In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Birdman actor and former batman took time to discuss superhero films. The genre has obviously witnessed a significant increase in the industry. Some argue that Michael Keaton’s Batman was the genre’s instigator. Keaton, on the other hand, said that he has had a complicated connection with superhero movies since the late 1980s. 

So, what’s the big deal?

Many actors have critiqued the superhero film genre throughout the years. Great filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese have also criticised these types of films. Why can’t Keaton be a hater too? The fact is, much of Keaton’s success has come from films like this. Plus, he’s appeared in at least four or five superhero flicks since the 1980s! Even his career resurgence film, Birdman, contains superhero movie aspects. Granted, the entire film can be interpreted as a critique of the genre. He was recently in a Spider-Man film, and he played Batman for the last time in 1992. Plus, he has an impending Batman picture to avoid!

Keaton hasn’t tried to watch super hero movies since the 1980s. He admits that he just can’t seem to get over them. He’s seen bits and pieces of many of these films. The fact that he was a part of these films could be the reason he doesn’t watch them.

Regarding the subject, he said:

“After the first ‘Batman,’ I’m not sure, I’ve ever seen an entire [comic book] movie, I just never got around to it. So you’re talking to a guy who wasn’t in the zeitgeist of that whole world.”  

After admitting that he doesn’t like superhero movies, despite the fact that he has a couple of appearances coming up, most notably in The Flash, Keaton stated that he had always longed to portray The Dark Knight again. Now he has the opportunity to do just that.

Keaton said of his return to the role of the caped crusader:

“Frankly, in the back of my head, I always thought, ‘I bet I could go back and nail that motherf–ker,’” Keaton added. “And so I thought, ‘Well, now that they’re asking me, let me see if I can pull that off.”

Keaton is approaching his 70th birthday. He is unlikely to slack down as a result of reaching the milestone. He claims to take his job very seriously. Even a little too serious at times, with the addition:

“I would love to phone something in. Trust me. I would like to just go, ‘Hey, I don’t know what the f*ck we’re doing. Let’s just go have some laughs.’ But I take what I do for a living seriously.”

Keaton has a very serious role ahead of him before reclaiming his Batman identity. He’s set to star in the Netflix film Worth as attorney Kenneth Feinberg. A film about the attorney’s struggle to distribute $7 billion in compensation to the families of those killed on 9/11. 

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