Last year, it was announced that Ben Affleck would be returning as Batman in James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. This was surprising news considering Affleck had previously stated that he was done playing the character. However, after numerous scheduling changes, it has now been revealed that Batman has been cut from the film entirely.
The decision to cut Batman from Aquaman 2 is less surprising for those who have seen The Flash. In The Flash, Michael Keaton returns to the Batman role, which creates a continuity issue. After Barry Allen messes with the universe’s continuity, Ben Affleck’s Batman is no longer a part of that world. Therefore, it would be difficult for him to return as Batman in Aquaman 2.
Initially, the Batman cameo in Aquaman 2 was supposed to feature Michael Keaton. However, when the release schedule changed, Affleck was brought in to reshoot the cameo. Ultimately, the decision was made by new DC heads James Gunn and Peter Safran to cut the cameo altogether in order to avoid confusion and not tie the universe to past failures.
While there is still a chance that things could change before the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in December 2023, it seems that this may be the end of Batfleck. Gunn and Safran have taken over the DC cinematic universe with a focus on strong leadership and decision-making. It’s unlikely that they would go back on their plans. However, fans may still get a glimpse of Batfleck in deleted scenes once the film is released on home video.