The Flash: Knightmare Batman Appearing Can Bring Closure To Snyder’s Vision

While Ben Affleck’s Batman is confirmed to have a role in The Flash, an appearance from the Knightmare version of the Dark Knight could create closure for Zack Snyder’s vision for the DCEU and for Bruce Wayne himself. Although Warner Bros. has drifted away from the future set up by Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the upcoming film starring Ezra Miller’s Scarlet Speedster could provide some closure before Barry Allen reboots the timeline as has been heavily rumored. Likewise, Barry meeting the Knightmare Batman could be the perfect way to say goodbye to the Snyder era of the DCEU.

First featured in the Snyder-directed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Bruce Wayne dreamed of the future where Darkseid has taken over the world and corrupted Superman, turning the Earth into an apocalyptic wasteland. Dubbed the “Knightmare Sequence”, Batman is seen sporting a jacket, scarf, and goggles to protect him from the harsh elements, leading soldiers against parademons before being killed by the Man of Steel himself. Furthermore, Zack Snyder’s Justice League featured a return to the Knightmare future which would have been the backdrop for Snyder’s Justice League sequels. However, it doesn’t look like that future will ever come to pass with Warner Bros. largely parting ways with Snyder.

Due to the rumors that The Flash will give the DCEU a soft reboot, it seems Snyder’s vision will truly be no more once Barry Allen resets the timeline and creates a new reality (with Michael Keaton’s Batman being teased as the new Dark Knight of the DCEU going forward). As such, it would certainly be significant if Ben Affleck’s role in The Flash was the Knightmare Batman. Barry Allen could meet with this version of the Dark Knight who would likely encourage The Flash to reset the timeline, preventing the devastating future which was also implied to be Batman’s fault. While it wouldn’t be the original plan envisioned by Zack Snyder, it would at least bring the era to a close while also serving as a decent send-off for Affleck’s take on the Dark Knight.

It should be noted that there would still be plenty of plot threads and teases that would go unresolved (like Barry going back in time in Batman v Superman to warn Bruce). However, seeing the Knightmare Batman one last time would certainly be a dynamic way to end this era of the DCEU that has certainly had its rough patches. After the less than stellar box office performance of 2017’s Justice League thanks to producer interference and major reshoots that were not the work of Snyder, Warner Bros. has been in a perpetual state of pivoting away from what should have been their crown jewel and flagship DC film (aside from Zack Snyder’s Justice League in 2021 which was greenlit to drive viewers to subscribe to HBO Max).

While Snyder’s DC films are about to be rendered irrelevant following The Flash, Warner Bros. can still honor what he was hoping to accomplish and fans of the era through Ben Affleck’s Batman. Fulfilling a similar role as Thomas Wayne in the original Flashpoint comic storyline, the Knightmare Batman could help Flash reset the timeline to make sure the darkness of his reality ceases to exist. Either way, there’s hope that the DCEU’s current Batman gets a proper send-off in The Flash before he’ll apparently be replaced by the Burton Batman.