Michael Keaton was cast as Batman in the late 1980s, and at the time, that was considered a bad decision. Today, the actor is considered one of the best to ever portray the Dark Knight. When The Flash was released last year, audiences saw Keaton return as Batman, which led to questions about whether he would be willing to take on the role for another movie.
Will Michael Keaton Return?
Another event that inspired questions related to Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman was at the Oscars, when two actors who had played Batman movie villains, namely Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, referenced Batman sitting in front of them. Naturally, it was actually Michael Keaton sitting there, who played along from his seat as DeVito and Schwarzenegger presented an award together.
Fans like the idea of Michael Keaton returning as Batman, but the actor admits that he hasn’t genuinely considered the possibility. He did say that he would “never say never” to playing Batman again. However, he also added that a lot would need to happen before he gets the question if he would like to return to the role.
A New DCU Is Being Developed
The return of Michael Keaton as Batman seems unlikely now that the DCEU is getting redone by James Gunn as the new DCU. While nothing is certain when it comes to these kinds of movies, Gunn will likely want to establish his own version of Batman before bringing back any of the old ones.
Among the upcoming DC movies, there’s a Batman movie with Robert Pattinson, the second one with this actor. It is not impossible that in the future, there could be a multiverse storyline where characters from different universes meet, including that of Keaton’s Batman. Some have also suggested that Michael Keaton would be a great choice for an elder Bruce Wayne for a possible Batman Beyond project where Bruce is the mentor of a new Batman.
How ‘Mean Girls’ Went From a Teen Movie to a Pop-Culture Mainstay
When Mean Girls came out, Tina Fey’s involvement in its creation drew many people to the theaters. It was due to her rise to fame on Saturday Night Live‘s Weekend Update. There, she showed her refreshing blend of intelligence, humor, and fearlessness in her brilliant comedy, mixed with embracing womanhood. The movie also came out when society’s fascination with teen-centric content was at its peak. So why is Mean Girls still so popular?
Mean Girls Is Still a Household Title
Audiences found themselves warming the unique brand of humor that Mean Girls had and how it dared to let its female characters be bad. It wasn’t something common in movies at the time and sparked a trend that endured. Even the good girl character in the movie took a turn toward her dark side, marking a departure from the sweet, girly portrayals audiences were used to.
The success of Mean Girls was responsible for a string of compelling movies that the millennial generation grew up with. Some of those cult titles include Legally Blonde, 13 Going on 30, and Bring It On. Despite these films coming out around the same time, they had a distinct common thread of humor and toughness. Bring It On even managed to break the stereotypes around cheerleading while offering genuine drama without mocking the cheerleader archetype.
Mean Girls Was an Inspiration for Many
Mean Girls and other titles of the same era stood out because they presented flawed but compelling heroines. Meanwhile, the role of romance wasn’t abandoned but was no longer the sole focus of the plot. In Mean Girls, in particular, it was very much secondary to the complex dynamics between the girls, and was even used by the characters for manipulation and intrigue.
The influence of titles like Mean Girls helped Hollywood experience a transformation in the portrayal of teen heroines and the acceptance of humor in female characters. The process was gradual, but the results were enduring. This fact is evident in the enthusiasm with which teens are discovering and enjoying the movie two decades after it came out.
Searching for a Modern Counterpart
It is notable and rather sad that despite many female-centered productions today, there is a notable absence of a contemporary counterpart to Mean Girls and the movies it inspired for the current generation. While the flick is still there for people to see, and its universal appeal shows in its continued popularity, there seems to be a noticeable void that needs to be filled by a new and authentic narrative.
There is a need for originality, and if and when a successor to this classic emerges, it should have a fresh perspective, carrying the spirit of the times and the unique voice of a new writer. Perhaps the new and renewed Mean Girls film will fill that role for the newer generations.