It seems that while fans may not be getting Michael Keaton’s Batman return in Batgirl, the directors of the scrapped movie do have a lasting memory from the film. Keaton was set to make one of three planned appearances as Batman in Batgirl, and showing his appreciation of director Adil El Arbi, who co-directed the movie with Billal Fallah, the actor gifted a signed copy of the Batman Returns movie book, which was personalized with the message, “To Adil, Thanks, had fun.” Below is an image of the copy, per Screen Rant.
Batgirl’s future looked quite bright until last week when everything came crashing down in quite spectacular fashion. While fans struggled to believe that the movie has just been dropped by Warner Bros. Discovery after being so close to completion, several other directors, such as James Gunn and Marvel producer Kevin Feige, reached out to El Arbi and Fallah to show them support in the wake of the news. As the duo appeared to have found out about the movie’s fate around the same time as everyone else, it was support that was very much appreciated, as was the gesture by Keaton.
Michael Keaton’s gesture may well be a simple one, but considering the issues that have gone down around Batgirl, it also shows a certain level of mutual admiration between the actor and the directors. While there were plenty of reports speculating on the quality of the movie, Keaton appears to have had a blast filming it and El Arbi and Fallah have said on many occasions what an honor it was to have worked with who they referred to as the “OG Batman.”
Batgirl Details Have Emerged Since The Cancelation
Following the official word that Batgirl was categorically canceled, several behind-the-scenes clips, images and details began to appear on social media from those involved in the production. Those details included a breakdown of Michael Keaton’s Batman appearances, which appear to have been a series of short, almost cameo moments, shots of some of the stunt scenes carried out during production and stories from the stars and directors. While all of this has been nice for fans to see and hear, it has been a little bittersweet considering it is a great bit of what-might-have-been for those who were looking forward to the movie.
Where the cancelation of Batgirl leaves the future appearances by Michael Keaton in the DCEU is not yet clear. Comic book veteran is still set to appear in The Flash, but a reported cameo appearance in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is said to have also been scrapped in favor of Ben Affleck reprising his Batman role instead. Affleck is also starring in The Flash, with rumors that the film will be the end of his Batman in the franchise. How all of this actually pans out and connects with the new DCEU plan that Warner Bros. Discovery seems to be creating is something that fans can only watch with something of a nervous anticipation.