'Aquaman 2' Release Delay Raises Questions About Batman Casting

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom's delayed release date has fans questioning which actor might be making a rumored appearance as Batman.

Scenes featuring Michael Keaton returning to the role were filmed but later replaced with a performance by Ben Affleck due to continuity issues tied to the Aquaman sequel. The film's original release was planned to happen months before Keaton is set to reprise the role in June 2023's The Flash, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

However, Warner Bros. announced on Wednesday that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was being moved to December 2023, prompting some to question whether Keaton's rumored performance would be restored in the film. Keaton had also been expected to appear as Batman in the planned HBO Max spinoff Batgirl this year, before the film was abruptly shelved despite being completed.

"Wait, so they reportedly replaced Keaton's Batman scene(s) in this w/ Batfleck because its release was moved to before #TheFlash comes out & it wouldn't make sense to have Keaton before then," Twitter user @MattBCTucker wrote in response to news of the Aquaman sequel's delay. "Now, it's moving back to after The Flash. Are they going to use Keaton again? #Aquaman2."

"Now that Aquaman 2 got delayed, it's coming out after The Flash so why would we still see Ben Affleck in Aquaman 2 if Keaton is supposed to replace him after The Flash?!?" tweeted journalist Matt Ramos.

"I wonder now that Aquaman is coming out AFTER the FLASH," writer Timothy Dowling tweeted. "They will make Michael Keaton Batman again in it instead of Affleck. It didn't make much sense if it was coming out before because you haven't set him up yet."

"More DC delays," tweeted film critic Zaki Hasan. "Now that #Aquaman is again scheduled after #TheFlash, does this mean they'll switch it back to Keaton-as-Bruce?"

Some speculated that the delay in the film's release could be related to star Amber Heard losing a defamation lawsuit from ex-husband Johnny Depp earlier this year, with millions having signed online petitions asking for Heard to be removed from the film.

"Warner Bros pushed Aquaman 2 back 8 months... Finally replacing Amber Heard, are we?" user @amicacream tweeted.

"Aquaman 2 delayed 9 months to December 2023 because it needs 'more time in post,'" tweeted Morgan Tremaine, who testified during the trial between Depp and Heard. "Could be editing and special effects... could be digitally swapping Johnny's face over Mera. Who knows."

"I have a feeling Amber Heard will be replaced now that Aquaman 2 has been delayed," @chancelor_p tweeted.

Others speculated that the delay could be bad news for Keaton fans due to the possibility that all three of his recent performances as Batman could remain unseen.

While Warner Bros. has not indicated any plans to cancel the release of The Flash, recent controversies involving star Ezra Miller have led many to question if the film will move forward as scheduled.

"Michael Keaton filmed scenes for three different DC projects as Batman and it's possible we'll never see any of it," film critic Stephen Libbey tweeted.

"We will never see a single frame of Michael Keaton back as Batman," tweeted @danburden1138.

Newsweek reached out to Warner Bros. for comment.