Is Robert Pattinson the new Bruce Wayne?
The 27-year-old British actor best known for his role as vampire Edward Cullen in the Twilight films had a major shocker this week when he was spotted riding a motorcycle without a helmet. According to the reports, he was not only riding unaccompanied but was also “doing significant damage” to the machine.
Pattinson’s decision to flaunt his physical prowess on two wheels has certainly drawn plenty of attention, but it’s a bit more complicated than it seems at first glance. In reality, it isn’t entirely clear whether or not the “biker” image that Pattinson has cultivated over the years will prove to be a ruse to disguise his true identity, as the actor has never really spoken about his secret life as a biker.
That being said, there is indeed a connection between being a biker and dressing up as Batman. As it turns out, the two have more than a few things in common.
Riding And Damage
If you’re unfamiliar, the “biker look” is a rugged, street-smart appearance that typically involves a leather jacket, jeans, boots, and colorful tattoos. It was originally pioneered by the Hells Angels in the 1950s and the look has since been adopted by many criminals and rebellious youth groups across North America and Europe. Although most people think of the Hells Angels when it comes to the origins of the biker look, the actual inspiration came from a different source — the motorcycle gangs of the 1930s and ‘40s.
Specifically, the look was inspired by the Los Angeles Hells Angels, who at the time were dressed in black leather and sported a large “A” insignia on their leather jackets. The British contingent of the club followed suit and introduced their own spin on the style by painting their faces in green and black. The name “biker” was originally used to describe the look but didn’t become commonplace in the English-speaking world until the 1960s, when it was adopted by a group of teenagers in Michigan that were influenced by the movie The Outsiders. Since then, the style has mostly stayed out of the mainstream media until this year, when celebrities started flaunting their biker status on Instagram.
Pattinson And The Dark Knight
It was initially assumed that the discovery that Pattinson was impersonating Batman was just another case of Hollywood over-exposure and an unfortunate coincidence. However, upon further investigation it was revealed that the actor is in fact, a self-proclaimed “bike aficionado” who has been experimenting with different looks for the character for years. In order to get into character, he wears a black leather jacket, dark blue jeans, boots, and a grayish tinted visor. One of the reasons why he chose to adopt the biker identity was to impress his girlfriend, the actress Rihanna, who is also a big fan of the Dark Knight. On top of that, her father is a retired NYPD officer, which might have also helped inspire Pattinson to don a mask and chase bad guys on bikes.
When questioned about his new hobby by Total Film, Pattinson revealed that he had been riding for the past three years and even worked as a stuntman in a few movies. He added that despite his previous insistence that he had no interest in acting, he had secretly harbored a desire to play Batman ever since he saw the Dark Knight for the first time as a child. Now that the chance has finally arrived, he can’t help but accept it.
Riding Casual But Careful
Pattinson isn’t the only person who has gotten in trouble while riding a motorcycle — in fact, the number of bikers who have died while engaged in this dangerous activity is high. According to statistics, a biker can expect to live about three years on average before succumbing to road rash or cancer (which often develops from skinning over long periods while riding).
Given this, it’s highly advisable for anyone who decides to join the club to take it seriously — even though it’s often portrayed as a joke, the biker community is actually quite dangerous.
Culture Shock
Pattinson may be used to dealing with the paparazzi, but this time it’s quite a different story. Although he has been spotted on bikes in the past, this was never an issue of privacy before — he was almost always with a group of friends or other celebrities, most of whom are also bikers, and the press always posed no threat to him. It seems that today, with everyone connected to social media, the spotlight is permanently fixed on the celebrities we follow online and their every move becomes a source of entertainment.
Conclusion
It’s been a rocky few months for Robert Pattinson, but at least he’s getting the last laugh. After years of playing second fiddle to his famous Twilight co-star, he can now step out from the shadows as Batman’s newest recruit (at least for now). Although the actor has yet to confirm whether or not he will remain in the role for the foreseeable future, at least he now has the perfect opportunity to live his best life as a billionaire playboy — so long as he stays alive.