Michael Keaton asked the director to take a Batsuit photo of his grandson

Despite the many controversies surrounding Ezra Miller, “The Flash” has all the makings of a multiverse event of the summer. Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton also reprise their roles as Batman in the DC blockbuster, which received rave reviews after screening at CinemaCon and is expected to be a huge hit for Warner Bros.

Affleck has been a regular in the DC Universe for years (despite repeatedly insisting he’s done playing Batman), but Keaton’s return to the character has been 30 years in the making. The actor donned the cape and cowl for the canceled “Batgirl,” but “The Flash” will be fans’ first chance to see Batman since 1992’s “Batman Returns.”

Even Keaton himself seems a little nostalgic about the experience. In a new interview IGN“The Flash” director Andy Muschietti said the actor was overcome with emotion when he first stepped back into the Batcave.

“When (Keaton) arrived on the set, the Batcave was already done and lit and everything,” Muschietti said. “He stayed like that (wide-eyed) for a while. I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted him inside. Who knows what’s going on there? But something happened there.”

The director revealed that Keaton wanted to capture the moment for posterity, so he asked Muschietti to take a picture of him in costume to show his grandson.

“It was funny because at one point in the scene, when we were shooting him in full suit, he said, ‘Can you take a picture? It’s for my grandson,” he said. “It was one of those moments where he really showed that there was something very emotional about him.”

In a 2021 interview, Keaton explained that his approach to playing Batman changed after observing the outsized role in pop culture that superhero franchises have taken on in recent years.

“What’s really interesting is how much more I got (Batman) when I went back and did it,” Keaton said. “I understand it on a whole different level now. I totally respect it. I respect what people are trying to create. I never looked at it like, “Oh, it’s just a silly thing.” It wasn’t stupid when I did Batman. But culturally it became a huge thing. It’s iconic. So I respect you even more because what do I know? This is a big deal for people in the world. You have to respect that and respect that. Even I’m like, “Jesus, that’s huge.”

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