Michael Keaton to play Batman again in 'Batgirl', starring Leslie Grace

The actor is expected to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne aka Batman, the character he originated in Tim Burton's 1989 film. Photo: AFP

Michael Keaton is dusting off his signature cape and cowl for Batgirl, the upcoming HBO Max superhero film.

The actor is expected to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne aka. Batman, the character he originated in Tim Burton's 1989 film.

He will star alongside Leslie Grace, who's playing the lead role.

Though plot details have been kept under wrap, the film centres on the heroine whose real identity is Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham police commissioner Jim Gordon.

Warner Bros declined to comment on Keaton's casting.

As previously announced, J.K. Simmons is returning to portray Jim Gordon after first playing the character in Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Brendan Fraser is playing the villainous Firefly, a sociopath with a passion for pyrotechnics.

Batgirl doesn't have an exact release date, though the film is scheduled to debut on HBO Max in 2022.

In the same year, Keaton will be seen as the Caped Crusader in the upcoming Warner Bros. adventure The Flash.

The film, also featuring Ben Affleck as Batman and starring Ezra Miller as the title hero, is slated to land in theatres on Nov 4, 2022 in the United States.

It's been 30 years since Keaton first donned the Batsuit, and in that time, he says he has been intrigued by the prospect of revisiting his iconic role.

"Just because I was curious didn't mean I wanted to do it," he clarified on the latest episode of Variety's Award Circuit podcast.

"So it took a long time, frankly... I'm not just gonna say I'll do it. It has to be good. And there has to be a reason."

Batgirl is currently in production in London.

Bad Boys For Life filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah will direct the film for Warner Bros. Christina Hodson (Bumblebee, The Flash) is writing the screenplay. – Reuters