Michael Keaton Won't Stop Saying "I'm Batman" on 'Spider-Man' Set

Michael Keaton, despite a long and storied career, can’t seem to escape playing superheroes and supervillains. Even while filming scenes for Spider-Man: Homecoming, the actor apparently was still under the influence of the Dark Knight, saying “I’m Batman” during a fight scene as the Vulture.

Tom Holland, who plays Peter Parker in the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming recently told the press that it was “pretty cool” acting alongside a “badass” like Michael Keaton, but that things got a little weird during fight scenes.

Apparently, Michael Keaton would continuously quote the DC superhero Batman, whom the actor played in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) and again in Batman Returns (1992). Holland revealed, “We have a fight in the movie, and I punch him. He turns around and says [in a deep voice], ‘I’m Batman.’ He kept doing Batman quotes on set.”

Holland doesn’t really expand on that detail, nor does he reveal whether or not Keaton quoted any other Batman dialogue during the fight.

Several questions arise while reading this story. First, was Michael Keaton aware he was quoting Batman, or does wearing a supervillain costume just bring it out of him? Second, does this mean Birdman, in which Keaton played an actor still obsessed with his former role as a superhero, was a documentary? Third, does he believe the Vulture and Batman have a lot in common?

Admittedly, they are both heroes based on winged creatures, though Batman is one of the most famous superheroes in comic books, while the Vulture is merely a “pretty okay” Marvel supervillain.

Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theaters July 7, 2017.