.On Twitter (where Gunn frequently interacts with fans), Gunn was asked about the rumor that he intended to bring Clooney on for a cameo in The Flash before making him the main Batman in the DCU. Gunn responded with a matter-of-fact, "Absolutely not." Gunn was then asked if the Batman in the DCU would be a new or returning actor, to which Gunn responded, "New actor."
Gunn had previously announced a new Batman movie as part of his Chapter One DCU slate. That film will be titled The Brave and the Bold and centers on Batman and Robin (a first for the character since 1997's Batman and Robin, in which Clooney starred). The film will also reportedly be inspired by Grant Morrison's Batman run, which introduced Bruce Wayne's son, Damian Wayne (and his new Robin).
However, fans of The Batman don't have to worry. Matt Reeves' Batman trilogy will continue to exist outside of Gunn's DC slate. Now labeled under the "Elseworlds" tag, Robert Pattinson's Batman will stay in a separate universe all on his own. That means there will probably be two Batmen in the DC multiverse, but Pattinson's Batman won't interact with any other Batman outside of any multiversal team-ups.
Keaton's return as Batman isn't unique to The Flash. Keaton was set to return as the character in DC's Batgirl. However, according to Safran, Batgirl was cancelled after being deemed hurtful to the brand. Keaton's return makes Clooney's comeback superfluous. Not only is Clooney's Batman and Robin infamous for its quality, but Clooney also seems to regret the role. Having Keaton back is enough nostalgia, which the DCU should try not to lean too heavily into. It would also be more than a little ironic for the new DCU to be set in the same universe as Batman and Robin - it would be joke fodder for years to come.
The Flash is scheduled to be released in theaters on June 16, 2023.
Source: James Gunn/Twitter