Warning: this article contains major spoilers for The Flash
The Flash showcased more than the scarlet speedster in this superhero blockbuster. It showed homage to the DC franchise by showcasing different versions of our favorite heroes. Most notably, Michael Keaton‘s Batman, who aided the two Barrys during the film.
But what happened to all the Batmen that appeared in this film? While it’s common knowledge that Ben Affleck has no plans to take part in James Gunn’s DCU, it doesn’t mean that he dies during his final DC appearance. So in case you need a refresher, here is what happened to all the Batmen that appeared in The Flash.
What happened to Michael Keaton’s Batman?
Michael Keaton’s Batman has a major supporting role throughout The Flash since he’s the only superhero Barry Allen could find in this alternate universe. This version of Batman was first introduced as a retired crime fighter who only wants to cook in his empty mansion but has a change of heart after the original Barry spoke to him through surveillance cameras. From there, he helped the two Barrys save Supergirl and led the team to help fight Zod and his army from terraforming the Earth.
Unfortunately, Keaton’s Batman is unable to see the light of day, regardless of the multiple attempts that either Barry made to undo their mistakes. During the first attempt, Batman was unable to eject from his ship, which led him to sacrifice himself in an attempt to hit one of Zod’s ships. During the second attempt, Batman was able to free himself from his ship but was killed by one of Zod’s soldiers.
What happened to Ben Affleck’s Batman?
Ben Affleck’s Batman faced a different fate compared to his alternate universe counterpart. He first appeared at the start of the film, where he, Barry, and later, Wonder Woman teamed up to save Gotham City. After Barry learns that he could go back in time, he told Bruce about it, who later tries to discourage the young Scarlet Speedster from attempting to save his mother.
While Affleck’s Bruce Wayne doesn’t die, he does disappear from existence due to the butterfly effect. Barry’s attempt to undo his mistake may have been enough to make sure that his universe lives to see another day. However, he did make tiny changes to prove his father’s innocence. This was probably enough to wipe Affleck’s Batman from existence and replace it with George Clooney’s Bruce Wayne.