Keaton’s Batman Return Complicates The DCEU’s Joker & Harley

Michael Keaton’s Batman return is incredibly exciting, but also complicates the DCEU’s interpretations of Joker (Jared Leto) and Harley (Margot Robbie). It’s been 30 years since Keaton last donned the cape and cowl, with marketing for The Flash largely revolving around its dual depictions of Batman. It looks increasingly likely that Keaton will replace Ben Affleck as the DCEU’s Batman, which could have huge ramifications on the Dark Knight’s villains.

Starring in Tim Burton’s Batman 1989 and Batman Returns, Keaton delivered an iconic portrayal of the Caped Crusader, balancing Batman’s intensity with the haunted and eccentric persona of Bruce Wayne. However, the possibility of merging Burton’s Gothic, noir-inspired Gotham City with the DCEU creates numerous problems the movies will have to answer, such as which villains will remain canon. The DCEU hasn’t yet explored Batman’s connection to most of his rogues’ gallery, allowing for some retcons with relative ease. The same cannot be said for Joker and Harley.

Keaton’s Batman casting in Batgirl and set photos teasing his Robin strengthen the theory The Flash will reboot the DCEU. If the existing world is combined with Burton’s universe, this threatens to retcon Joker and Harley’s DCEU story. Keaton’s Joker (Jack Nicholson) is long-dead and erasing Leto would leave the DCEU without a Clown Prince of Crime. Further, the homicidal jester’s absence would throw Harley’s entire empowerment arc in doubt, potentially undoing events from previous films.

Affleck’s brutal Batman was controversial, but Keaton’s Batman also killed criminals and seemed fully prepared to murder Joker in Batman 1989. Assuming the Burtonverse does merge with the DCEU, this could retcon Leto’s Joker in favor of Nicholson, despite the latter’s fatal fall from Gotham cathedral. This would overcomplicate the DCEU’s already confusing Joker status. He is Batman’s greatest nemesis, and possibly exploring Nicholson’s legacy doesn’t have the same impact as including a living Joker moving forward. It would be difficult to justify making both Jokers canon, and this threatens Leto’s position as the DCEU’s true Joker, further harming his divisive portrayal. Keaton’s Batman return also risks retconning Joker and Harley’s abusive relationship. Her origin is intrinsically tied to Joker, but Nicholson’s version died shortly before Harley’s birth in 1990, removing this vital connection.

Harley’s DCEU story has been about empowerment, spanning two Suicide Squad movies and her offscreen breakup with Joker in Birds of Prey. If the Burtonverse combines with the DCEU, this could drastically change Harley, as she would never meet and be manipulated by Joker in Arkham. Leto’s Joker is arguably the only version who could work with Harley, and it’s very unlikely Warner Bros. would want to lose Margot Robbie from the DCEU. Of course, Keaton’s Batman return may limit DCEU retcons to characters most closely associated with Bruce Wayne. This could mean Alfred (Jeremy Irons) is erased from canon but Batman’s villains remain largely intact. Theoretically, Keaton’s Robin in Batgirl could continue Affleck’s backstory, having still been killed by Leto’s Joker. The timeline is complicated by an older Batman, but not impossible due to the estimated age of the DCEU’s controversial but redeemed Joker.

Whether Keaton’s Robin is alive or dead, retaining Joker and Harley’s backstory would be a somewhat confusing but potentially compelling angle to explore. Each would have a different dynamic with the considerably older Batman, and a readjusted timeline could always retcon Leto’s most controversial Joker characteristics – his tattoos and metal teeth. Harley’s emotional growth would remain intact, and Leto and Keaton’s age difference creates the potential for a storyline inspired by Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. This would have been impossible in the Burtonverse. It remains to be seen if any characters might become aware of the Batman change, but Leto’s Joker would surely display a fascinating reaction to Michael Keaton’s Batman replacing Affleck, with the pair struggling to understand their new relationship.

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