Michael Keaton talked about his Oscars night banter with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze and Danny DeVito’s The Penguin during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The encounter, which was pre-planned after a chat with Kimmel or the show’s producer, saw Keaton getting into a playful exchange with the actors behind his on-screen enemies.
In the interview, the Batman actor roasted the DC villains, suggesting he could handle them with ease. Asked about his stony face during the small reunion, he explained:
“You know what? You’ll be back when I tell you to come back. You have to go into the face whenever that happens. You just kinda [makes a stone face]. You just drop into that face, dude, you know what I mean?”
He’s Worried About Fighting Off The Penguin
During the Oscars, DeVito and Schwarzenegger jokingly challenged Keaton, with Mr. Freeze criticizing him for daring to show up and The Penguin threatening to see him ‘after the Governor’s Ball.’ The actor’s response, a deadpan expression and a gesture that seemed to say ‘come on then,’ entertained the audience.
Keaton later shared that while Mr. Freeze might not concern him much, DeVito’s Penguin posed a greater threat, mainly due to the character’s stealth and unpredictability. He shared:
“Danny is the one I’d worry about ’cause he’s sneaky. He’d creep up behind you, and he has the height advantage because he’s so [small]. You don’t know where he is. He’s always sneaking around. The other guy I would just put away. He’s too slow.”
The Actor May Make A Comeback As The Hero
After reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in ‘The Flash,’ questions have arisen about whether Michael Keaton will return to the role.
Although initial plans for further appearances changed with the new direction of James Gunn’s DCU, Keaton has expressed openness to revisiting the character, possibly in an ‘Elseworlds’ project, especially following the positive feedback to his Oscars appearance.
While there are no official plans for the actor to return as Batman, fans can expect to see him in another beloved ‘80s role. Keaton is set to star in the sequel ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice’ due for release in September.
