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There are plenty of things for fans to be excited about regarding The Flash movie. The closure of the DCEU, Ben Affleck’s final farewell, and a new Supergirl are just a few things fans are looking forward to. Above all else, however, is the return of Michael Keaton as Batman. Keaton first donned the cape and cowl in the 1989 Batman film and once more in the sequel, Batman Returns.
Batman ’89 References in The Flash Trailer
Not only are fans excited about this return, but it seems the filmmakers are as well. Batman ’89 references are in more than one place during The Flash trailer, and here we have them listed.
6. Danny Elfman’s Theme
The one thing more than Keaton himself is the legendary theme from composer Danny Elfman. The theme first appeared in the original Tim Burton film and quickly become synonymous with the character. The song returned in the sequel and was referenced in the title song for Batman: The Animated Series. The song also appeared in the Lego Batman games as well as in the theatrical cut of Justice League. Fans hoped this theme would return with Keaton, and the first full trailer for The Flash confirmed it would. The song played over Keaton’s Batman doing what he does best. The odds are great the theme will appear throughout the film, giving fans one more thing to look forward to.
5. 89 Suit
The suit in Batman ’89 is more unique than others. For starters, the bat emblem is part of the cowl instead of being on the chest of the suit itself. The biggest difference is the emblem itself. The bat’s tail has several prongs on it instead of just one. The marketing for the film had a more traditional logo, one that would be featured in Batman Returns as well as the upcoming Flash movie. There are several conflicting reasons for this odd look. One is licensing.
The story goes that production could not get the rights to the classic logo until after filming, hence the use of the logo on the posters. Another is producers felt the film logo looked like an open mouth, so it was changed for the posters. Whatever the reason, this odd logo has become synonymous with the first movie. The trailers show a shot of Bruce Wayne’s collection of Batsuits. If one looks on the right side of the screen, the classic ’89 suit, complete with the original logo, is seen.
4. “Let’s Get Nuts”
One of the reasons fans love the original Batman is because of how quotable it is. Whether from Joker, Alexander Knox, or the Caped Crusader himself, there are plenty of quotable lines. One of them comes from Bruce sans cape and cowl. While attempting to come clean to Vicki Vale regarding his secret, Bruce is interrupted by the arrival of The Joker. Unaware of Bruce’s presence, the Clown Prince of Crime attempts to court Vale. Bruce interjects and gives an amusing monologue to make Joker think he is crazy. At the end of it, Bruce destroys a vase with a fire poker exclaiming, “You wanna get nuts? Come on, let’s get nuts!” This classic line is also spoken in the new Flash trailer, harkening back to the ’89 film.
3. Batmobile
The Batmobile has changed appearances with nearly every live-action appearance. It has ranged from futuristic looking in Batman Forever to being a suped-up muscle car in The Batman. Many fans claim the best version comes from the Tim Burton films. This version is sleek and means business. It resembles a car but clearly has some wonderful toys hidden within. Many other Batmobiles based their looks on this one, proving how iconic it is. Batman’s car has been teased in the marketing for The Flash until one trailer finally showed it off. To the delight of fans, this version resembles the iconic variant found in the 1989 movie.
2. Batwing Against The Moon
In the climax of Batman ’89, Batman uses a bat-shaped plane to rid Gotham of Joker’s deadly parade balloons. This plane has become iconic in its own right and is known as the Batwing. One moment from the Batwing scene sees Batman shoot high into the night sky. When doing so, the plane briefly pauses in front of the moon before going into free fall. When it stops in front of the moon, it looks like the iconic bat signal that would appear at the end of the film. The Batwing appears in the new Flash movie, as it has been seen frequently in marketing. One trailer shows the Batwing stopping in front of the moon, calling back to the moment in the original film.
1. “I’m Batman”
These two words have become as iconic as the man who uttered them. The opening to Batman ’89 sees two crooks rob a family. While going through their loot, they talk about whether they believe in the mystical Batman. As they talk, the man himself shows up. After chasing one of them off, he grabs the other. He dangles him over the rooftop ledge and tells him to send a message to his friends. When asked what he is, he says only two words, “I’m Batman” When this line was spoken, history was made, and it was clear Keaton would forever be associated with the character.
The line was also an ad-lib. Scripted initially as “I am the night,” Keaton suggested it as it appears on screen. The rest is history. The line would be referenced by the late Kevin Conroy in his classic “I am Vengeance” speech. The line would also appear in Batman Begins when Batman first appears. When Michael’s Batman first appears in the trailer for The Flash movie, he says those now iconic words. While this is clearly nothing more than fan service, fans clearly felt serviced as it brought hype for the movie through the roof.