‘The Flash’ Toy Gives Clue to Michael Keaton’s Batman Return

Earlier this week, McFarlane Toys dropped their first looks at the really cool merchandise from the upcoming The Flash movie.

The description on the 12-inch Batman statue gave a key piece of intel that gives a major clue to Michael Keaton’s Batman return.

The following description comes via Toyark, and tells us that Michael Keaton has retired his Batman cowl. However, “given the global threat on the horizon, Bruce Wayne must decide whether he can become Batman once more.”

When Barry Allen arrives in an alternate 2013, he urgently seeks out the expertise of his friend and mentor Bruce Wayne – but the one he finds in the Multiverse is different on all fronts: older, long-retired from service as Gotham City’s protector and somehow even more hardened than the billionaire superhero Barry has grown to know. With a global threat on the horizon, Bruce Wayne must decide whether he can become Batman once more.

Keaton hasn’t been Batman for 31 years since last donning the cape for Batman Returns so it will be interesting to see if his muscle memory kicks in or if he has some sort Kingdom Come exoskeleton under the batman suit to help him move. Keaton’s Batman has to be in his 60s to 70s by the time Barry Allen arrives in 2013.

Many are excited to see Michael Keaton’s Batman back on the big screen after his portrayal of the DC Comics character in the 1989 Batman movie and its 1992 sequel Batman Returns. Keaton’s work as the character was widely praised and he remains a fan-favorite to this day.

The synopsis for the film previously hinted at Keaton’s Bruce Wayne being retired.

“Worlds collide in ‘The Flash’ when Barry Allen uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian… albeit not the one he’s looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barry’s only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?”

Who else is attached to the Flash movie?

Directed by Andy Muschietti from a script written by Birds of Prey scribe Christina Hodson, The Flash is inspired by the Flashpoint comic book storyline, which followed Barry Allen as he navigated an altered DC Universe. Written by Geoff Johns and penciled by Andy Kuber, Flashpoint radically altered the status of the DC Comics universe and led to the launch of the New 52 titles.

In addition to Ezra Miller, The Flash also features Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as two separate versions of Batman, Ron Livingston as Henry Allen, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Michael Shannon as General Zod, Antje Traue as Faora-Ul and Sasha Calle as Supergirl. Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Rudy Mancuso and Luke Brandon Field are also on board in undisclosed roles.

The Flash opens theatrically on June 16