Robert Pattinson, star of in the fourth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. However, it was his performance as vampire Edward Cullen in the 2008 romantic fantasy hit Twilight, based on the best-selling YA novels by Stephenie Meyer, that brought him international fame. Following the Twilight movies, Pattinson tended to move away blockbuster franchises and focus on indie films and arthouse movies, appearing in projects such as The Lighthouse and The Devil All The Time.
But all that is set to change this year, as the 35-year-old will portray Bruce Wayne/Batman in the The Batman, directed by Matt Reeves. This will be the third iteration of Batman since Christopher Nolan revamped the character with 2005’s Batman Begins, followed by The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. All three starred Christian Bale, who left the role after the trilogy concluded in 2012, and Argo director Ben Affleck was then cast in the role for 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, reprising his role in follow-up Justice League in 2017. Affleck was expected to both direct and play the lead in The Batman, but left the project due to a number of factors, with Pattinson g on in May 2019.
As reported by GamesRadar, Pattinson sat down with Total Film to discuss his first superhero role, and what he thought about the character. Speaking about why his Bruce Wayne eventually becomes Batman, the star spoke about the trauma his character has and how he is fueled by tragedy. Ultimately, Pattinson believes his Bruce Wayne turns to vigilantism as "self-therapy." Read the actor's comments on the matter below:
"He’s got this enormous trauma inside him, and he’s built this intricate, psychological mechanism to handle it. It’s like a really, really, really bad self-therapy, which has ended up with him being Batman at the end, as self-help."
The Batman will be the 12th live-action appearance (discounting cameos) of Batman in a feature film, and Pattinson will be the seventh actor to portray the character on the big screen. Tackling a franchise as popular and iconic as the Batman franchise is no small feat, and the way in which the character is interpreted by a filmmaker and lead actor is key to its success. This will be the third Batman reboot in 17 years, and it is believed that Reeves' take on Bruce Wayne/Batman will focus less on the origin story, and more on the tragic antihero at the heart of the tale, with a darker and more violent narrative. Pattinson's comments appear to back this up, teasing a tortured version of the DC hero.
Pattinson's casting was met with several raised eyebrows, however, he has shown himself to be a very versatile performer, and it is often the case that casting against type can work incredibly well. If The Batman is a success, it would be reasonable to assume it may produce a fresh Batman trilogy. It is unclear whether Pattinson is contracted to play the role in any subsequent Batman movies, but early The Batman trailers have been met with an overwhelmingly positive response. However, this all depends on the actor's schedule, the success of the franchise, and who is involved in the project. The Batman could signal a critical and commercial success for Reeves, and additional movies could certainly serve to flesh out Pattinson's dark and troubled young hero.
Source: GamesRadar
