There are many rumors swirling around Hollywood about the possibility of Robert Pattinson wearing a wig for the upcoming Batman movie. While it’s true that he’s worn wigs in the past, it doesn’t mean he necessarily has to for the role. Is it possible that he’s trying to steal some of the attention away from Daisy Dowdle, who was previously rumored to be playing Vicki Vale?
Let’s take a minute to discuss the history of wigs in Hollywood, starting with the most famous example, Katharine Hepburn. Hepburn wore a blonde wig for several of her roles, most notably in Alfred Hitchcock’s Death on the Nile, where she plays an Egyptologist. She also wore wigs for the biopic Morning Glory and for some of her scenes in The Philadelphia Story. In each of these films, the wigs were a way of distancing herself from her more stereotypical roles, which were often associated with women.
Then there was Bette Davis, whose performances were often characterized by extravagant wigs and dramatic eye makeup. She once commented that wigs were a way of life for her, and she wore them until the day she died. Davis was known to wear as many as six wigs in a scene (one for each character she was playing), and she sometimes went as far as having seven or eight wigs sitting in her closet at a time, waiting for the next ‘character’ to use them.
Unfortunately, some of the more recent examples of famous people wearing wigs in Hollywood are a bit more difficult to track down. One of the most recognizable faces from Hollywood history who wore a wig is John Lennon. Lennon wore a marcelled wig in the mid-1960s, and he was also seen wearing a blonde wig in the documentary Imagine. It was also the style of the time, and it’s not hard to understand why he wore them; at the time, Lennon was often accused of cultural appropriation due to his adoption of a ‘foreigner’ identity. So much so that he wrote a song entitled ‘Woman,’ which was included on the album Walls and Bridges.
Other stars who have worn wigs in Hollywood include Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and above all, Marilyn Monroe. Like Davis, Monroe was known to wear wigs in abundance, typically when playing sexually suggestive or ‘exotic’ characters. One of the most famous scenes from the movie Some Like It Hot is when the protagonist, Joe, disguises himself as a woman, with the help of a wig and sunglasses. The moment the wig is placed on his head, he is instantly recognizable as a male.
Can Pattinson Wear a Wig For Batman?
It’s hard to say what will happen with the upcoming Batman movie, but based on what we know so far, there’s a good chance that Robert Pattinson will wear a wig in some form or another. The movie will be based on the iconic DC comic book series, and it will be directed by Matt Reeves, who is best known for directing the critically acclaimed, and now classic, film, The Matrix trilogy. While The Matrix was an adaptation of the popular book, Neuromancer, and focused heavily on the use of computers and the internet, the newest installment in the series, The Matrix Revolutions, continued in the same vein, with a focus on virtual reality and computer-generated imagery (CGI). Even the poster for The Matrix Revolutions was adapted from an image used in a magazine advertisement for an iPad game that shares the same name as the movie: The Matrix Revolutions.
If history is any indication, it would seem that Reeves is going to add another layer of meaning to the already complex story of The Matrix, by casting Robert Pattinson in the titular role. While the story of the Matrix so far has focused on the war between man and machine, Reeves will undoubtedly delve into the psychological fallouts of believing in something that isn’t real, and the social divisions that grow out of that. And who better to play the role of Neo, the franchise’s protagonist, than the English actor who was once arguably the most iconic male protagonist of all time?
The idea of Robert Pattinson playing a superhero was initially met with incredulity by some fans, who saw it as a step down from the level of acclaim he has achieved in recent years as a leading man. The latter half of 2018, however, has seen a flood of articles and blog posts speculating on the possibility of Pattinson donning the spandex and cape, with many fans seeing it as a bit of a redemption story for the actor. Pattinson himself has taken to social media to express his delight at the idea of playing a superhero, and he even shared one of the character’s classic catchphrases with his 54.8 million followers.
Should We Be Excited About A Wig For Batman?
The idea of Robert Pattinson playing a superhero has been met with incredulity by some fans, who saw it as a step down from the level of acclaim he has achieved in recent years as a leading man. The latter half of 2018, however, has seen a flood of articles and blog posts speculating on the possibility of Pattinson donning the spandex and cape, with many fans seeing it as a bit of a redemption story for the actor. Pattinson himself has taken to social media to express his delight at the idea of playing a superhero, and he even shared one of the character’s classic catchphrases with his 54.8 million followers.
The reason behind the fan backlash is very likely due to the fact that the last time we saw Pattinson in a superhero movie was in 2006, in the form of Edward Cullen in the Twilight Saga. Since then, he has avoided movies that deal with characters that could be considered ‘sidekicks,’ or ‘supporting roles,’ and has instead opted for more significant roles, such as the protagonist in the Divergent series. While these characters could potentially fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they largely stand alone, with no ties to the larger world of the cinematic universe, and there’s a good chance that this could be the case with Edward Cullen as well. And that’s probably why some fans are hesitant about Pattinson playing a superhero; they want to see him deal with more significant issues than what may be at the forefront of Mr. Stark’s mind in an episode of Iron Man or Spiderman.
Why Is Wig History Important To Remember?
While wearing a wig in public might be commonplace in some parts of the world, it wasn’t always so. In fact, in the 17th century, people with wig problems would frequently travel abroad to have their hair transplanted. Thanks to advancements in science and technology, however, wigs now serve an important purpose beyond simply dressing up and trying on new styles; they are a window into history, revealing much about the fashion ideals, social norms, and even psychological theories of a certain era.
The 17th century was a time of great experimentation and discovery, with many novelties designed for women. One of the more significant ‘discoveries’ was the curling iron, which was eventually mass-produced and gave birth to the modern day waffle hair-style. During this time, hair was used as a means of self-expression, and women were encouraged to play around with different styles and colors, as often as possible, displaying their ‘inventiveness’ and ‘ingenuity.’ While this might be the case for some women, others chose to hide their hair, or at least, parts of it, in order to avoid discrimination or persecution. This was most likely the case for some of the famous female wig-wearers from the time, like Elizabeth Taylor, who often played characters whose costumes accentuated her curves, and Joan of Arc, whose hair was a constant source of inspiration for painters and sculptors alike.
As a result of this ‘discovery’ period, we are now able to see the fashion ideals, social norms, and even the psychological theories of an earlier era through the windows of the wig shop. While the fashion and style ideals of the past might not be practical or feasible in today’s world, it’s worth remembering that many women and girls still wear wigs in order to feel ‘inventive’ and ‘ingenuous,’ even if only in private, and this is likely due, in part, to societal pressures to conform, especially regarding appearance.
Of course, the use of wigs in fashion and self-expression is not limited to the 17th century, and women have been sporting hair wigs for aesthetic reasons since the 1500s, as we have seen above. This is because wigs were a way of life in the 18th century, and it wasn’t uncommon to see people wear them from morning until night, with some even going as far as wearing the same wig for several days in a row, due to how fashionable they deemed it to be.
History shows us that while some might want to resist the fashion trends and psychological theory of the present day and return to a simpler time, modernity inevitably marches on.