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Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah gave Insider the first official confirmation that Michael Keaton is in “Batgirl.”
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However, they don’t know if it will mark Keaton’s return or if “The Flash” will beat them to it.
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“We don’t know when ‘Batgirl’ is coming out,” El Arbi said.
Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah confirmed to Insider on Wednesday that their upcoming “Batgirl” movie for HBO Max will feature Michael Keaton as Batman.
“Can we say anything?” El Arbi asked his longtime filmmaking partner.
“Fuck yes,” Fallah responded. “The O.G. Batman is in the movie.”
Keaton became the first actor to play the iconic DC Comics superhero on the big screen when he starred in Tim Burton’s “Batman” in 1989. He returned to play the character in the sequel, 1992’s “Batman Returns.”
In April 2021, close to 30 years after Keaton hung up the cape, The Wrap reported that Keaton would return to the role for “The Flash,” the standalone movie about the speedster superhero played by Ezra Miller.
At the end of 2021, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Keaton would also play the Caped Crusader in “Batgirl.” But El Arbi and Fallah’s interview with Insider marks the first official confirmation that the actor will be in the movie.
Now the only question left is which movie will unveil Keaton’s return first: “The Flash” or “Batgirl.”
El Arbi and Fallah, known best for directing the 2020 hit “Bad Boys for Life,” admit they don’t even know.
When asked if they have had to do any reshoots of Keaton as Batman for their movie — “The Flash” has changed release dates several times and it’s possible “Batgirl” might be audiences’ first look at Keaton’s return to the role — the directors said “Batgirl” still does not have a release date.
“We don’t know when ‘Batgirl’ is coming out,” said El Arbi, who, along with Fallah, spoke to Insider while promoting “Ms. Marvel.” The filmmaking duo executive produced and directed several episodes of the Disney+ series, which hits the streamer on June 8.
“No one told us nothing about tweaks, just to carry on,” El Arbi continued.
“Batgirl” wrapped filming earlier this year and had been slated for release sometime in 2022. “The Flash,” which has had its release date moved several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, currently has a release date of June 23, 2023.
“Batgirl” stars “In the Heights” actor Leslie Grace in the lead role, playing a Gotham City vigilante who is also the daughter of Commissioner Gordon (J.K. Simmons). Brendan Fraser will appear as the villain Firefly.
Read the original article on Insider
