Since the 1960s, both the Batman and Robin franchises have been a source of inspiration for young fans around the world. The dynamic between the Caped Crusader and his Boy Wonder has long been a topic of discussion, with many people wondering which actor would make the perfect Batman. While on one side of the debate you’ll find fervent fans of the dark knight, on the other you’ll find those who prefer the funny-talking sidekick.
As it turns out, there’s more than one way to make a perfect Batman, and in this article, we’ll discuss the elements that make up the ultimate interpretation of the Dark Knight. Take a look and find out if Robert Pattinson is the real thing or just a lucky imitation.
The Actor
In the decades since the Dark Knight first graced the big screen, Hollywood has produced countless actors who have tried their hand at portraying the iconic superhero. From George Clooney to Christian Bale, many have tackled the role and claimed to be the real deal. But, of course, they were not, and the truth is, only one man can truly play the part of Batman, and his name is Robert Pattinson.
The British actor rose to fame in the 2010 remake of the popular Japanese film The Great Escape, playing the role of Luke Randall. The part was meant to be a modest one, with only a few brief screentshots and some dialogue, but the film went on to become one of the highest-grossing titles in Japanese film history, raking in over $100 million at the box office. Since then, he’s appeared in a number of Hollywood productions including the upcoming fantasy adventure Zeus, in which he plays Hercules, and the highly acclaimed The Lost City of Z, in which he plays Miklos Haris, the archeologist who uncovers the mysteries of the Inca civilization. Additionally, in 2018, Pattinson played Bruce Wayne in the much-anticipated Aquaman, starring in one of the most anticipated superhero films of all time.
So, as you can see, the young actor has an incredible amount of experience playing superhero roles, and it shows. While there are many standout qualities that Michael Caine pointed out about Bale’s Batman, Pattinson’s interpretation is certainly on a different level, and it shows in everything from his acting skills to his presence on screen. When it comes to bringing a new interpretation of a pop culture icon to life on the big screen, there’s no one better than Robert Pattinson.
The Role
We can’t talk about Robert Pattinson and Batman without mentioning the controversial ending to the Daredevil season two premiere, in which the actor’s character, Bruce Wayne, is shot and killed by the Black Widow in front of a horrified Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Though the hit series had already established that Bruce was, in fact, the Dark Knight, the shocking ending to the season two premiere sent shockwaves throughout Twitter and the comics community. The backlash was so great that the director of the show, Andy and Joe Russo, were forced to issue an apology.
Though the comics community never accepted Bruce’s death, for those who did, it was an incredible interpretation. If you’ve never read a Batman comic book or seen an Avengers movie, it’s probably not the best point to start. But, for diehard fans, it was an emotional moment that even the most experienced viewer couldn’t take in readily.
Thankfully, the role of Batman is one of the most iconic in Hollywood history, and there’s been no shortage of talented people willing to take up the cuckoo’s nest. To date, there have been nine Batman films, with The Dark Knight, The Lego Batman Movie, and Aquaman being the only three theatrically released direct-to-video films. With The Batman and Batman Vs. Robin due out later this year and The Suicide Squad hanging over the holiday season, fans will have plenty to keep them occupied for the foreseeable future.
The Fashion
When Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive) asked star Ryan Gosling if he wanted to dress up as Batman for Halloween, the actor didn’t hesitate in saying yes, adding that he preferred to go for a full suit. When the photographer told him that it wouldn’t fit, Gosling’s reaction was, “What do you mean it wouldn’t fit? I’ll show you it fits.” And it does. It fits perfectly.
From Christian Lee Harrison’s Batman to Mark Wahlberg’s Batman for the Halloween episode of Entourage, the fashion world has certainly embraced the Dark Knight, with many designers producing stunning looks inspired by the caped crusader. But it’s not just fashion: even Bruce Wayne’s daily routine is something to look fearfully forward to. As the Dark Knight’s fansite, batsignal.com, so eloquently put it: ”He routinely spends half his day in bed, because he likes to read, study or do nothing more than what he needs to survive. If he doesn’t feel like getting up, he will stay in bed all day long, pretending to be the batman. In reality, he is trying to avoid any possible surprise assassination attempts, since it’s well known that he is the greatest suspect in those attempts.”
The Technology
While visual effects have become commonplace in films, it wasn’t always so, with pioneers like King Kong and Frankenweenie showing the world what could be accomplished when practically all the money and time were put into creating an illusion of reality. The evolution of VFX is a pale compared to what we see now even hollywood epics like Avatar and Star Wars: The Last Jedi can do, and it’s made all the difference. As a result, scientists and engineers at Lumatrope Technologies developed an invention that could bring the Batman experience to life, literally.
With the help of Walt Disponett’s Batscope and Real Dress Tecniques, Lumatrope’s VFX wizard, Sean Bean, was able to create a life-like replica of Bruce Wayne’s classic costume without the aid of special effects or computer-generated imagery (CGI). The end result was literally life-changing, with the wonderful scenarios that can be seen in the video below causing fans to say that Bruce is the perfect Batman.