The latest release date shift for a 10-year cinematic plan for DC being put together under the merged Warner Bros. Discovery, the DCEU is clearly heavily on the studio's mind. Numerous recent developments have also begun bringing Ben Affleck's Batman back into the mix, despite Affleck's purported retirement from the role.
The latest such change has been the rescheduling of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to December of 2023, with Affleck reportedly having filmed an appearance of some kind for the film in the summer of 2022. Before that, Affleck's Batman will be seen again in The Flash, in which Michael Keaton's Caped Crusader will also appear due to Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) transversing the Multiverse. While The Flash and Aquaman 2 have been returned to their originally intended release order, Affleck's presence in both movies suggests some significant behind-the-scenes changes.
Affleck's appearance in Aquaman 2 is said to be swapping out a cameo Keaton had originally made for Affleck's Bruce Wayne (probably not in Batman garb). With The Flash seemingly staying put at its June 23, 2023 release date and Aquaman 2 releasing and presumably taking place after it, Affleck's Bruce Wayne will be seen again in the latter in what will seemingly be a business-as-usual situation. Considering that Affleck once stated that The Flash "put a nice finish" on his time as Batman, him having another DCEU appearance after it might indicate that Affleck could be coming out of Batman retirement.
Could Affleck's Roles In The Flash & Aquaman 2 Suggest His Batman Is Coming Back?
For a while, Michael Keaton's Batman was believed to be the DCEU's future Dark Knight, and Affleck replacing Keaton in Aquaman 2 was initially said to have been due to test audience confusion, The Flash releasing after Aquaman 2 at the time and Keaton's appearance therefore having little to no context. With the Scarlet Speedster's movie changed to be the first one up, that re-contextualizes Affleck's roles in both (the two having also made Affleck's Batman record likely insurmountable.) Not only is Affleck's appearance in Aquaman 2 very likely not meant to set up anything in The Flash due to their release order, it also effectively makes him the DCEU's status quo Batman as of Aquaman 2's timeframe.
The DCEU's plans post-Aquaman 2 plans remain unannounced, Matt Reeves's Affleck proceeding with his scripted Batman movie, appearing in a World's Finest film with Henry Cavill's Superman, or some other significant return are scenarios with renewed plausibility.
Affleck's fickle Batman status over the past few years should still be taken into consideration before getting too carried away with his future as the Caped Crusader. Even so, The Flash and Aquaman 2 releasing in that order with Affleck could be a big sign. Seemingly still watching over Gotham City by the end of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Ben Affleck's Batman just might be preparing to don the cowl again.
