'Bizarre Final Cameo in The Flash: Let's Talk About It'

"The Flash" movie features multiple versions of Batman, including George Clooney's return, thanks to time-travel meddling. Spoilers ahead!

The Flash, a highly anticipated film, brings back Michael Keaton as Batman after more than 30 years. While Ben Affleck has been portraying the Dark Knight in the current DC cinematic universe, he only appears briefly in The Flash for an action scene and some advice. However, when Barry Allen (played by Ezra Miller) travels back in time to change a painful event from his past, the entire continuity of the DC universe is altered, leading to the emergence of various familiar but unexpected cameos.

These cameos include characters from different comic-book universes that could have existed or have been forgotten, such as Adam West's Batman, Helen Slater's Supergirl, and multiple versions of Superman. By the end of the movie, the original DC continuity is restored, but there is one surprising exception: George Clooney's Batman makes a comeback.

In the final scene before the credits, Barry talks to Bruce Wayne (played by Clooney), who is about to meet him outside the courthouse where Barry's father has just been acquitted of his mother's murder. This raises a question: Did Batman & Robin, which featured Clooney as Batman, take place in the same universe as the Tim Burton films? The answer is both yes and no. Barry's time-traveling actions seem to have erased Affleck's Batman from existence, replacing him with Clooney's suave version of the character. Despite Barry's shock, Clooney's Batman appears to be familiar with him.

To understand the continuity, we need to delve into the history of the Batman films. Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin are indeed sequels to Tim Burton's Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). These films reference events from the Burton films and feature actors like Michael Gough as Alfred and Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, connecting them all. At the time, audiences were generally accepting of recasting and continuity breaks. Joel Schumacher's Gotham had a different tone from Burton's gothic vision but was still considered the same city. The Bond movies also followed a similar episodic format, where the order of events didn't matter much.

However, in recent years, Marvel has popularized the concept of a seamless cinematic universe with interconnected storylines. The CW's superhero shows, including The Flash, Supergirl, and Arrow, have also adopted this approach, treating past and present DC properties as unique but interconnected universes. The CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths event brought back actors from older DC adaptations, such as John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen from the 1990 Flash series and Burt Ward as Robin from the 1960s Batman show. Even Ezra Miller made a cameo alongside Grant Gustin's TV version of The Flash, solidifying the idea of a vast multiverse.

With ties to every DC property that came before it, The Flash movie can easily introduce different actors playing Batman as distinct characters. It also allows for nostalgic moments and revisiting films that were not well-received initially. George Clooney's appearance in The Flash demonstrates how audaciously these parts can be rewritten and recast.

As for the future of Batman, director Andy Muschietti has been confirmed for an upcoming Batman film titled The Brave and the Bold, but the actor playing Batman in that film is yet to be announced. The Flash's open ending leaves room for potential changes in the DC universe, with characters like Wonder Woman and Harley Quinn potentially appearing alongside new versions of Batman and Superman.

Although Ben Affleck's Batman has been temporarily erased from the current continuity, it serves as a farewell to the existing DC Extended Universe. It has been a memorable journey for Batfleck, from his intense portrayal in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to his lighter moments in Justice League. However, with the multiverse concept introduced in The Flash, there are endless possibilities for the future of the DC universe and its characters.