Batfleck is coming back for another instalment of the DC Extended Universe, as confirmed by Jason Momoa, who also stars in the sequel. By the time The Flash is released, he will have the record for the most big screen appearances of Batman ever.
It would appear that one Bruce Wayne was not sufficient. Overnight, Jason Momoa, who plays the title character in Aquaman 2, posted on Instagram to announce that Ben Affleck will be returning to the role of Batman in the next D.C. sequel. Affleck will be resuming his role for the first time since Justice League (and the Snyder Cut, if you count it as a separate title).
“REUNITED bruce and arthur,” Momoa said on Instagram beside a photo of himself and Affleck taken backstage during the filming of Aquaman 2. Love you and think of you often, Ben WB studio trips I have just finished exploring the backlot. he continued, “busted on set all wonderful things coming AQUAMAN 2 all my aloha j.”
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The news that Affleck will be back in the role of Batman means that there will be not two, but three Batmen appearing on screen at the same time. Michael Keaton is scheduled to reprise his role as Batman for the first time since Batman Returns in the upcoming film Batgirl, and Robert Pattinson has been confirmed for a sequel to Matt Reeves’ appropriately titled box office smash The Batman. Affleck’s return brings the total number of Batman appearances to three.
Both Keaton and Affleck have previously committed to appearing in The Flash, which is anticipated to bring the same kind of multiverse antics that are now being enjoyed by the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the films that are being produced by DC. Even if Pattinson’s Batman is set in a universe separate from the D.C. Extended Universe, that hasn’t stopped the Marvel Cinematic Universe from expanding its roster of Spider-Men. Now all that’s missing is Keanu for the quartet to be complete.
The news comes three years after Affleck made the announcement that he was retiring from his role as Batman. At the time, he stated that he will hang up the cape and cowl after the release of The Flash. However, like a flying Batarang, the Batfleck has made a complete about-face and is reportedly agreeing to star in additional films produced by DC.
Affleck’s involvement with the DC stable has been rocky since the actor initially distanced himself from the group in the wake of the release of Justice League. “I had a really nadir experience around Justice League for a number of different reasons,” he said Matt Damon in an interview for Entertainment Weekly. “I had a really nadir experience around Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Batfleck will be able to brag about having the most appearances on the silver screen of any actor thanks to the fact that his role in Aquaman 2 appears to have been confirmed. Now all we need is a J. Lo version of Catwoman.