The inclusion of Michael Keaton's Batman in The Flash may very well fix a long-term problem of the Batman film franchise. In an unexpected twist, the 1989 version of Batman has been revealed to be included in the multiverse shenanigans that will take place in The Flash, allowing for a look into an older version of the character.
While this decision may have seemed surprising to many, as the brutal beatdowns Batman has faced at the likes of Bane would not be kind to the 69-year-old Michael Keaton, many versions of the character show his vigilante antics at a similar age. While the most iconic of these has to be Batman Beyond, wherein Terry McGinnis takes over the hero mantle and is guided by an older Bruce, the comics also feature their fair share of what the Dark Knight's future could look like. However, many of these versions are at odds with the various film installments of late, as they reveal aspects of the character not often featured or properly focused on in the movies.
Despite his reputation as a staunch fighter of crime who would rather die than crack a smile, the comic version of Batman isn't a permanently isolated and unfeeling loner - as much as he'd maybe like to be. He's a man who is the adopted father to a hoard of individuals, and who is shown to still care about the wellbeing of those he puts behind bars. It's evident in Harvey Dent well after he becomes Two-Face, but some of the finer details the comics provide - like his continuous visits to his incarcerated friends as Bruce, or tiny details like him leaving Solomon Grundy a Thanksgiving meal - are absent, removing an element of the figure that is important. By showing an older version of Batman who is likely more focused on his role as a mentor, friend, and role model, the DCEU can touch on a detail often left out of Batman films, and potentially use this as a cornerstone for further iterations of the character in the future.
No version of Batman portrays the man as a demon, but they do often neglect the fact that he's also a figure who would want a well-prepared successor in his stead in case of his death or disappearance. Certain films flirt with this concept - The Dark Knight Rises suggests John Blake takes up the role - but the actual caring mentor aspect is often kicked to the wayside in lieu of a romance or further action scene.
Many successful Batman films have still ranged from fun to extraordinary with this formula, so it's not a proven science that adding a Robin (or three) into the mix would immediately create a better film. But the epic action scenes and perpetual hero angst work best with something to counteract it, and the best choice for this contrast would be scenes showing Bruce's comion, and how he uses it in ways that don't always involve throwing batarangs at people.
