'Birdman' trailer: Michael Keaton has superhero baggage

There’s still a lot of love out there for Michael Keaton, who was an A-list superstar in the 1980s when he starred in Mr. Mom, Beetlejuice, and Batman, among other hits. Today, he’s more of a character actor who does voice acting for Pixar films and lends some manic energy to movies like Need for Speed.

But for better and worse, he’ll always be Batman. It’s a shadow that follows any actor who dons a cape and mask for a modern Hollywood franchise — which makes Keaton the perfect star for Birdman, Alejandro González Iñárritu’s upcoming drama about an actor forever linked to a superhero role who tries to resurrect his talent and fame in a Broadway play.

The trailer looks — and sounds — great, with Keaton’s agitated actor making his way to the stage for his entrance and asking himself, “How did we end up here — in this dump? You were a movie star, remember?”

Is he wallowing in self-pity? Or just getting himself into character? Watch the clip below:

Birdman opens this fall.