Credit: DC / Warner Bros.Michael Keaton’s Batman remains one of the most influential portrayals of the character across all media. First appearing in Tim Burton’s original film, the Dark Knight of the Burtonverse became an instant hit with cinemagoers and DC comic book readers in 1989.
He picked up the cape, cowl, and keys to the Batmobile again in Batman Returns (1992), and, most recently, appeared in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film, The Flash (2023).
Away from the screen, Keaton’s Caped Crusader has appeared in several video games, and more notably, the Batman ’89 comic books, Shadows (2021) and Echoes (2023), and John Jackson Miller’s two novels, Batman: Resurrection (2024) and Batman: Revolution (2025).
A New Batman Project Expands the Burtonverse
While the upcoming third-person, open-world game Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, draws upon Batman’s decades-long history, blending multiple eras and interpretations from all media, including comics, animations, and film, into a single story, it seems the shadow of Michael Keaton’s version of the character looms the largest of all.
In a behind-the-scenes video shared last year, DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn, who appears alongside key creatives, explains how the game calls upon many versions of the Gotham City hero, saying, “One of the many great things about LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is that it manifests all these different elements of Batman that we’ve loved over the years,” adding that the “game is an absolute celebration of everything Batman.”
Several trailers released since then have also showcased that the game is a melting pot of all things Batman, with film being a particular focus. The game features a large roster of supporting characters, each of them drawing inspiration from previous classic iterations.
For instance, Selina Kyle/Catwoman is based mostly on Michelle Pfeiffer from Batman Returns, and the Rogues’ Gallery villain Bane is inspired by Tom Hardy in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
The Joker leans into Heath Ledger’s Clown Prince of Gotham from Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008), although he is also heavily inspired by Jack Nicholson’s 1989 performance.
And while Batman himself is seemingly an amalgamation of the versions of the character from Batman (1989), Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, The Batman (2022), and beyond, an official new teaser pays homage to Keaton’s portrayal and the world he inhabits.
Not only does the new LEGO Batman sport the iconic black-and-yellow Bat-logo from the Burton films, but the theme itself has rifts of Danny Elfman’s equally memorable score:
Related: DC’s Official ‘Batman’ (1989) Reboot Gets New Teaser, Keaton and Nicholson Recast
New Release Date Also Revealed
The teaser also includes a new release date. Legacy of the Dark Knight will now be released on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S a week earlier than planned, on May 22, 2026.
“Are you ready to build the legacy of the Dark Knight and protect Gotham City™? Prepare your Batarangs and get ready to suit up in 2026,” the official description on Lego.com reads.
“Become the Dark Knight in an open-world LEGO action adventure from TT Games, the award-winning studio behind LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga™. Battle Gotham City’s most notorious Super-Villains and relive the journey of Batman™ from origin to legend – packed with iconic moments and signature LEGO humor.”
Legacy of the Dark Knight is developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. Games. It stars Shai Matheson as Bruce Wayne and Matt Berry (The IT Crowd) as Bane.
For more information about the game, check out the official website.
Will you be playing Legacy of the Dark Knight? Would you like to see the Batman ’89 universe continue in other media? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!